Indian Muslim scholar Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed during a visit to a hospital in Mina on Friday.

A leading religious figure from the south Indian state of Kerala has advised Muslims to exercise patience in the face of difficulties.

Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed, who commands a large following, spoke to Arab News after visiting the injured at various hospitals in Mina. He said the Saudis were doing everything possible to alleviate the difficulties of those who come for Haj.

“I met some who were injured in Thursday’s stampede,” he said. “The medical facilities provided to them are first class.”

He prayed to Allah to grant the best place in Paradise to those who died. “May Allah provide complete and immediate recovery to the injured,” he said.

Sheikh Aboobacker said his thoughts and prayers were with the relatives of the victims. “We pray to Allah to grant them patience in their hour of grief,” he said.

He said the lesson that one needed to learn from the tragedy was: “We should listen to and abide by the directions of the authorities.”

“Those who are in charge of organizing this massive gathering know exactly what they are doing and when they issue instructions it is for the safety and well-being of pilgrims,” he said. “It is the duty of all pilgrims to follow their instructions.”

Sheikh Aboobacker praised Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for having improved and expanded the infrastructure at the holy sites.

“The train facilities, the construction of the massive Jamrat Complex, the extraordinary health facilities, the generous provision of food in Mina, and the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah are all proof of a well-meaning, generous and committed Saudi leadership,” he said.

“This is the cradle of Islam and one can see peace, prosperity and security in the Kingdom. The Saudi leadership deserves our praise and gratitude for having kept this country free from strife and fitna through their sagacity.”

He said King Salman was the true leader of the Muslim world. “This is evident from his decision to accept 2.5 million Syrians after the conflict and a huge number of Syrian students in the Kingdom,” he said. “This is a great humanitarian gesture.”

Sheikh Aboobacker is the general secretary of the All India Sunni Scholars Association and is known for promoting interfaith dialogue. He is involved in operating a number of seminaries and modern educational institutions where orphans and the destitute receive top priority.

He said the generous act of King Salman in paying SR1 million in compensation to the families of the pilgrims who died in the recent crane crash in Makkah is highly commendable.

He said that at Arafat he prayed for peace at a time when the whole world is passing through difficulties. “It is sad to see the strife that has riven many Muslim states. The people of the world crave and desire peace,” he said. “May Allah restore peace and calm in the world.”

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