By Abdullah F. Rahman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 10, 1998

Hajj brings together 'the human family'

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the editors for kindly printing some information on Hajj in the April 8 issue of the Daily Wildcat ("Hajj peaks with stoning of devil, circling of Kabba in Mecca"). After coming to this country seven years back, I have noticed that the "free media" of this country publishes/airs only the bad news related to Muslims and Islam. Even the good news about Islam is disseminated with a tint of mockery, as in the piece mentioned above. It reads, "... pilgrims circled the Kaaba yesterday, elbowing and shoving each other to move closer to Islam's holiest site ...," as if that's a part of Hajj!

But anyway, I again want to thank the Wildcat for publishing the news. I would like to inform the readers that Hajj carries a special meaning to all Muslims all over the world. This is the only world-event where people from all corners of the world with all kinds of skin color and language come together in a single minded purpose, to serve their Lord. This is the only event in the world where a person can feel the real meaning of being a member of the human family, above all the discriminations and stereotyping.

The underlying disdain of western media against Islam (especially for the last 50 or so years) is understandable to any informed person. But I wish that the "free media" of this country would disseminate more correct and positive news about everybody, rather than try to stereotype and mock at the people they do not like.

Abdullah F. Rahman
Research Associate
Soil Water and Environmental Science Dept.