MAKKAH, June 12 (Bernama) -- Male pilgrims are advised not to resort to wearing ihram solely to perform the tawaf sunat (voluntary tawaf) in the mataf, the area around the Kaabah.
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) Holy Land haj facilitator Ustaz Suhaimi Samad said that although this act is valid in terms of religious practice, it remains inappropriate in terms of etiquette as it involves deceit in performing worship.
“I receive many questions about the ruling if pilgrims do not perform umrah but wear ihram to enable them to perform tawaf in the mataf. It is indeed not permissible because the Saudi Arabian authorities have stipulated that tawaf in the mataf is only allowed for those intending to perform umrah.
“It is permissible (in Islam), but in terms of adab (etiquette) it is deceitful to wear ihram solely to perform the voluntary tawaf in the mataf. If you want to perform worship, I advise pilgrims to simply follow the rules set by the authorities.
“Hopefully, we will gain blessings and our worship will be accepted,” he told reporters at TH headquarters here recently.
However, Suhaimi said there is flexibility for male pilgrims to do so involving several situations, including in cases where a husband wishes to accompany his wife to perform tawaf (circumambulation) umrah, which previously could not be done due to menstruation.
At the same time, he advised haj pilgrims who wish to perform voluntary circumambulation to do so on the first floor of the Masjidil Haram to avoid congestion in the mataf.
"If there is no ability to walk, pilgrims can use the electric scooter services provided by the Masjidil Haram authorities. It must be remembered that every riyal spent will be rewarded a hundred thousand times over," he said.
-- BERNAMA
