Muslim Pilgrims Are Taking "Hajj Selfies" And Clerics Are Not Happy
Clerics are reportedly condemning the latest "selfie fever" at Islam's holiest sites.
"Selfie fever" has taken over the hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca made by millions of Muslims to fulfill one of the five pillars of faith.
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Best Place ever👍❤️ #mekka #medina #umra #kaaba
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Haj !!! #mekka #haj#arabiasaudita
According to Arab News, this trend of selfies at Islam's holiest sites is not going down well with Muslim clerics and scholars.
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At Masjid al Haram just close by Holy #kaaba. During my 4th trip to #SaudiArabia #makkah
The hajj, one of the world's largest gatherings, is perceived as the "religious high point of a Muslim's life." This year's hajj is expected to fall between Oct. 2 and Oct. 7.
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#tbt #saudiarabia #mecca #haram #kaaba #sothankful
Saudi authorities forbid taking photographs at the Holy Mosque in Mecca and the courtyard around it, and could deny entry to those found with cameras or cameraphones.
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#subhanAllah #kaaba #masjid #al #Haram #tavaf
However, people usually sneak their phones in, and in recent years officials have relaxed the rules on taking photos inside the premises.
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No sle3p doing it hard elhamdullilah MG brother #haj #islam #muslim #umre #mekke #diyanet
In the wake of the global selfie trend, an increasing number of Muslims now document their pilgrimage on social media.
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My#happiness .. i wish we can go back in this holy place insaalllah :) #kaaba #mecca
People are taking selfies at the Kaaba, considered the center of the Muslim world.
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Read fajr near the kaaba. Truly blessed!!! #kaaba#masjid#haram#makkah#tawaaf#hajj#2014##saudiArabia
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#self with #kaaba ^_^
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#Makkah #2014 #Selfie #Kaaba #KSA #BeubarBonnet #TaReconnuLeDoubleB #ÇaTaffVnr #Fendi #ArabMoney #Jamayesil #PetroDollars
Some even had their own hajj version of the famous Oscar selfie.
Can #Hajjselfie beat the #OscarSelfie in Retweets ? Lets RT this To infinity #Muslim and say #mashAllah
Somalia Pundit@SomPunditFollow
Can #Hajjselfie beat the #OscarSelfie in Retweets ? Lets RT this To infinity #Muslim and say #mashAllah
3:50 PM - 30 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
A few brave pilgrims wielded the selfie stick.
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q8instagram #q8 #q8photo #kuwait #picture #photo #haj #selfie
But some clerics have condemned the selfie fever as "touristy behavior" that destroys the tranquility and humility required for acts of worship during the holy pilgrimage, Arab News reported.
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Promise them tavaf together :) #haj #sunni #muslim #islam
Pilgrims posting their Kaaba selfies on Facebook and making it into a social media event ruins "their act of ibadah (worship) by humble-bragging," an Islamic studies teacher told Arab News.
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#MyHolyJourney #Day3 #selfie by the #Kaaba #mecca #SaudiArabia #mosque #meditation #umrah #Hajj
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Mummy n me! #love #mummy #haj #pilgrimage #faith
"Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our prophet," a Jeddah-based scholar said. "When the prophet went for hajj he said, 'O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing off.'"
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#haj #kabe #jeddah #hac
"It is as though the only purpose of this trip is take pictures and not worship," another Muslim scholar told Arab News.
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#photogrid #حج#عمرة#عيد#الأضحى#كعبة#haj#3omra#waiting#eid#elad7a#big#day#love#pray#god#mosque#maka#saudi#cousin#family#dubai#dxb#...
Muslim Matters, a blog for Muslims in the West, threw the hajj selfie topic open for debate on Twitter.
What do you think of the #hajj selfie? Ruins tranquility or a sign of the times?
Muslim Matters@MuslimMattersFollow
What do you think of the #hajj selfie? Ruins tranquility or a sign of the times?
4:12 PM - 30 Sep 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Some called the trend a "social menace."
@MuslimMatters wow I'm pleased that such a question is being put up,cleansing in the presnce of Allah is turned into a social menace.
omar@OmarigbebiFollow
@MuslimMatters wow I'm pleased that such a question is being put up,cleansing in the presnce of Allah is turned into a social menace.
11:17 AM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
@MuslimMatters Its a sad testament to the fact that our love of sharing over social media has crept into our Ibadah. #Riya vs #Sincerity
Tasmiyyah@TasmiyyahCFollow
@MuslimMatters Its a sad testament to the fact that our love of sharing over social media has crept into our Ibadah. #Riya vs #Sincerity
11:17 AM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
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At front of #AbrajAlBait #Makkah #SaudiArabia #saudia #omra #kaaba
Many agreed it went against the purpose of doing the hajj.
@MuslimMatters Ruins tranquility and misleading the purpose of being there.
StrangerOnTheEarth@StrangerEarthFollow
@MuslimMatters Ruins tranquility and misleading the purpose of being there.
4:44 PM - 30 Sep 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
@MuslimMatters As much as I would like a selfie with the Kabba in the background, I think it would distract me from the purpose #hajjselfie
Ba'Luqman@luqmana2011Follow
@MuslimMatters As much as I would like a selfie with the Kabba in the background, I think it would distract me from the purpose #hajjselfie
11:28 AM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
@MuslimMatters The hajj is all about overcoming your "self"! #hajjselfie wont bring anyone anyhere.
Asl? ?irin@yshirinFollow
@MuslimMatters The hajj is all about overcoming your "self"! #hajjselfie wont bring anyone anyhere.
12:32 PM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
Others approved of it, but only in moderation.
@MuslimMatters Kaaba is not Eiffel Tower. Ok with selfie but Let's stay moderate.
ismaeel zinki@ismaeel_zinkiFollow
@MuslimMatters Kaaba is not Eiffel Tower. Ok with selfie but Let's stay moderate.
12:12 PM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
@MuslimMatters its fine as long as you don't spend your entire trip taking selfies...i mean take a picture but not during the manasik
Fatema Nassar@FatmaNassarFollow
@MuslimMatters its fine as long as you don't spend your entire trip taking selfies...i mean take a picture but not during the manasik
11:32 AM - 30 Sep 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
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#hacc #masjid #al #Haram #kaaba #makka
Some believed it was a good way to remember such a significant event.
@MuslimMatters what's wrong with it-- as long as it's not constant and is only for memorializing a memorable trip
Amad@amadshkFollow
@MuslimMatters what's wrong with it-- as long as it's not constant and is only for memorializing a memorable trip
12:11 PM - 30 Sep 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
@MuslimMatters so nice to keep for looking back on. I have a pic I snapped of the Kabah at Umrah, I love seeing it
Sumbz@SumbelinaZFollow
@MuslimMatters so nice to keep for looking back on. I have a pic I snapped of the Kabah at Umrah, I love seeing it
11:14 AM - 30 Sep 14RetweetFavorite
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#makkah #kaaba #selfie #cutie #haram
But many demanded a ban on the hajj selfies.
RT #hajjselfie hitting the headlines pass a message to Hajis to stop taking selfles and stay in worship. #Hajj2014
Al Mubarak Radio ™@MrAlMubarakFollow
RT #hajjselfie hitting the headlines pass a message to Hajis to stop taking selfles and stay in worship.
#Hajj2014
2:45 PM - 01 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
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Tasneem Nashrulla is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Tasneem Nashrulla at tasneem.nashrulla@buzzfeed.com.
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