After the collective deaths of Hajees, some has taken the angle of blaming the Hajj authorities. In fact, they are wrong. Because the same infrastructures served more Hajees in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The number was far more than the number of Hajees in 2015. In 2009 and 2010, there was no strict restriction on quotas and lots of Hajees joined Hajj those years. But there was no major incident that time. Hence with more than the present statistics, the Hajees performed their Hajjs without any ‘’mass deaths’’.

In fact, the sacred land of Makkah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Madinah are made secure by Allah Ta`ala. Allah Ta`ala says: ‘’ Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah…. And whoever enters it shall be SAFE.’’(3:96-97)

The sanctity and sacredness of Makkah Mukarramah is such that it is in a constant divine protection. Allah Ta`ala promised to take vengeance of those who cause difficulty to Makkans(Sourah Hajj: Verse 25) History recorded the perished military of Abraha over Makkah. And the beloved prophet SAW announced a divine protection directly from Allah Ta`ala:

أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ سَيَعُوذُ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ يَعْنِي الْكَعْبَةَ قَوْمٌ لَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ مَنَعَةٌ وَلَا عَدَدٌ وَلَا عُدَّةٌ يُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِمْ جَيْشٌ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِبَيْدَاءَ مِنْ الْأَرْضِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ

The beloved prophet SAW said: ‘’There will be a group of muslims that will take protection from Allah through the ka`bah. They will have no defence, they will not be in great numbers and they will have no significant power. An opposition army will be coming to destroy them. But-before they reach Makkah-the opposition army would be swallowed down the earth by the place known as Baida.’’(Muslim)

So the sacredness of Makkah is purely divine. That is why millions of people would come and do tawaaf of the Ka`bah in full synchronisation and everyone will find place to do it. There ought to be more deaths yearly, but the grace of Allah on these valleys prevent severe ‘’tragedies’’. All praise to Allah Ta`ala who protects from years now hundreds of thousand of hajees and now millions walking towards Muzdalifah and Mina. Be it not the grace of Allah, then thousands would have lost their lives every year.

And know that the beloved prophet SAW said that Hajj is a jihad.(Bukhari)

جِهَادُكُنَّ الْحَجُّ

So we should expect counter comings out of a Hajj. Although we should ask Allah Ta`ala for `afiyah and well being. Allahoummah fazna. Ameen.

Our religion is true because it answers to all circumstances specifically. Because Allah Ta’ala has the exact word for all occasions. It is reported in Bukhari that the beloved Prophet SAW said: “When someone lose one of his relatives and he has recourse to patience with hope of reward, then Allah Ta’ala will have no reward for him except the Paradise. ” (Bukhari) Therefore on the demise of a close relative, turn to Allah Ta`ala and do not accuse anyone, not even the doctor. Because it was destiny. In fact our death place and time are all exclusively known to Allah Ta`ala: ‘’..and only Allah knows on which land you will die.’’(31:34)

Furthermore reported in Muslim Shareef that when our foetus reached the fourth month, then an angel asked Allah Ta`ala about our rizq(sustenance), the number of days that we will live and also our religious affinity.

So our creed should be on destiny. In fact Taqdeer and destiny is an stronghold of the aqeedah of the muslim. In fact the beloved prophet SAW stated destiny as part of imaan(Muslim shareef). On the demised of his son Ibrahim r.a., the beloved prophet SAW did not accuse the smoke of Abul Qais. Abul Qais was the blacksmith who used to fill the house where the baby Ibrahim was, with smoke of his work. But rather tears came out of the eyes and the beloved prophet SAW expressed his grief calmly.

عَنْ ابْنِ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْءٌ مِنْ الْقَدَرِ فَحَدِّثْنِي بِشَيْءٍ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُذْهِبَهُ مِنْ قَلْبِي قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَذَّبَ أَهْلَ سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَأَهْلَ أَرْضِهِ عَذَّبَهُمْ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ ظَالِمٍ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ رَحِمَهُمْ كَانَتْ رَحْمَتُهُ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَلَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَا قَبِلَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْكَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ وَتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ مَا أَصَابَكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَكَ وَأَنَّ مَا أَخْطَأَكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصِيبَكَ وَلَوْ مُتَّ عَلَى غَيْرِ هَذَا لَدَخَلْتَ النَّارَ

In fact sahabas expressed that destiny is to accept anything in life as exact prescription of Allah Ta`ala and if one dies other than that creed, then one would go to hell fire(Abu Dawood).

Allah Ta`ala has made destiny so as we don’t regret, nor get depressed when we missed something. And not to be proud when you achieved something. Allah Ta`ala says: ‘’ No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being. Indeed that, for Allah , is easy. So that you not despair over what you have missed and nor exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.’’(57:22-23)

So it was the destiny of these hajees to passed away in Mina. No one can change that destiny. Because Hajj authorities did their best to cater Hajees well, so they are not to be blamed. Hajj authorities cannot control every step or all the movements of each Hajee.

Bearing in mind that any political pressure on Hajj authorities would cause a stricter quota for next year.

Note that Taqdeer or destiny is an important article of our faith. But in no case should we use it to get away from our responsibilities. Rather, one should try his best-asking help from Allah-, using all his mental and physical abilities to accomplish any dunya or deeni work to perfection. Then turn to Allah at the time of results. On a good result, say ‘’Alhamdulillah’’ and on a negative result, say: ‘’Qadarullah, wa maa sha-a fa`ala.’’

The fiqh of taqdeer is mentionned in this hadith of muslim Shareef whereby the beloved prophet SAW stressed upon both effort and creed:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْجَزْ وَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ شَيْءٌ فَلَا تَقُلْ لَوْ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَلَكِنْ قُلْ قَدَرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّ لَوْ تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ

‘’..look forward to those avenues that would benefit you. And call for the help of Allah and don`t be discouraged. Then if the consequence is negative, don’t say: ‘’if I did like that, then it would have been otherwise’’, but rather say: ‘’Qadarullah, wa ma sha-a fa`ala: It was predestined by Allah. And Allah do how He wills.’’ Because the word ‘’If’’ opens the avenue of Shaitaan.” (Muslim Shareef)