Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said yesterday that squatting on roads is tantamount to harming lawful pilgrims.
“Squatting of illegal pilgrims causes harm to other Haj pilgrims. So, any pilgrim (legal or illegal) should avoid such acts.”
Al-Asheikh also said all the pilgrims should fear God in all their acts and that included not worshipping on roads. “Every act of worship should be carried out with humility, peace of mind without causing harm to others.”
Squatting pilgrims are those without mandatory Haj permits. Since no tent facility is available for them, such illegal pilgrims sleep on roads, pavements and any empty space in the holy sites. They block the traffic and create a number of problems including upsetting government plans for utilities at the holy sites.
“No road should be blocked in any way and harmful things should be removed from the road in line with a saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): Beware of sitting on the road. If you insist on sitting there you must accord the road its right. They are lowering your looks, preventing harmful deeds, return the salam and commanding to do good and preventing vice,” the grand mufti said in a statement to the SPA.
There are reports of thousands of illegal pilgrims taking part in Haj this year. According to last year’s reports, more than 800,000 people participated illegally in Haj last year.
Problems created by squatters highlighted
