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 Tens of thousands of pilgrims perform the evening prayer at Mecca's Grand Mosque on Wednesday.
November 4th, 2011
07:57 AM ET
Will this year's Hajj have an ‘Arab Spring’ effect?By Dan Gilgoff and Dan Merica, CNN (CNN) - The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the world's largest gathering of Muslims - the biggest annual gathering of humanity, period. So it's no surprise that Middle East experts expect this year's pilgrimage, the first to happen since the Arab Spring began last year, to be different. The pilgrimage, called the Hajj, happens in the same global neighborhood as countries that have been roiled by protests, revolutions and war over the last 11 months. But there's uncertainty about exactly how this Hajj, which officially begins Friday, will be different. Some experts are watching for potential flare-ups in Saudi Arabia, a country governed by an unelected royal family and where freedoms are limited. They note that ordinary Saudis will be rubbing shoulders with Arabs making pilgrimages from countries that have staged anti-government demonstrations and have unseated long-entrenched regimes. "This idea of freedom and dignity is spreading like wildfire, and at a gathering like the Hajj it's conceivable that the electricity coming from these ideas will be picked up," says Akbar Ahmed, the chair of Islamic Studies at American University. "This is what scares the Saudi bureaucracy." "There are thousands of pilgrims who want to topple the established order of the Saudi monarchy," he says. But Ahmed and others say the Hajj's effects on the Arab Spring are just as likely to be much broader, as many pilgrims share notes on uprisings and overthrows before returning home to countries ruled by despots. "This is a venue where you can come into contact with hundreds of thousands of people, so for people who are coming from these newly liberated lands, it is a bit much to ask to say absolutely nothing about it," says Kelly Pemberton, an assistant professor at The George Washington University who studies Islamic reform movements. "Many people are going to see this (Arab Spring) as a sign of God's favor," she says. At the same time, experts on the region note that the Hajj is a solemn religious event that is physically and spiritually demanding and that affords little time for politicking, raising doubts in some scholars' minds about the magnitude of a Hajj effect on the Arab Spring. The Saudis haven't announced special security measures for this year's Hajj. But the event, which draws roughly 2.5 million pilgrims, has long been managed with military precision, and scholars say the government there has been preparing for months for its first Arab Spring-era Hajj. "They'll be on guard for a flashpoint moment or a riot, something that flares up and becomes something," says Ahmed, referring to Saudi security forces. "In Tunisia, one man set himself on fire and three months later the Egyptian president is toppled." There has been political violence during the Hajj in the past, most notably in the 1980s, on the heels of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini's followers attempted to disrupt the pilgrimage throughout the '80s, though their plots were repeatedly quashed by Saudi security forces. In 1987, however, Iranian pilgrims incited a riot that killed more than 400 people, according to globalsecuity.org, a stark illustration of the rift between Shiite-ruled Iran and Sunni dominated Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has not seen the kind of protests now roiling countries like Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, but people there lack many basic freedoms. Political participation is limited. The Saudi government has been politically sensitive to its people since the outset of the Arab Spring, spending billions on domestic programs aimed at improving the lot of its citizenry. And scholars say that Saudi Arabia has supported anti-government forces in some Arab countries, including rebels in Libya and protestors in Syria. "I can't image anybody is going to show up in Mecca denouncing the royal family," says Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan. "A lot of people going to Hajj will be connected with the (Egypt-based) Muslim Brotherhood, which has longstanding good relations with the Saudis." Some experts speculate that Saudi Arabia, which tightly controls the numbers of pilgrims allowed to attend Hajj from each country, is reducing its quotas from certain politically unstable countries to curb the influence of would-be revolutionaries. The U.S. embassies in Egypt and Tunisia, two countries that have seen their governments overthrown this year, did not immediately reply to requests Thursday for statistics on slots for pilgrims granted by Saudi Arabia. Some scholars say the governments of other Arab countries are likely to be reducing the number of pilgrims allowed to attend Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. "The leaders of Syria, Yemen, Iran and Saudi Arabia are somewhat worried about the Hajj providing a forum for people to trade ideas and strategies and coming home to pick up protests and really find the momentum to get things going," says Pemberton of George Washington University. Since late last year, some Muslim religious happenings in the Arab world have become forums for anti-government activity. In Egypt, Friday afternoon prayers - the most significant prayers of the week for Muslims - served as catalysts for the biggest anti-government demonstrations of the revolution. When Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in Egypt, the announcement came on a Friday, hours after Egypt's Muslims had observed afternoon prayers. In Libya, rebels reached a turning point in a six-month old civil during Ramadan of this year, when evening prayers at mosques helped ordinary people organize against Moammar Gadhafi's regime. With Gadhafi dead, more Libyans may get to attend this year's Hajj than in years past. Other post-revolution Arab countries may send a more diverse mix of pilgrims. "The biggest effect is the allocation of Hajj visas," said Asim Khwaja, a Harvard University professor specializing in international development. "Some countries did a lottery, some did rationing, and with the government changes, if countries were doing rationing in the past, you can imagine they were sending friends and officials." "Now there may be a more egalitarian mix," Khwaja says. "This will be a more democratic Hajj for the Arab world." |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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...and the media's obsession with islam continues.
If you feel that way, why bother reading or commenting. You know why!
Dear gods do you "conservative" "Christians" have a lot of hate! I mean suggesting bombing or even nuking the Haj killing millions of innocents in the process? What the hell? I'm pretty sure your Christ said to turn the other cheek, not turn around and kill everyone even remotely similar to the guy who wronged you. Muslims aren't all terrorists, in fact, terrorists are the minority. If every one of the 1 billion Muslims in the world wanted us dead they'd have killed us already. We wouldn't be able to stop an army of over 1 billion people. And wanting to kill innocents makes you no better than Bin Laden.
yeah....sort of like flying planes into buildings killing thousands of innocent people and then celebrating it....hmmmm....
And your making generalizations about Christians is different how?
The furtherst thing from christ is a christian
Why are u wasting your breath on these idiots.....these people only have 2 things in life.....visiting the McDonalds and believing all crap given to them via the media. People who have ZERO knowledge on anything/everything are like what Bruce Springsteen said, "Born in the USA."
George john <------– another person jealous of America
MattyManatl..................exactly what I mean....ignorance is bliss, right??? hahahahha
It's really sad to read all these negative comments. The fact is this: JESUS CHRIST is beyond a shadow of a doubt the LORD of the universe and in the not too distant future he will return to earth and put an end to all that is wrong and evil in this world. I am quite certain that all of you that have doubts, your jaw will drop to the ground when you see the SAVIOR of all mankind return and be the supreme ruler of the entire earth. Remember the GOD THE FATHER is a father of love and not hate. I love all my brothers and sisters in the world not matter their beliefs.....
ior
Do you believe in the tooth fairy, santa, and the easter bunny too?!
And using CAPS like that makes you look like a drooling retard
Your an idiot.
@SGM, you said – JESUS CHRIST is beyond a shadow of a doubt the LORD of the universe. When you say something like this, there must be thousands of evidende to back up your outrageous claim. Please prove it with evidence (not by blind faith, such as don't say it says in the Bible). We don't believe in the Bible, we want to see proofs. Thanks.
Jesus did it for the chicks.
I agreed with your post, Our LORD Jesus Christ is the KING of the entire universe and the true and only God. Good for you for your posting and God bless you 🙂
Hey, hisnoodlyappendge, I will not waste my time with ur immature comments, but better to believe in something than nothing. You are pathetic
SGM,
I declare you to be pathetic. At least we know that Noodly is kidding.
There is not a shred of verified evidence for ANY supernatural beings or for their desires or promises.
I believe in science, logic, love, compassion, and ethics. Morality and ethics can, and DO exist independently of B.S. religion! One day, when and if you acquire some semblance of intelligence and rational thought, you too will realize what a grand sham ALL religions are! Only infantile humans who seem to need some kind of invisible 'father figure' gravitate towards this ridiculous fantasy called 'god'! It is more honest and humble to live in reality, and to say "we just dont know if there was, or is a 'superior being', i.e. 'god' out there somewhere"!
I have two points regarding your comment:
1. Jesus is a prophet a guide like Moses before him, he was at least half human if not all....he did have miracles and so did the ones before him but that doesn't make him god....he prayed to god like we would....
2. If god walks goes to bathroom and sleeps then he is simply not worthy of being God....God has to be something that your mind can't contain beyond our thinking....and that is simply why we submit to the unknown....we only know of his mercy and his Greatness.
"GOD THE FATHER is a father of love and not hate." except if you belong to another religion.
Our cultists are cooler than their cultists! Just ask us!
"Please prove it with evidence (not by blind faith, such as don't say it says in the Bible). We don't believe in the Bible"
Likewise buddy, the day you show me evidence is prooven for evolution (not by carbon-dating or radio-isotoping, such as dont say its in evolution books) we dont believe in evolution.
It goes both ways bucko.
"Likewise buddy, the day you show me evidence is prooven for evolution"
Molecular Biology
You dont bother me I wont bother you... If we left each other alone with all the things we do.... Well I will let everyone else finish that...
It will fan the Arab spring about as much as Christmas will save Europe's debt woes. Shame on CNN for this divisive, insightful article. Innocent people are dying in these uprisings and they need the prayers of anyone willing to offer them up.
I still think "Belief Blog" sounds creepy.
Very impressive display of religious fervor. Hopefully all these people have their hearts in the right place.
They don't...
I'm glad you know so much about every single person in Mecca. Very insightful.
I would think it would tough to have their hearts in the right place given they've been taught their entire lives to believe in the teachings of an evil man.
Cool Thayer. I didn't know you knew every single Muslim. I am happy to know that you are the ultimate jugder of character and that you only use one part of their life as the reason to judge them.
Trust me, if you're a Muslim your heart is not in the right place. How could it be with honor killings, stoning, and abuse of women?
Sounds like this other religion called Christianity? Ever heard of it?
Prove what you're saying and while you're at it you can prove your god isn't.
Hey Spiffy! Go to a predominantly Muslim country and open a new Christian church. Get back to me on how that goes for you.
Hey Spiffy again. When do Christians abuse women, have honor killings and stoning? Can't wait to view your retarded retort.
Spiffy
I think you are referring to Judiasm. They stoned Christians. Romans, burned them like candles, and fed them to lions.
As for Catholics and the like, they are not Christian at all.
I love how Muslims use the "Christians and Jews use honor kills and stoning too" argument even though it's been 2000 years since the Christians and Jews last did that and it's been hours since a Muslim did that.
YourMom.
If by "right place" you mean "what you think the right place is" then I have to agree but for a different, simple reason; what you think is the right place is probably a messed up place. Also, honor killings are cultural and actually forbidden in Islam and so is abuse of women.
Why did all the Arab homes in my neighborhood have their porch lights off on Halloween? Do they not want to ASSIMILATE into American culture? The Jews, Greeks, Italians, Poles, Colombians, Koreans, etc. had their lights on, and handed out candy to our neighborhood children. What gives??
Just general phuck-stickism.
Maybe you should ask them? Many Christians call Halloween blasphemous so I would also ask them why they haven't "assimilated" too. My Chinese neighbors don't do Halloween either. Does that mean I go up to them and ask them why they don't assimilate to our culture? No because I respect their decision and Halloween isn't something to get mad over.
Maybe they were afraid some mischievous child would knock on their door dressed as The Prophet...who knows? [shrugs]
You're Chinese neighbors are idiots. It's just a "for fun" Holiday like 4th of July. Their is NO religious overtones to Halloween. I agree with the OP. The people deliberately ignoring a normal American Holiday are the one's that are too serious. They aren't integrating pure and simple.
When has integrating into the American culture ever been something that is patriotic? The thing about America is that everything is American. Every culture. Everything.
I will answer this because you are not the first person to ask and I havnt seen anyone else try to answer this.
Muslims understand that Halloween has Pagan roots and in several fashions is a celebration of things we believe is wrong or bad such as fear of this world, death, and mythical false things. Mostly it is because from the Sunnah of the Prophet (and possibly the Quran) we are told that a faithful muslim should not have his eyes set on this world and should not celebrate the things in this world save those that bring one closer to God and help one gain entrance into heaven. It makes sense then that we celebrate Ramadan (the month of fasting) with Eid and the pilgrimage to mecca with Eid and many of us do not celebrate Halloween (because of reasons above) or Christmass or Birthdays but many of us celebrate a slightly altered version of Thanksgiving (on Thanksgiving day) that focuses on being grateful to God and sharing a meal. Some muslims celebrate the fourth of July (muslims in America ofcourse) though this one is tricky because many believe that Islam and nationalism don't go together. Anyways, you get my point.
America will allow anything. My God, there wouldn't be Mormons and Scientology if we didn't. Doesn't mean we have to like respect and like them.
FMEN – hmmm ...I'm confused. Muslims (as stated in their Koran) totally believe in fear and hatred. Totally confused now.
Faithful Muslims fear only God for all power belongs to him and He alone controls who enters Hell and Heaven.
Like Surah 82 says:
When the Sky is cleft asunder;
When the Stars are scattered;
When the Oceans are suffered to burst forth;
and when the Graves are turned upside down;-
(Then) shall each soul know what it hath sent forward and (what it hath) kept back.
O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?-
Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias;
In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together.
Nay! But ye do reject Right and Judgement!
But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,-
Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds):
They know (and understand) all that ye do.
As for the Righteous, they will be in bliss;
And the Wicked – they will be in the Fire,
Which they will enter on the Day of Judgement,
And they will not be able to keep away therefrom.
And what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgement is ?
Again, what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgement is?
(It will be) the Day when no soul shall have power (to do) aught for another: For the command, that day, will be (wholly) with Allah.
(End of surah)
the arabic is at http://www.muslimaccess.com/quraan/arabic/082.asp
Also, we hate that which Allah hates, which is evil. We do not hate any people except those who God specifically singled out by name as being evil. Otherwise, since only God knows truly who is good and who is bad and this info is not given to us we cannot hate anyone.
I thinks thut all did is a retart and everyones should believe in thier owns religions and leave its at all thats
"Largest gathering of humanity on the planet." What an opportunity.
Humanity? Really? Humans? Nay. Don't buy into that.
-to be inpired to do Good?
-to learn about other people from different cultures and regions of the world?
-to ask for forgiveness from God for ignorance and ones sinful deeds?
Religion is a mental illness.
I agree!
and pregnancy is the #1 STD
well, life is short , you are going to know yourself sooner or later.
wish you happy life
One of Mohammad's 11 wives (Aisha) was married at 6 and he consummated their marriage at age 9. How chivalrous of him to wait that long!
Don't forget – he also liked to violently rob caravans even after he was established. Oh and don't forget he especially liked anyone that said bad things about him to have their heads removed from their bodies.
Allah akhbar.......BOOM!
She was 18.
Dhulfiqar
She was 18 when Mohammad died. @chip is correct.
She was 9 according to her own testimony in Hadith.
What sane person can handle 9 + wives, I can't handle one to begin with
She was NINE!!! Written in your own retarded cult books.
No, actually they can beat their wives into submission.
they were married at 9 and consummated at 12 , the rest of his wifes were above 40. you cant judge that by today understandings, this was 1430 years ago .Also prophet Suleiman married more than 100 according to both Jewish and Muslim resources what are you going to say about that !!
zoman – sheep
So king Solomon sets the standards for wives?
Definitively wrong, but if your christian, at least in the old testament, your god had done equally heinous crimes.
Thyer -Tunnel vision
Ah…. the gathering of many to go worship a meteorite.
I suppose it's better than worshiping a pedophile who also liked to kill people.
Jesus isn't the road to salvation it is all false and misguided teachings that Christians follow. Be aware of how Constantine influxed the pagan believes into your once true religion. Jesus is not the son of God. God is one and is infinite.
And to all you stupid red neck folks, begone if you have what it takes then do what you say. It takes more balls then to rant on a stupid comment box.
Jesus is the Son of God. Christians believed this long before Constantine "corrupted" Christianity as you allege. Try to at least get your timeline straight.
I guess this is how you fool yourselves into believeing a lie. You worship what you don't know, don't see and deep inside, don't even believe. This is why you write this nonsense that you have been misled into accepting as true, when infact it is a lie. If you knew the truth, you would be with Christ, and you would know that He Is. And then you would worship that which you know and see. But you cannot see it, or understand it because you follow a liar, as you yourself also are one.
In due time, you will realize that what I say is true. Hopefully it will be before you die in this world, so that you may convert and obtain salvation. For there is no salvation under the heavens than through JesusChrist.
There are good Christians..
and there are Redneck Christians.. – who are really against everything that Jesus said, but claim otherwise.
Unfortunately most of this country is made up of the latter..
You're right. God is infinite, and his son is Yeshua bar Yosef. Jesus (the long haired white pansy from Oxford) is a myth conjured up by the Unholy Roman Catholic Church. Most English translations of "The Bible" are horrible translations from the original Hebrew and Greek. The reason there are so many verisons is because each denomination rewrites it to fit their flawed theology.
I suppose we should all follow the teachings of a pedophile, robber and murderer then huh?
Michael: The same god (Allah) of Jesus is the God of all prophets before him. Abraham, Moses..etc If you believe in such thing... What happens then to all human beings before Jesus including The prophets themselves? Do they go to hell according to Christianity since they did not believe in Jesus? He was not there, REMEMBER. The message has been the same all along. One God since the beginning of creation and that's what Abraham, Israel .. Solomon.. etc believed. Seems odd that God (Allah) changed his mind all of a sudden.. Logic Man!
Blaspheme
The ( Muslim) terrorists kill more Muslims than Christians – They absolutely don't care who they kill. So please back off and don't stereotype Muslims.
You have to keep in mind that the reason they don't kill more Christians nowadays is because they've already killed them or forcibly removed them from their regions. This is truth.
Sicne they want to build Muslim Mosque's over here, maybe we should build a nice Christian Church in Mecca???
Just saying?
we should only allow mosques to be built, when there are churches in mecca, as well as buddhist temples, and hindu temples and everything else in mecca. Give them the same tolerance they give the rest of the world
But they dont claim to be a secular nation...
you want them to raise up to our level or you want us to stoop down to their level?
wow my first time to read comments in CNN ,sick minds are every where , hate produce only hates .
I think X box did it effect on those unmature littel brains
No zoman, that would be the media who no longer have any journalistic values. Rather than reporting facts, your news is now nothing more than opinion pieces. "Xbox" is a godsend it lets normal people who are not brain damaged vent without actually going out on a real killing spree. Everyone hates, everyone judges, its human nature.
WoW!
A lot of super comments from a large number of highly intelligent ppl! 🙂
Bravo haters!
I suppose you're a genius aren't you? Everyone you posts thinks their smart and also incredible tough. I happen to be both... for real. lol
Are women allowed or are they banned from this event?
They allow.
Women are allowed. The Hajj is requirement for all believers if they can afford it.
Hi Jean: Yes they are allowed just like men. You can google or you tube for videos. Thanks.
Can non-muslims attend the event?
If not, can we visit Mecca during a non-holiday season?
Non Muslims cannot attend Hajj–there's a certain state you have to be in even as a Muslim to attend Hajj, called Ihram.
As far as Non-Muslim visiting Mecca, I'm not sure of the local laws but there's no restriction within Islam.
They allow them??!!!! What an outrage! What's next? Letting them vote, be educated or God forbid allowing them to divorce their husbands!!!
I can respect not being allowed during Hajj. I know as a Christian I wouldn't want any non-Christians at the Vatican during the celebration of Easter.
But it seems the Saudi's don't allow (at least officially) non-Muslims to ever enter Mecca.
That's a shame and rather narrow-minded, if you ask me.
Jusin Case, they allow lots of non-christians at the vatican during easter. They are called Catholics. Also, "easter" is not a christian holiday its a pagan holiday. "Easter" draws from Eoastre who is a pagan fertility goddess. Basically, they go around skinning rabbits, wear said rabbits on head, and boff each other's brains in. I think you are referring to the Passover week of festivities that includes the feast of Tabernacles and Firstfruits. This was the week Yeshua died and was raised.
Jason, are you being serious?
Easter may have its origins as a pagan holiday... but Catholics... which are a branch of Christianity, view Easter as the holiest of days... starting on Good Friday when Jesus was executed to his rebirth on Sunday.
Easter is the mot important of the Christian holidays.
If only Abraham had waited patiently for God's timing..
Good one! lol