Riyadh (UNA/SPA) - The General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars reiterated the Council of Senior Scholars' statement dated 12 Shawwal 1445 AH regarding the necessity of obtaining a permit for those who want to go to Hajj, and that it is not permissible to go to Hajj without obtaining a permit, and that whoever performs Hajj without a permit is a sinner.
The Secretary-General of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Fahd bin Saad Al-Majed, said: “The fatwa of the Council of Senior Scholars in this regard was based on a number of evidence and legal principles, foremost among which is what Islamic law stipulates regarding making it easy for worshippers to perform their worship and rituals, and removing hardship from them. God Almighty says: (Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship), and He also says: (And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty), and the obligation to obtain a Hajj permit came with the intention of organizing the pilgrims, in a way that enables these large groups to perform their rituals with tranquility and safety, and this is a correct legal objective stipulated by the evidence of Sharia.
It is also - that is, the commitment to obtaining the permit - consistent with the interest required by Islamic law, as the government agencies concerned with organizing Hajj draw up a plan for the Hajj season with its various aspects, including security, health, accommodation and food, according to the numbers authorized for them. The more the number of pilgrims is consistent with those authorized for them, the more this will achieve the quality of services provided to the pilgrims. This is intended by Islamic law, as in the Almighty’s saying: “And remember [O Muhammad], We made the House a place of assembly for the people and a place of safety. And take [O Muhammad], from the standing place of Abraham, a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, saying, ‘Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stay there and those who bow and prostrate.’”
He added: “The commitment to obtaining the permit is part of obeying the guardian in what is right. God Almighty said: (O you who have believed, obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you), and there are many texts on this, all of which confirm the obligation to obey the guardian in what is right, and the prohibition of disobeying his command. The commitment to obtaining the permit is part of obedience in what is right. The one who adheres to it is rewarded, and the one who disobeys it is sinful and deserves the punishment prescribed by the guardian.”
The Council of Senior Scholars recommended that pilgrims adhere to the requirement of a permit. This is because, God willing, compliance with this requirement will prevent significant harm and multiple risks that arise from failure to obtain this permit. These risks include impacting the safety and health of pilgrims, the quality of services provided to them, and their transportation and grouping plans between the holy sites.
The Authority explained that performing Hajj without a permit does not only cause harm to the pilgrim himself, but also extends to other pilgrims who have adhered to the regulations. It is established in Sharia that harm that extends is a greater sin than harm that is minor. In the agreed upon hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe.” And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
She concluded her statement by saying that adhering to obtaining the permit is a form of fearing God Almighty. These regulations and instructions were only established for the benefit of pilgrims. God Almighty says: “And whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein, there is no sexual relations nor disobedience nor disputing during Hajj.”
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