‘Illegality’ is probably in the eye of the beholder here: AFP/France 24, Hajj on the cheap: off-the-books pilgrims hide out in Mecca, 5 Jun 2024. “Living on canned beans...
There is some controversy about moonsighting. This should not come as a shock. It comes around on the calendar every year. New Crescent Society said it hadn’t been spotted...
I write about the hajj in its digital frameworks in Islamic Algorithms, and you can track back in this channel for previous stories and links (try the #hajj hashtag...
It’s important that tawaaf is made as accessible as possible for all pilgrims, including those with mobility needs. This clip shows a remarkable result of the new scooter policy....
Arab News, Grand Mosque employs ‘guidance robot’ for fatwa inquiries, 11 August 2023. “A “guidance robot” has been developed to assist pilgrims and Umrah performers in understanding the rituals...
Arab News, New e-services launched to aid Hajj and Umrah, 18 June 2023 “The services include a Sharia awareness app that educates pilgrims on Hajj rituals, and offers a...
Yaghoub Fazeli, Al Arabiya English, Iran’s top Sunni cleric says barred from Hajj by Iranian authorities, 14 June 2023 “Molavi Abdolhamid had planned to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage this...
Samad Javed, Hyphen Online, Online booking chaos hits UK Hajj Muslims for second year in a row, 17 May 2023 “Pilgrims report cancellations, payment glitches and poor customer service...
Samir Jeraj, Hyphen, Pilgrims are still fighting for compensation from ill-fated Hajj platform Motawiff, 17 March 2023 “One year after the introduction of the Saudi Arabian government’s chaotic online...