The Courier Mail have a curious article today attempting to draw parallels between hajj and the traditional Boxing Day cricket match. Here’s a taste (emphasis added):
Close to 2 million Muslim pilgrims have or are finishing the great Hajj, or pilgrimage, in Mecca. The Hajj is a compulsory tenet of Islam which signifies one’s highest attainment of faith in this life and is a testament of one’s commitment to God. During the pilgrimage Muslims, dressed in only a white shroud, completed certain rites which included a parody of the stone-throwing of Abraham to ward off Satan. The Aussies will be doing something similar, dressed in white but throwing down stumps, and the Indians will be making a special prayer to ward off that Great Satan Warnie, so he does not make a comeback.
Also the Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the kaaba (the cubed-shaped building) seven times and we all hope that the Aussies will be doing the lap of honour around the MCG after a close game with India.
Leaving aside what one may think of the comparison being made in this article, the use of the word ‘parody’ to describe the stoning of the jamarat is entirely inappropriate. An over-zealous sub-editor, perhaps?
3 comments ↓
‘Parody’ may well be just the word-choice of a semi-literate. If I were you I’d be more concerned about ‘The Great Satan’ reference, although it does mean that the writer seems refreshingly ignorant of the supernatural beings prevalent in India.
*CRINGE*
*SHUDDER*
*CRINGE*
Perhaps he meant meaning no 8. But yes, I agree that the choice of wording is inappropriate. Especially considering that Hajj is one of the few acts of worship where there is almost perfect consensus among all schools of law and thought (including across the shia/sunni spectrum).
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