Millions of Muslims traveling to Mecca have caught “selfie fever,” angering some Muslim clerics for snapping pictures of themselves at holy sites during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Many young Muslims believe that posting selfies on social media is the best way to communicate with their families and document precious moments.
“I’m taking a selfie with Kaaba behind me to post on my Facebook so my family and friends can see me. That’s the way we communicate these days – no need to call,” Reuters quoted Turkish student Mehmet Dawoud as saying.
حُمَّى «سيلفي الحج» تُشعل غضب مستخدمي التواصل الاجتماعي http://t.co/4502HbVRJQ#HajjSelfiepic.twitter.com/It15U9Iigi
— Hala Safwat (@HalaLoCa) October 3, 2014
“Selfies are just a way to make the memory last in the coolest possible way. Haj is always seen as something very serious and for older people. Selfies make it cool again,” said Egyptian architect Amir Marouf.
Morality battles over #hajjselfie aside, this guy is winning. #NotInMyName Via @iimandesu #الحج_1435pic.twitter.com/yThF5TWRCU
— Erin Kilbride (@neo_chlo) October 2, 2014
Others have criticized the social media craze, saying it takes away from prayer and selflessness, and serves as a distraction from the seriousness of the religious pilgrimage.
@MuslimMatters Ruins tranquility and misleading the purpose of being there.
— StrangerOnTheEarth (@StrangerEarth) September 30, 2014
@MuslimMatters The hajj is all about overcoming your "self"! #hajjselfie wont bring anyone anyhere.
— Aslı Şirin (@yshirin) September 30, 2014
Many clerics have looked down on the selfie phenomena, at times even banning cameras from the premises.
“The Prophet...when he went for Hajj, he said: 'O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing off.' Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our Prophet,” Huffington Post quoted Jeddah-based scholar Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem as saying.
Millions of Muslims are making their way to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The trip must be carried out at least once in a lifetime as a mandatory religious duty, if a person can physically and financially afford the journey.
This year it falls on October 1-6, with the date varying according to moon sightings.
Forget #hajjselfie when you can do a selfie with a chill camel -- my friend in Doha pic.twitter.com/sHEpkrNpqt
— Amad (@amadshk) October 2, 2014
One of the most trending pilgrim selfies was posted on April 30, replicating the most re-tweeted Oscar selfie posted by television celebrity Ellen DeGeneres.
The tweet said: “Can the #HajjSelfie beat the #OscarSelfie in Retweets? Let's RT this to infinity #Muslim and say #mashAllah.”
Can #Hajjselfie beat the #OscarSelfie in Retweets ? Lets RT this To infinity #Muslim and say #mashAllahpic.twitter.com/WQANJ5m8Hh
— Somalia Pundit (@SomPundit) April 30, 2014