Thirty-five Muslims were crushed and suffocated to death Monday at the annual hajj. About 50 Islamic Society of Central Jersey members attended the ritual.
By: Amanda Bok
Members of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey have yet to hear from congregation members in Saudi Arabia, following the death of 35 Muslim pilgrims Monday during the annual hajj.
Thirty-five Muslims were crushed and suffocated to death Monday when millions of people came together during a "stoning the devil" ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
Mamdouh Fahmay, society administrator, said about 40 to 50 members of the society, which has a mosque and school on Route 1, had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, the annual pilgrimage. Among them are spiritual leader Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli and Janet Nazif, principal of the Noor-Ul-Iman School.
The names of the deceased have not been released by Saudi Arabian authorities and society members completing the hajj have not contacted the congregation, said Mr. Fahmay.
That might be good or bad, he said.
"Our imam is with the group that went over there," he said. "So if something had happened to that group, I am assuming that he would have called."
But Mr. Fahmay also said he doesn’t know if the group is traveling together.
Mohammed El-Saady, chairman of the society’s hajj committee, said he would contact the travel agencies employed by the group completing the hajj for any information they may have. But he also said right now the congregation can only wait.
"We are all very worried but we cannot do anything until we know something, until we get more information," Mr. El-Saady said.
He also said this type of incident occurs often during the hajj.
"This happens almost every year because people rush and push each other," said Mr. El-Saady, who has completed the journey six times. "They don’t have patience. They push each other and that’s the end of it."
The three-day ritual is a key component of the Muslim hajj a pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah (commonly known as Mecca) that all Muslims are required to make once in their lives. The ritual involves an estimated 2 million pilgrims throwing stones at three pillars that represent the devil, according to CNN.com. It takes place on a desert plain in Mina, on the outskirts of the holy city.
According to a CNN.com report, on Monday, the first day of the ceremony, 23 women and 12 men were crushed after a huge crowd rushed toward the pillars.
"At this point we can only wait until we hear news," Mr. Fahmay said.
According to Mr. Fahmay, Mohammed El-Saady, the Islamic Society’s hajj committee chairman who handles hajj-related information and education services, spoke to the congregation Wednesday.
"We asked him specifically about the names (of the deceased)," he said. "But he didn’t have them yet."
The ISCJ held special services after midday prayer Tuesday and will continue to try to get more information.