5.27 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Filipino Muslim 'stoned the devil' and died

Ricky (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

A Filipino whose dream was to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) after converting to Islam in Saudi Arabia six years ago finally fulfilled his dream but did not live long enough to enjoy the achievement. He died in the middle of Hajj just after stoning the devil.

Ricky converted to Islam in 2007 a few years after arriving to work in the Gulf kingdom and was determined to perform Hajj before his death as he was suffering from Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar.

Ricky, who speaks eight languages including his mother language, Arabic and English, knew performing pilgrimage is not easy for a man who is ill but he insisted on making the trip to the Western town of Makkah from his home in the capital Riyadh.

“He went to Hajj and performed rituals along with hundreds of thousands of Muslims…he started to feel exhaustion because of his illness and was told to go to hospital but he insisted on completing the rituals,” Saudi Arabic language daily Sabq said without specifying the man’s age.

“After reaching Mina, he went with other Muslims to stone the devil…as he was throwing the pebbles, he started to feel very tired but he continued…when he threw the seventh and last pebble, he collapsed…he was rushed to hospital but died there just after completing the rituals and fulfilling his dream.”