Prayers with Haj stampede casualties
I wish to express my deepest sympathies for all the pilgrims who lost their lives in the tragic stampede incident at Makkah, Saudi Arabia (‘717 killed in stampede on Makkah outskirts’, Gulf News, September 25). It happened in Mina, which is part of the holy land in Saudi Arabia. They were all attempting to perform their rituals of Haj. God bless them and rest their souls in heaven.
From Mr Mohammad Zia Al Deen
UAE
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Don’t put fear in others
This incident is tragic, but we must read and be smart with the information we share. Please don’t spread any graphic images or videos about what has happened during Haj because it could create fear in the hearts of the people who are willing to go for Haj. It’s one of the five fundamentals of Islam and we don’t want to dissuade them from performing Haj in upcoming years.
Just remember that we will get nothing by sharing the images and videos - only a few likes on Facebook. There is more of a negative impact by our sharing.
So, even innocently, don’t be the one who stops people from doing Haj next. May God protect us from this hidden affliction.
From Mr Fahad Iqbal
UAE
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Sad, but thankful
After this news, I couldn’t be happy on Friday. My family and I were just thankful that we were all safe. People here are devastated. Thursday was a happy day, but Friday was very sad as we mourned the losses.
From Ms Maitha Al Khalifa Abineheet
Dubai
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Be happy for them
As tragic as it is, we should feel happy for them and their rewards in heaven from dying in their holy pilgrimage. We should pray for their families.
From Ms Sarah Mohammad
UAE
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Comes from tragedy
To Ms Sarah Mohammad, I respect your point, but we can’t be happy. It is a holy thing for Muslims, but it came from a sad way. We can’t be happy for death. I hope you understand what I mean.
From Mr Osman Rashid
Dubai
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Condolences to the families
I was sad to hear about the death of so many of my Muslim brothers and sisters. I give my condolences to the families of the dead. May God accept their good deeds and forgive their sins.
From Ms Marwa Mars
UAE
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How to prevent this?
The huge stampede killed more than 700 pilgrims and injured hundreds more. It’s the second deadly accident to hit the pilgrims this month following the crane collapse in Makkah. Nearly two million people from across the globe were performing Haj, which is one of the largest annual gatherings in the world.
People were tripping all over each other. It is unfortunate to note that the incident came as the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims marked Eid Al Adha, the feast of sacrifice and one of the most important days on the Islamic calendar. Such repeated accidents should remind us all of the proverb that says: “Prevention is better than the cure.”
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
Ask neighbours to help
It’s a good reminder to clear the flyers from your door so that burglars don’t get any ideas that you are away (‘Don’t announce your absence to burglars’, Gulf News, September 23). If you’re going to be away, you should ask a friend or maybe the people next door to remove them and you can do the same for them when they are away.
From Mr Mark Atkins
UAE
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No one cares to help
But, Mr Mark Atkins, how exactly is it possible to know if this is being taken care of when you are abroad? Gone are the days when your friends come and clear it for you and the neighbours are the least bothered these days!
From Ms Zarah Bint Rahman
UAE
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Tolerance is progress and success
“United we stand, divided we fall” is a saying that I believe is very wise and that many influential leaders today don’t seem to grasp (‘Carson says Muslim cannot be president’, Gulf News, September 22). I was pained to read that the US Republican presidential hopeful, Ben Carson, has said that no Muslim should be President of the United States despite the US Constitution specifying that there shall be no religious test for public office.
By doing this, Carson has only marred his own chances of being the US president. As we delve into the pages of history, we learn that the most successful rulers of the yesteryears and of the present age, for that matter, are those who have practiced religious tolerance.
People crave for tolerant, optimistic, open minded leaders who respect humanity. People abhor tyrants and religious fanatics. Every religion advocates tolerance and respect towards other religions. Islam is meant for all mankind. Nobody is preferred to anybody except through being upright and kind to others. Nobody is better because of skin colour, gender, wealth or power. Merit in Islam springs from good conduct and faith. Islam does not advocate militancy and aggressiveness. Such are the values of Islam!
From Ms Sana Suboohi
Sharjah
Discrimination with Muslims
Thank you to Mr Steven Bayman for replying to my letter, but look at Ahmad Mohammad who invented a homemade clock and was very optimistic to get due appreciation from the school (‘Letters to the editor: Practice what you preach’, Gulf News, September 25). On the contrary, he was pulled out of the class and detained at the police station where he was fingerprinted and questioned. That is quite incredible.
According to the general view, the major issue with Ahmad Mohammad is that he is a Muslim and has the name “Mohammad”. Western countries see Muslims as terrorists and only and everything - even a toy - made by a Muslim could be lethal. It could be a bomb or an alarm device. This baseless concept is linked to everyone who adopts Islamic norms and the ideology, regardless of age or societal contributions. It would not be exaggerating to say that the entire world, including Europe and the US, has been enjoying enormous facilities from the inventions made by Muslim scientists.
There is a great need to realise and appreciate all efforts and inventions regardless of the religion of the inventor. If we discriminate, we will never be civilised beyond wealth and power.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
The truth must come out!
It’s good to know that the West Bengal, India Chief Minister has shown courage to declassify the files of India’s freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to the public, which revealed that he was alive after the year 1945 (‘Leaders seek mileage from Bose mystery’, Gulf News, September 22). It’s the right of the people of India and the whole world to know about the whereabouts of Bose who, like Mahatma Ghandi, led India’s freedom movement. Why did the successive Congress-led governments, who ruled India most of the time after Independence, hide the files of Bose? Why did the Congress Party not take any initiative to reveal the truth and why was Bose’s family spied on for long years? Officially, Tokyo radio announced the news of the death of Bose on August 22, 1945 and said it was due to plane crash in Formosa (now Taiwan), but many people in India did not believe this theory.
Now the central government should take bold steps to declassify the remaining files in their custody and they should make it public. The people of India have the every right to know the facts about the mysterious death or disappearance of Bose and which country was behind his death - if any of the leaders of India know the facts. One thing is for sure: Whether it be today or tomorrow, we will know the truth because it cannot be suppressed forever.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
How is this reliable?
Iran taking their own samples of the controversial nuclear site by the Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA) to bring to UN nuclear monitors is like telling a drug addict who gets busted to take his own sample for evidence in court (‘IAEA chief visits Iran’s controversial Parchin site’, Gulf News, September 22). The result is likely to come back clean and the junkie would be released.
From Ms Susie Rossnagel
Acton, US
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More voices needed
This was an interesting read from Mr N. Mahadevan in his letter to Gulf News (‘Letter to the editor: So much for the common man’, Gulf News, September 22). It’s great that someone wants to discuss the wellbeing of the common person. Will someone else want to talk about it, too?
From Ms Katiuska Bedoya Ramirez
Dubai
Facebook comment
Too many foreign jaunts
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be travelling around the world a little more than usual than Prime Ministers before him. Reports last week have been analysing how his grandiose visits afar have not helped India’s relations with neighbours. He is always busy travelling and signing pacts with many countries. I for one think that many of his tours are fruitless and that it eats away government revenues. He should set a good example by travelling less and doing more by remaining in his country.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
Kerala, India
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