http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article531344.ece
‘Allah sends angels to help old pilgrims’ Indian pilgrim Yusuf Mian Deshmukh, 90, from Latur in Maharashtra is being taken by a volunteer to the Jamarat for the stoning ritual in Mina on Tuesday. (AN photo) By SYED FAISAL ALI | ARAB NEWS Published: Nov 9, 2011 00:46 Updated: Nov 9, 2011 00:46 MINA: Many old and infirm pilgrims performed the stoning of the Satan ritual with the help of their friends and relatives on Tuesday. One such pilgrim was 90-year-old Yusuf Mian Deshmukh from Latur in Maharashtra, India. Deshmukh has come to perform Haj through the Haj Committee of India and was kept under strict medical supervision by the Indian Consulate officials. Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai said many pilgrims over 70 years of age are performing Haj this year. Dedicated medical teams consisting of doctors and nurses were round the clock monitoring these pilgrims. Deshmukh was unable to stand up on his own but was so determined that he refused to appoint a “wakil,” a representative, to perform the stoning ritual for him. Arab News bumped into him in the mass of people moving toward the Jamarat Bridge for their final day of stoning. He was on a wheelchair that was being pushed by a man called Munir, who said Deshmukh has come alone for Haj. “I came with the firm determination that if Allah wants me to perform Haj He will make it easier for me. I came alone with no idea that I would be getting medical care from the consulate for which I thank them, especially the consul general who always used to come and check on my health,” Deshmukh said. When told that he could have appointed anyone to perform this ritual on his behalf, Deshmukh said: “Look at my age and health. I am not able to do anything on my own but I believe Allah sends angels for people like us and they helped me in performing all my rituals from day one. And that is the reason I decided to perform the stoning ritual also by myself.” Deshmukh was not the only one who performed Haj despite old age and ill health. His is one story. Many such pilgrims come regularly every year with the same belief that Allah will take care of them, said a consulate official. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
