China (and France) to Build Mecca Rail System
On one hand, alhamdulilah! I’ve always thought with all the modernization the Saudis were doing around hajj, the one thing they were missing was a rail system that could shuttle pilgrims between the sights more efficiently, possibly leaving the roads open for those who want to walk? I know, I’m crazy, but the idea of being crammed in a bus for 12 hours on the way to arafat does not sound like a situation condusive to spiritual growth. I’d rather walk.
And on the other hand, boooo! Can’t muslims do anything for themselves? If there really no muslim owned company capable of building a transportation system worthy of one of the pillars of our religion? I don’t have anything against non muslim businesses (heck, I work for one), but something just seems…wrong…about non muslim company building something for the hajj.
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UmmSqueakster
4 Comments
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February 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
well alhamdulillah that this is being done!
its too bad muslim countries dont have the capabilities to build a top notch railway system. maybe if sanctions were imposed on them all they would have learned to depend on themselves and develop all necessary skills and technologies, kinda like iran. but they’re happy just being consumers it seems, which means they’ll always remain far behind in scientific and technological progress.
of course some countries like malaysia now produce cars, etc, but we still need a lot of work to do.
wAllahu al-musta’an
February 17th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Emily
Oh, I think Muslim countries (GCC, mainly) do have the ability to build a high tech railway system but opt not to b/c they can get it cheaper from China, subhan`Allah.
As a person who spent 17 hours in a bus between Arafat and Mina/Muzdelifa I am definitely thrilled at the thought of improved Hajj transportation. But, I just wish it could be built by Muslims, for Muslims, lol.
I agree about Iran though, definitely. I wish the GCC countries would get the guts to cut some of their ties with criminal regimes for the greater good of the ummah…but, yea, not likely to happen any time soon.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I can’t imagine being on a bus for 17 hours. I would go bonkers. Did you see people walking? I’ve been told it’s not good to walk between stations, but if there were an option, I’d definately take the walking, lol.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:46 am
» walking hajj! online rihla
[...] becoming muslim, I’ve always wanted to make hajj walking. Being stuck on buses in traffic for hours on end just doesn’t scream *spiritual awakening* [...]