Scholar Suggests 'Automated Rituals' To Facilitate Hajj

[DuctapeFatwa]

An Egyptian scholar put forward a couple of creative ideas to alleviate the too much crowding in hajj season, suggesting to make some of the rituals automated.

Izzat Attiyah, professor of Hadith in Al-Azhar University, recommended Tuesday, January 20, that rami al-jamarat (throwing the pebbles) be done by special pistols and Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka'bah) take place far from the sacred house.

In an interview with IslamOnline.net, Attiyah proposed that one out of every ten pilgrims would be delegated to throw pebbles on behalf of the rest.

Jamrah is a pillar that the pilgrim pelts with pebbles. There are three such pillars : Al-Jamrah Al-Ula , Al-Jamrah Al-Wusta , and Jamrah Al-`Aqabah ....Ali Sobh, another Egyptian scholar and professor in Al-Azhar University, also suggested that the throwing of pebbles would take place at different intervals during the day and not be limited only to the midday-to-sunset timing...He added it is permissible for pilgrims to throw the pebbles from dawn to midnight, pointing out that a limited time could lead to stampedes and deaths....urged Saudi authorities to deploy more guides and police to meet the demands of the expected two million pilgrims this year....supported building new multi-storey buildings in Mena to avoid the spread of contagious diseases.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-01/21/article05.shtml

[PsychoDad]

1. Very Interesting...

2 million pilgrims are much more than even the builders of the current facility ever envisioned possible. I would also imagine that the number of pilgrims are growing every year, just as the number of Muslims in the world is growing.
At some point some interesting fatwa based upon the Hadith are going to have to be made concerning this. Alternating access each year based on country? Maybe even Telepresence/virtual Hajj?

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. I have had this prediction for years that they will have to do something

You are right, it is already too crowded, and what will it be like in 10 years? What will be your grandchild's chance of ever going, even if money is no problem? It is already a lottery, soon it will be PowerBall.

[Voice_of_Europe]

6. Better transportation -- > more pilgrims

It's not only the numbers of muslims growing.
I think it's basically just that more muslims can afford pilgrimmage nowadays and it's also easier to get there from all the countries around the world..

[cally]

3. When I read the reports to the Hajj

and see the picures, something must be done to ensure safety and serenity. I'm not sure the automation idea is great, but at least it opens debate. I know this is one of the basic tenets of Islam but is there any chance that new edicts can be proclaimed? Maybe going to another holy site?

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. Well, the time and place are sort of hard-wired in, so solutions will have

to work around that. PsychoDad could be onto something with Virtual Hajj. I can hear the horrified gasps of many old and wise men at the thought, but eventually, I think the argument that God gave humans a brain will win the day, if only on the coattails of practicality.

[PsychoDad]

5. Changes take place very slowly

As Ductape Fatwa has stated, the dates and method of Hajj are "hardwired" into the system. The dates from pre-Islamic times, and the rituals of Hajj from the time of Muhammad (pbuh).

Changes take place very slowly in Islam, and something that is as set in concrete as the Hajj ritual will be hard to make any changes too. Much like asking all christians around the world to change the date of Easter or Christmas.

Yes, I envisioned my Imam smacking me with the virtual Hajj suggestion.. But I think it could be a solution, making it accesible yearly to even the poorest and most disabled Muslims around the world. Tele-Presence is a wonderful thing, as it could be done in real time, you would be there in spirit. You are making no changes to the ritual of Hajj or the Times of Hajj.. In a way all you are changing is your conveyance.