Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — Many pilgrims practice certain rites that have not been approved by the religion because of superstition. They believe that these practices will help make their wishes come true. Some people seek blessings from the Hira Cave and the Mount of Mercy (Jabal Al-Rahma) while others take a piece of rock from these mountains or they scribble on these mountains believing that this will help make their wishes come true. Saudi Gazette witnessed a peculiar practice by some pilgrims who collect seeds thrown in the courtyards of the Haram for birds, especially pigeons, to eat. Among the most well-known places for collecting seeds is Al-Hajlah Area in Al-Misfalah district, Al-Hafayer area adjacent to the Haram and Al-Ghazza area. Shedding some light on the practice was Al-Haj Riyasah Ghulam, 60, from South Asia. Ghulam said he and his wife were not blessed with children due to his wife's inability to conceive. He said they tried all kinds of treatments but their efforts were in vain. Finally, one of his colleagues suggested that he and his wife perform Haj and collect the seeds from the courtyards of the Haram and eat them. After completing their Haj rites, the couple headed to the nearest courtyards where seeds are scattered for birds, picked up seven seeds each and ate them believing that this will help his wife, 54, conceive. They are waiting for the results. Al-Haj Majdi Al-Hur, who is from an Arab country, came for Haj. When he disclosed his travel plan to a male relative, the latter requested him to go to the Mount of Mercy, climb the mountain and write his name so that his longtime wish to perform Haj and Umrah will come true. The moment he arrived in Makkah, Al-Hur headed to the mountain and climbed to the top and wrote his relative's name on a rock. He, too, is waiting for the results of his action. Al-Haj Ismail Ma'aty, also from an Arab country, said his wife suffers from epilepsy and takes medicine to limit the episodes. Doctors told them there is no cure for her condition but one of his relatives told him to take his wife to Makkah where they should collect whole seeds from one of the courtyards of the Haram. His wife was then asked to eat one seed before each of the three daily meals for three consecutive days. “I did as I was advised but my wife has not been cured of epilepsy. She is still suffering from the attacks,” he said. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Sahli, director of the Islamic Studies Center at the Faculty of Shariah at Umm Al-Qura University, said a Muslim should have strong faith and trust in Allah Almighty. He said some of these actions are tantamount to heresy and people practicing them are doing “shirk”, that is, associating partners with Allah.
