pilgrim

Lagos State Amirul Hajj, Dr AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem, has confirmed the death of a pilgrim from the state, who slumped and died yesterday.

Muslim pilgrims pray outside the Namirah mosquee at Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma (Mount of Mercy), southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, as the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage approaches on August 10, 2019. – Arafat is the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon about 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the pilgrimage. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which is undergoing dramatic social and economic reforms, has mobilised vast resources for the six-day journey, one of the five pillars of Islam. (Photo AFP)

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The deceased, identified as Alhaja Folashade Lawal, from Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State, died while heading to Jumarat to perform one of the Islamic rites— throwing pebbles— at 3a.m.

AbdulHakeem said: “We were told she slumped on her way to Jamarat to throw pebbles, but unfortunately she gave up from that point. Doctors told us that she had high blood pressure.”

The Amirul Hajj could not immediately confirm if the 56-year-old woman was receiving medical attention before the incident.

He disclosed, however, that all pilgrims from Lagos State made it to Arafat, saying even a lady who had brain surgery was brought to Arafat in an ambulance to perform the religious obligation.

He said: “You know when death comes, there is nothing you can do. We always told them to be mindful of their medical situations and avoid whatever will bring stress to them. Islam is a religion of peace and Allah has made things easy for us in the performance of hajj.

“That’s why when it comes to throwing of pebbles, you can delegate. It is one of the assignments that you can delegate. You cannot delegate Arafat, but you can delegate throwing of pebbles.

“You cannot blame anybody for going to throw pebbles and dying along the road. Death will come when it will. As Muslims, we believe that Allah knows why He has taken her life.

“We believe that she has gone at the best time, even though we desired Allah had prolonged her life because her sins had just been washed away.

“If you perform Arafat, you are coming out from Arafat like the way your mother gave birth to you.

“While she is in a state of Ihiram, Allah took her life. So we commiserate with the members of her family and pray that Allah will grant her Al janat Firdaus.”

The amirul hajj announced that arrangements were in top gear for the performance of funeral prayer for the deceased at Ka’abah, where the Lagos State contingent would be in attendance and, thereafter, take her body to the cemetery in Makkah.

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