“It is not for the prophet and those who believe to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters, even though they may be near relatives, after it has become clear that they are companions of the blaze.” (Qur’an 9:113)
“Man arrested after claiming Mecca pilgrimage for queen,” AFP, September 13, 2022:
Riyadh (AFP) – Saudi authorities have arrested a man who claimed to have travelled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca to perform an umrah pilgrimage on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The man, a Yemeni national, on Monday published a video clip of himself on social media at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, where non-Muslims are forbidden.
In the clip, he held up a banner saying: “Umrah for the soul of Queen Elizabeth II, we ask God to accept her in heaven and among the righteous.”
The footage was widely circulated on Saudi social media, with Twitter users calling for the man’s arrest.
Saudi Arabia forbids pilgrims to Mecca from carrying banners or chanting slogans.
And while it is acceptable to perform umrah on behalf on deceased Muslims, this does not apply to non-Muslims like the queen, who was supreme governor of the Church of England, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican communion.
Security forces at the Grand Mosque “arrested a resident of Yemeni nationality who appeared in a video clip carrying a banner inside the Grand Mosque, violating the regulations and instructions for umrah,” said a statement carried by state media late Monday….
somehistory says
My previous comment on this story: perhaps he believed the queen had converted secretly.
He could make that claim even if he didn’t really think so…as molums are known to lie in all kinds of situations. It comes naturally to them, having been taught that from birth.
the queen’s oldest son certainly could be said to be a secret mozlum due to his fondness for the beliefs they hold.
John ..Smith says
Damn good thinking Somehistory that’s his way out. He could even make the claim that the queen was a direct descendant of muhammad, as many historians believe she was.
somehistory says
thank you very much, John. Who can prove she wasn’t? Who will dare to try?
Infidel says
Would that make the Church of England a sect of islam?
somehistory says
good question. which way would it be…that henry was following the original sack-o-evil or one of his contenders? perhaps that’s why the current pope is so easy on mozlums…he wants a reunification.
Infidel says
While I do laud him for wishing well of the queen, he should have not carried any banner, if that was banned in Mecca, and should have kept it to himself instead of announcing it on social media and inviting calls for persecution
All that said, it’s a wonder that someone from Yemen – one of the most fanatical of islamic countries – pulled off this stunt
CogitoErgoSum says
This man was under the impression that Islam is all about love. Oh yeah, he’s feeling the love of Islam right now by being taught that it’s actually all about submission. By not submitting to Islam the Queen was an enemy of Islam and to a Muslim praying for her soul is as bad as being the same as she was. The Queen did not submit but he can be made to submit. He didn’t understand … but he will … or else. This man unwittingly flagged himself as being among those that Allah calls the hypocrites
gravenimage says
Sadly true…
gravenimage says
Infidel, the Saudi authorities may be targeting him for being Yemeni as much as his being a “bad Muslim”.
Watto35 says
And we’ve allowed in a Saudi Arabian prince who won’t go to Abbey and insists on wearing his dress instead of a suit like everybody else. David Beckham waited 12 hours like everyone else. That’s CLASS.
gravenimage says
Saudi Arabia: Man arrested after claiming to have performed Mecca umrah pilgrimage for Queen Elizabeth
……………………………….
A somewhat odd claim, but if someone of another faith said something similar it would just be taken as a nice thing to do.
Not so in Islam…
I hope this poor man will be released–but I wouldn’t count on it.