WSJ: Scorching Heat Ravages Hajj as More Than 1,170 Pilgrims Die

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

A Nigerian political leader died from high heat while making his Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca:

Prominent Nigerian party leader dies in Hajj heatwave

Alhaja Ramota Bankole, a key All Progressives Congress leader in Lagos, was one of more than 1,000 who died on the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

June 22, 2024

Top Nigerian officials shared their condolences of the late Bankole, …

Nigeria reported earlier this month that two of its nationals died while performing the pilgrimage, who were identified as Salman Alade and Ayishat Ologele.

In Medina, authorities also confirmed the deaths of another two Nigerian pilgrims, Saliu Mohammed and Hawawu Mohammed.

Other countries, including Malaysia, India, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, Sudan, and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, have confirmed fatalities. …

More than 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded last year, 10 percent of them heat stroke, a Saudi official told AFP this week. https://www.newarab.com/news/prominent-nigerian-party-leader-dies-hajj-heatwave

More than 1.8 million people attended Hajj in 2023, approaching pre-pandemic levels. According to Saudi officials, they expect the figure to exceed the two million mark this year.

Not only are the massive crowds a problem, but this year the Saudi city is under an excessive heat warning, with highs at times having reached between 110 and 115°F during the day, and 100°F even at night. This has resulted in what could be a record amount of heat injuries and deaths by the pilgrimage season’s end. On Monday the Saudi weather service recorded a temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit at Mecca’s Grand Mosque. 06/21/24 https://www.zerohedge.com/weather/oven-conditions-result-over-1000-deaths-hajj-saudi-arabia

What is the hajj?

Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.

In Islamic terminology, Hajj is a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the “House of Allah,” in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, (Hajj. Wikipedia, accessed 06/22/24)

The Wall Street Journal reported:

Scorching Heat Ravages Hajj as More Than 1,170 Pilgrims Die

Americans and hundreds of Egyptians among the dead in Saudi Arabia’s annual event, which suffered its highest death toll since 2015 … https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/scorching-heat-ravages-hajj-as-more-than-1-000-pilgrims-die-d175a311

What happened back in 2015?

Well, during the “storming the devil” ceremony at the the annual Islamic hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia has resulted in over 700 were killed and over 800 injured:

September 24, 2015

A stampede among Muslim worshipers near the Saudi holy city of Mecca left more than 700 people dead … Thursday at the height of the annual hajj pilgrimage — the backdrop for similar tragedies in past decades.A statement from Saudi Arabia’s civil defense agency said at least 717 people were killed in the tumult in Mina, a desert plain about three from central Mecca and the temporary encampment for huge numbers of pilgrims.

The death toll, which could still rise, already marks one of the highest losses of lives during the hajj…A stampede among Muslim worshipers near the Saudi holy city of Mecca left more than 700 people dead and nearly as many injured Thursday at the height of the annual hajj pilgrimage — the backdrop for similar tragedies in past decades. A statement from Saudi Arabia’s civil defense agency said at least 717 people were killed in the tumult in Mina, a desert plain about three from central Mecca and the temporary encampment for huge numbers of pilgrims. The death toll, which could still rise, already marks one of the highest losses of lives during the hajj. …

More than 2 million people are taking part in this year’s hajj, the pilgrimage to Islam’s most important city that all Muslims are obliged to undertake at least once in their lifetime. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/stampede-near-saudi-holy-city-kills-more-than-300-on-hajj-pilgrims/2015/09/24/28eb7cce-62a7-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html

September 24, 2015

More than 700 people died and at least 800 were injured in a stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca on Thursday, Saudi Arabian officials said. …

Thursday’s tragedy was the latest stampede to mar the Hajj and surrounding events in recent years. In 2006, more than 360 people were killed in a stampede in Mina, according to The Associated Press. Crushes and stampedes killed 244 people in 2004, 35 in 2001, 180 in 1998, and 270 in 1994, the AP reported.

The deadliest incident occurred in 1990, when a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca’s holy sites saw 1,426 people die, according to the news agency. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-says-450-dead-700-injured-hajj-stampede-mina-n432756

September 24, 2015

Saudi officials say the incident occurred Thursday in Mina where pilgrims throw rocks at pillars representing the devil in the final hajj ritual before beginning the Eid al-Adha festival. …

Earlier this month, a construction crane collapsed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing 109 people and injuring about 400 others at Islam’s holiest site. http://www.voanews.com/content/hajj-stampede/2976706.html

This ‘religious’ event has resulted in many deaths over the years.

It should be noted that the Bible nowhere indicates that Abraham threw rocks at the devil or that God’s people were to practice throwing rocks at the devil. The ‘re-enactment’ done at the Hajj is NOT from the Bible.

While the Bible does not enjoin the Hajj, it does enjoin a pilgrimage festival known as the Feast of Tabernacles:

33 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. 37 ‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day — 38 besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord. 39 ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.'” (Leviticus 23:33-43)

22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. (Deuteronomy 14:22-27)

Christians have interpreted the statement about dwelling in booths to include temporary dwellings (see also Christians are to Be Strangers and Pilgrims?), hence most stay in hotels, motels, or tents to observe it today (the idea that palm branch dwellings are not the only option which is consistent with Leviticus 23:43 for Christians per Hebrews 9:11-15; 13:10). And Christians observe it on the same days that the Jews celebrate Sukkot (which is based on the same verses in the Hebrew Bible). It is not a violent time nor are massive deaths associated with it. Jesus and early Christians kept the Feast of Tabernacles (see The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?).

We in the Continuing Church of God continue to keep it today. Like Christians of old, we believe its observances helps picture the millennial kingdom of God.

As a ‘pilgrimage’ festival, Christians who are capable travel to Feast of Tabernacles’ sites all over the world to observe it. Here is a link which contains: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2024 .

Unlike the Hajj, the Feast of Tabernacles is a time of peace, is in the Bible, and helps pictures the coming Kingdom of God.

It is also not in the Summer, so normally there is no extreme heat.

In 2024, the Feast of Tabernacles begins after sunset on October 16th.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach? A related sermon video is Feast of Tabernacles from Israel.
Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2024 This is information on the Feast of Tabernacles’ sites for the Continuing Church of God in 2024. Church services for the Feast in 2023 are to begin the evening of October 16th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.