Haj should not be politicised

As worshippers come together in Makkah to perform the requirements of the fifth pillar in Islam, the safety and security of the millions participating in this religious duty is of great importance. For any given pilgrim, Haj is a time for reflection and an opportunity to express one's submission to Allah. It is also a time for the thousands of pilgrims to come together in faith regardless of their background, ethnicity, or nationality — thus reflecting the true meaning of the journey.

The Saudi authorities have taken extensive efforts to ensure the safety of the pilgrims throughout the stages of Haj. Yet in order to make this successful, other parties — including pilgrims — should focus on Haj as a religious duty and not a political exercise. "We will not tolerate any violation of the Haj security from any individual, group, or any other side. We wouldn't accept for any pilgrim to be harmed", said Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior and Chairman of Supreme Haj Committee.

Any call for politicising the rituals of Haj should not be tolerated. In fact, those engaging in such activities should abide by its true spirit and principles.