HAJJ / UMRAH SELFIES ! ONE OF THE GREATEST TOPIC OF CONCERN !!

HAJJ / UMRAH SELFIES ! ONE OF THE GREATEST TOPIC OF CONCERN !!

Nowadays People pose in front of the most holiest place (Ka'bah) and The Mosque of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and snap selfies.

Lets try to Reflect that why shouldn't we snap selfies in Haramain !

AVOID TAKING SELFIES AT THE TWO GRAND MOSQUES :

* "The Prophet (peace be upon him) when He went for Hajj, He said: O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing of."

Taking selfies and then later on posting it on social media is the Biggest Riya'. These special moments of connectivity with your Lord should be kept secret.

* What is the use of taking selfies and ruining your Acts of Ibadah by 'Humbly-Bragging' about your visit to Haramain Sharifain and showing your selfies to the whole world to gain praise. Shouldn't this be kept secret? Doesnt it comes under "Riya' (Showoff)"

The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) described Riya’ by giving the example of a person performing prayer for Allah, and improving his rendering of the Salat when he knows that others are watching him. Allah says:

So woe unto those performers of Salat (hypocrites), Those who delay their Salat (from their stated fixed times). Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men). And prevent Al-Ma’un (small kindnesses) (Surah Al-Maauun 107: 4 – 7)

Performing worship or a (righteous) deed for worldly reasons is minor Shirk

Any good deed performed with the intention of showing off and pleasing people is not acceptable. For example, if one reads the Quran craving for people’s admiration for the beautiful recitation and not as a duty to Allah but to impress people falls under the category of showing off, and is considered minor shirk. We should, therefore, be aware of such shirk and do every good deed for Allah alone, and not to enhance our image or status among people. (Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allah ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy on him, vol. 9, p. 3)

We know that on the Day of Judgment we will be in a desperate need of Allah’s mercy. We can get His mercy on that day by earning it today by focusing to do good deeds only for His sake. Instead, when we do good deeds to seek others’ admiration, Allah will turn us away. The Messenger of Allah, (Peace be Upon Him) said,

“Verily, what I fear most for you is the lesser idolatry.” And he elaborated, “It is showing off. Allah the Exalted will say to them (who show off), on the Day of Resurrection when the people are being rewarded for their deeds: Go to those whom you wished to show off in the world and look for your reward with them.” (Musnad Ahmad Hadith 23119)

* Pilgrims can be seen video recording themselves walking around the Kaaba, kissing the black stone, perched close to the mount of Safa or Marwa, while doing Tawaf and they forget that supplications are to be said while doing Tawaf and Sa'ee and they remain busy recording videos and taking selfies !

* Visiting Hajj/Umrah is a rare journey that happens Once in a Lifetime and are the biggest opportunities to get closer to Allah and Purify Our souls but many people waste the true essence of their Ibadah by making videos and taking selfies !

* The urge to document their every move at the holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah, and to share these precious moments with friends and families on social media has resulted in more pilgrims using their phones in the holy mosques than they once used to.

Many believe such behavior can be a deterrent to achieving humility and tranquility while performing acts of worship.

OPINIONS OF SCHOLARS :

* Jeddah-based scholar Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem said: “Photography without a legitimate reason is an issue of dispute among scholars. However, despite this difference of opinion, there shouldn’t be any dispute when it comes to the real meaning of Hajj/Umrah and the essence behind it. It is based on sincerity and following the sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) when he went for Haj, he said: O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing of. Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our Prophet.”

* Famous scholar Sheikh Abdul Razzaq Al-Badr warned against taking photos during Hajj/Umrah, saying: “When the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached the Miqaat he would say: ‘0 Allah make this a Haj without riya (showing off) and without trying to be heard of.’ This supplication is said at the Miqaat. And after making this supplication it is followed by action and striving against the soul. But now at the Miqaat many of the people are taking pictures as mementos. They take pictures on Tawaf, and Arafat, and while throwing at the Jamarat.”

“It is as though the only purpose of this trip is to take pictures and not worship. And when they return home they say: ‘Come look at me, this is me on Arafat, this is me in Muzdalifah! And we have seen some of the people when they are ready to take the picture they raise their hands in the appearance of humility, fear, and tranquility. And then after the picture is snapped.

However, as has been witnessed in the past few days, it seems visitors to the two holy mosques do not want to be left behind in following trends of the world, even if they contradict the nature of their worship.

The sudden boom in selfies and photo shoots in the holy mosques premises can also be partly blamed on the increased sale and use of smartphones.

* Taking continuous selfies and filming destroys one's khushu and focus in prayer.

These Moments should be kept private between You and Allah only. Dont do "Touristy Behaviour" while visiting Makkah And Madinah, they are the Holiest places so avoid anything that waste your acts of Ibadah! Visit these places with the sole intention of pleasing your Lord.

May Allah bless us with Hidayah and Better understanding of His Deen. Ameen.

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Jazakum Allahu Khayran

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