Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims Must Adhere to Saudi Laws, Say Tahir Ashrafi

Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Secretary General of the International Ta’zeem Haramain Sharifain Council, and President of Dar-ul-Ifta Pakistan, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi have emphasized that Hajj and Umrah pilgrims must strictly follow Saudi Arabia’s laws and regulations. They highlighted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is dedicated to serving Islam and millions of pilgrims simultaneously and that its institutions work tirelessly to ensure a smooth and sacred pilgrimage experience.

They reiterated that due to the increasing number of pilgrims, Saudi authorities and scholars have repeatedly urged visitors to offer prayers at designated places rather than overcrowding the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi). They emphasized that offering prayers anywhere within the sacred boundaries of Masjid al-Haram holds the reward of 100,000 prayers.

Expressing concern over recent incidents, the scholars strongly condemned the actions of certain individuals who have disrespected Saudi laws, including a woman assaulting a Saudi security officer and some pilgrims washing and hanging clothes within the holy mosques. They also denounced acts such as changing clothes inside the Haram and wearing Ihram only for Tawaf, calling them violations of Saudi regulations.

The statement warned that if Saudi authorities take strict action, they would be justified in doing so. The scholars urged Pakistani pilgrims to respect the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain, follow the Kingdom’s laws, and avoid actions that create difficulties for themselves and future visitors.

“Respecting the holy sites and adhering to Saudi laws is a religious and moral duty. Any act that goes against the rules set by Saudi scholars and authorities should be strictly avoided,” they emphasized.