Hajj: Nigerians Won’t Stone Devil Again – Sanusi.

Nigeria’s Amirul Hajj and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, on Friday night said Nigerians will no longer take part in the stoning of devil ritual, unless  they get accommodation near Jamrat, where the activity will happen.

The Emir’s response took after the most recent stampede in Saudi Arabia that slaughtered a few explorers, including around 70 Nigerians. He additionally reiterated his earlier position that Africans, especially Nigerians were not in charge of the stampede. The Emir, who cited a few verses of the Qur’an, said refusal to perform the stoning of fallen angel ritual does not at all refute one’s pilgrimage.

He said,

“During the era of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Makkah after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa.

“So, if the Prophet can give such grace to some people, just to protect their animals, why didn’t our scholars educate our people properly to avoid this untoward hardship and death?

“Therefore, it will be part of my recommendation to the Federal Government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamrat where the Arabs reside in Mina, then this year may be the last time we will sleep in Mina and Muzdalifa because we want to stone the devil.

“If one deliberately refuses to perform the stoning of the devil ritual, all he needs to do is just to slaughter a ram. So, if this is the situation, why do we go and suffer and die instead of sacrificing a ram.”