Comments on: Harvard haj study examines Mecca’s effect on Muslims

By: jerrygates7

jerrygates7 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:29:05 +0000

I find in interviewing a few who have made their Haj that the effect is as the author of the study states in terms of practical effect which changes one’s life. People go to Mecca and some are recieved in the Haj by Qtub or Mufti and they go into rooms and discuss their reasons for Haj. If the seeker is clear in stateing their reasons they are taken back into the way outside to make the ir pilgrimage complete and to accept the answers to their prayers in faith. It is often that many new friends of African, Asian or Muslims are European Whites who are liberal or more so than most Muslims. The mixing of the people leads to peace between them more so than not and as such is healing of animosities past, rebuilding of hope in cooperation between religins and transformative in the sense that Haj turns you from seeker to finder if you faith is strong enough to recieve such gifts.

By: Malik Syed

Malik Syed — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:29:24 +0000

Regarding the comment sent why are non-Muslims not allowed in Mecca and Madinah?, its just the fact that Islam claims that its a religion that is far more superior than others, in that sense the officials don’t allow non-Muslims to enter, also no church or temple can be constructed in the entire country, as the country runs on Shariah and doesn’t accept any other religion other than Islam.
In a lay man’s term, e.g. in order to enter U.S or any country a person needs to fulfill the requirement before getting the visa like so to enter Mecca or Madinah…you have to confess and accept Islam.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:53:13 +0000

And one quick Google later and hmm??
Perhaps the writer of this blog should have declared the possible interests and source of funding (see below) of the likely authors behind the study.

It is clear where the Arab – oil money is going – once it fattens up the West’s higher learning institutions – it than seeks to produce studies – which promote the Islamic religion favourably – above its violent and largely repressive reality we can read about daily in any news outlet. Just like a real study – that would have emerged from Harvard – through their vast wealth resources – the Arabs can turn long established western universities into – for the most part – hand puppets – for their Islamic and Islamist agendas. Their aim is world domination – but – right now they have an image problem – Harvard – it seems has been recruited to solve that problem.

According to the Study
When you go on the Pre-Islamic Hajj – to encircle the Pre-Islamic Kaaba – now central Idol to all Muslims – you should emerge treating women better (less misogamist) and more respecting of other Muslim beliefs (or was that of non-Muslim beliefs).

Then surely we must question why it is that at the home of the Kaaba – these negative aspects of Islamic belief still exist – according to a recent HRW report women in Arabia suffer more than most women – under the Saudi regime. And the Saudi government just voted against – (i.e. defeated) a measure that would have meant they could no longer defame the religions of others – by 77-33.

The Source of the Study’s Funding?

The Dubai Initiative

“‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Fellowship

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government was established to provide full support (tuition, fees, living stipend) to students with financial need from Arab countries. The Fellowship will be awarded through a competitive, merit based process to Master degree admitted applicants.”"

By: barry

barry — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:36:25 +0000

I think that the Harvard study might be somewhat incorrect or incomplete. I have some friends from South Asia who have been to the Haj. I have found that they generally become more fundamentalist and generally begin to dissociate themselves from the larger (non-Muslim) community. In addition, I find that the Haj reinforces the belief that women’s place is at home. After returning from the Haj, one of my neighbors forced his daughter to leave her studies at college and to stop her part-time job at the grocery store. Like her mother, she almost never leaves the home now. Thus the Haj probably has different effects on different people and I think further studies might address that.

By: Man

Man — Sat, 03 May 2008 12:25:32 +0000

Simple question — why are non-muslims not allowed into Mecca & Medina?

Simple answer — so much for the ‘tolerance’ of the global gathering.

By: Conscientious Observer

Conscientious Observer — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:59:04 +0000

It’s all about how one interprets the religious texts. “The evidence suggests that these changes are more a result of exposure to and interaction with Hajis from around the world, rather than religious instruction or a changed social role of pilgrims upon return.” I wonder why these changes occur here rather than ‘at home’? Could it be because those preaching ‘at home’ are so arrogantly ignorant of what is happening in the real world. Thank goodness Muslims going to the Haj see more mature and open-minded attitudes and hopefully learn from them. Isn’t this what the Westerners (infidels) as whole, have previously gone through and many are still going through, ie: changing attitudes towards women and increased tolerance/understanding of other religions? But of course there will always be some men (and women)everywhere, that just don’t have and never will have the capacity for such change. We can only hope the favourable attitudes and the affect on the pilgrims in the Haj continue.

By: Peaceful Dreams

Peaceful Dreams — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:00:37 +0000

I always knew that most Muslims were peaceful.