BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Hundreds killed in Hajj stampede

At least 345 Muslim pilgrims have died in a crush during the stone-throwing ritual at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.

Inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rojiun (We are from Allah and to whom we are returning)…

My sister-in-law is doing the Hajj this year, I pray for her but I am not in fear of losing her. This may be strange to non-Muslims, especially from what I perceive to be UK public reaction as reported by the media. Here, death is a final and fatalistic concept, while as Muslims we believe we are transitioning to the afterlife. This is especially true of the Hajj, where would be pilgrims are urged to finalise all affairs, leave no debts, ask forgiveness, due to total submission to Allah during the Hajj.

So while some may scorn the lack of health and safety during the Hajj, such earthly matters are the least of any pilgrim’s concern, it is Allah’s will that one should live or not. This does not mean that the Saudi government as the authority in charge should not do anything. In fact this particular area, which is particularly hard to manage due to a limited time window, has seen massive changes over the years. But if after all that people still die, then all we can say is: Inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rojiun.