Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-10-01

A new trend has emerged while undertaking the spiritual journey of Hajj to the holy sites in Makkah and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

A growing number of hujjaj are taking pictures of themselves while on hajj and posting it on social media for friends and family at home, according to the Arab News website.

Favourite scenes include tawaaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba, trying to kiss Hajre Aswad (the black stone) or standing near the green dome of the Prophet’s (PBUH) masjid.

The practice apparently took off after the authorities relaxed a previous ban on camera phones inside the holy sites.

Several scholars have spoken out against “selfie fever” as “touristy behaviour”.

“Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our prophet (PBUH),” said Saudi cleric Assim Al-Hakeem.

Famous scholar Sheikh Abdul Razzaq Al-Badr warned against taking photos during Haj, saying: “When the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached the Miqaat he would say: ‘0 Allah make this a Hajj without riya (showing off) and without trying to be heard of.’

However the concerns and disapproval by clerics is likely to fall on deaf ears – even a former grand mufti in Egypt has been critical – is unlikely to have an effect.

“So many people have camera phones, it’s not easy to stop,” one pilgrim says.

The sudden surge in selfies and photo shoots in the holy mosques can be partly blamed on the increased sale and use of smartphones.

Until a few years ago, camera phones were prohibited from being taken inside the holy mosques, although some hujjaj managed to sneak them in.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)