It is true. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) of Saudi Arabia in its diplomatic note number 270 issued a Circular of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to the person in charge of Hajj affairs in the countries of origin of Hajj. The circular describes the prohibition of pilgrims and umrah for selfies or taking pictures in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.
Circular was signed by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mohammed Saleg Bin Taher Benten. The diplomatic note was received by the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh on November 15, 2017.
This new rule does not only apply to pilgrims who take pictures using a smartphone, but for those who take pictures with cameras, video recorders, television cameras. The Government of Saudi Arabia assesses the sanctity of the Holy Mosque and the Nabawi Mosque needs to be kept in mind as both are sacred places.
If violations are found, the security forces will not hesitate to take decisive action, from removing films or pictures in the Holy Mosque and Nabawi Mosque to confiscating tools. Hajj and Umrah pilgrims are expected to obey and comply with the new rules that apply.
Apart from being addressed to the Government of Indonesia, the latest official notification from Saudi has been submitted to congregation sending countries from all over the world. Every year there are around 3 million pilgrims who go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
In a letter signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2017 it was also stated that this ban was imposed because of the increasingly uncontrolled pilgrims taking selfies at the holy mosque. It is feared that this activity will disturb other worshipers who are worshiping fardhu or sunnah.
The Saudi asked those responsible for pilgrimage in the countries of origin of the pilgrimage to immediately provide information to prospective pilgrims who will depart in 2018. This is important because there are still many pilgrims who may not know the new rules.
Taking pictures during the pilgrimage, said Al-Hakeem, is indeed not haram, but must look at the situation, time and place so as not to hit values. Another Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abdul Razzaq Al-Badr also said that the Hajj or Umrah to Mecca is a worship, not a tourism recreation.
"Today, many people take pictures during the Hajj, either during Tawaf, Arafat, or throwing Jumrah," said Al-Badr. "This is like a visit to Mecca just for photographs, not worship. When they are selfie, they look calm, humble, or scared, but after being photographed they come back as usual, "he said
About seven years ago, cellphones were still strictly forbidden to be brought into the Holy Mosque or Nabawi Mosque, let alone DSLR cameras. However, lately the regulation has slackened.
The latest rules from Saudi authorities have long been championed by a number of academics and the country's internal clerics. Their unrest was grounded because in the past few years, pilgrims were increasingly exposed to selfie fever or vlogs while performing worship services.
Taking pictures, whether photos or videos, not only occurs in the porch of the Holy Mosque and the Nabawi Mosque, but also near the Kaaba, when kissing Hajar Aswad, or when standing near on the hills of Safa or Marwa.
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