Sacred selfie? Muslim cleric hits out over new Hajj trend at Mecca

It’s the narcissistic trend that has seemingly swept the world – the ‘selfie’.

First it was celebrating movie stars at the Oscars, then the sporting world jumped on the bandwagon.

Now it seems even religion cannot escape the craze.

A growing number of Muslims on the Hajj – the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that devotees try to do at least once in their lifetime – are taking the self portraits and posting them on social media to share with friends and family, according to Arab News website.

The pictures – which include some taken around the Kaaba in Mecca, one of the most sacred Islamic locations – have reportedly upsets clerics.

“Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our prophet,” Saudi cleric Assim Al-Hakeem told the BBC.

Jeddah-based scholar Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem told Arab News: “Photography without a legitimate reason is an issue of dispute among scholars. However, despite this difference of opinion, there shouldn’t be any dispute when it comes to the real meaning of Haj and the essence behind it. It is based on sincerity and following the sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) when he went for Haj, 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.”

SACREDSELFIES? TWEETSFROMMECCA