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Hajj Had Never Been Suspended Throughout Islamic History: Study

Photo: SPA, Musheir Muna
Photo: SPA, Musheir Muna
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Hajj Had Never Been Suspended Throughout Islamic History: Study

Photo: SPA, Musheir Muna
Photo: SPA, Musheir Muna

A scientific study being carried out in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute of Hajj and Umrah Research at the Umm al-Qura University confirmed that Hajj was never once suspended throughout Islamic history.

After interpreting more than 40 scientific references and sources that followed the entire history of Islam, the study found that Hajj was never fully suspended and that the most that had ever happened was a partial suspension by some countries due to either pandemics or health or security issues that had happened to some pilgrims that prevented them from completing the duty while others still carried on performing Hajj.

The scientific study that was conducted by a representative of the Hajj and Umrah Institute for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr Ayman al-Safri, revealed that pilgrimage is one of the rituals common to all religions.

The study proved that historians had always documented the news they received of accidents that happened to pilgrims either in Makkah or on the way there throughout history. They also mentioned details of every Hajj season, including rises and declines in prices and water supplies, times of thirst and leisure, epidemics and deaths, rainy seasons and floods, wars, and security disturbances in Makkah as well as roadblocks.

They also documented the consequences of those accidents on the reachability of Makkah from different cities during certain years. Despite all of the substantial accidents and adversities that they had documented, Muslims never abandoned pilgrimage to the House of God, instead, it was attended every year and Muslims maintained this connection despite going through extreme catastrophes throughout history.

The study provided several examples of these accidents including the Qarmatians' attack on the Holy Mosque during the Hajj season in 919 AD when they killed pilgrims while they were performing the rituals of Hajj. The study also found texts by historians that showed that during that year, Hajj was nearly going to be suspended had some pilgrims not been able to make it to Arafat and complete their pilgrimage.

The study showed the prominent role that the people of Makkah played in the context of maintaining Hajj during the years that people elsewhere could not reach al-Kaaba.

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Iran's Businesses Bear Brunt of Daily Power Blackouts

Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
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Iran's Businesses Bear Brunt of Daily Power Blackouts

Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP

Baristas and servers linger outside a cafe in Tehran, smoking and chatting, as scheduled daytime power cuts due to energy shortages plunge businesses in Iran's capital into the dark.

"When the power is out, we are almost completely out of service," said Ali, a 30-year-old employee, of the nationwide rolling electricity outages imposed daily since November 11.

"We use mostly electrical equipment here in the cafe such as an electric oven and espresso machine," he told AFP, asking that only his first name be used.
Years of Western sanctions and a lack of investment in infrastructure have exacerbated the situation, especially during peak consumption months in summer and winter.

To deal with the shortages, the government has introduced two-hour blackouts, which rotate between various neighbourhoods in cities between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

President Masoud Pezeshkian attributed the decision to "low fuel reserves", saying Iran must "adjust the fuel for power plants so that we do not face problems in winter".

- 'Poison' -

Fatemeh Mohajerani, government spokeswoman, said power cuts were necessary to cut down on a relatively cheap low-quality fuel -- known as mazout -- used at some older-generation power plants.

The heavy fuel oil has been used for years to address power shortages despite its emissions causing heavy air pollution.

She said the public would need to deal with blackouts for a limited time, to find an alternative to what she described as "poison".

"It is unfair that part of the society should pay with their lives for the production of electricity," she added.

But for Mona, another employee at the cafe in Tehran -- home to about 10 million people -- it isn't worth the cost.

"The government says it has stopped burning mazut in a number of power plants in other cities, but we need to pay for that in Tehran," the 36-year-old told AFP.

Repeated power cuts have angered citizens of the Islamic republic in recent years, especially during the hot summer months.

In July, the authorities ordered the working hours of civil servants to be halved for several days in an attempt to save energy.

But energy shortages go beyond just electricity in Iran.

On November 12, National Iranian Gas Company announced daily gas consumption in the country had set a new record of 794 million cubic metres.

Economic expert Hassan Forouzanfard cited poor infrastructure, mismanagement and in particular Western sanctions as responsible for Iran's energy problems.

"Sanctions and the cutting of the ties with international energy companies have deprived us of both the necessary technology and investment to develop our oil and gas sectors," he told AFP.

- 'Warm clothes' -

"If we have a cold winter this year, we will have to collectively deal with both gas and electricity problems in the country," Forouzanfard said.
Iran, despite holding some of the world's largest natural gas and oil reserves, has grappled with massive energy shortages in recent months

"I do not think that the government would be able to either control the negative effects of the pollution or to resolve the energy imbalances in a reasonable and serious way in the short term," he added.

But Tehran says consumers must do their part to conserve energy.

"We have no choice but to consume energy economically, especially gas, in the current conditions and the cold weather," said Pezeshkian.

"I myself use warm clothes at home, others can do the same," the president added.

During one of the scheduled power cuts, a queue formed outside a supermarket in Tehran.

"Since it is dark inside and our CCTVs are offline, we allow just one customer at a time so we can better handle them," said Sina, a 24-year-old employee, who did not want to give his full name.

"We are afraid that in the dark and without the help of surveillance cameras, we can't figure out if an item goes missing," he said, arguing that the power cuts are hurting the small business.