Azhar in Cairo have warned Muslims against using the Haj pilgrimage as an opportunity to “realize political gains and ulterior motives,” describing such actions as “violating the true principles of Islamic Shariah.” Sheikh Ali Abu Al-Hassan, Adviser to the Sheikh of Al-Azhar for Fatwa Affairs, cited the Qur'an as saying that the Haj pilgrimage was one of the pillars of Islam and “so no wrangling is allowed during the Haj,” adding that exploiting it for political purposes was forbidden. “Islam prohibits any activity other than worshipping during the Haj,” he said. Al-Hassan added that Muslims around the globe “supported the Kingdom's measures to maintain stability and security in the Haj” and warned against “agitating Muslims' feelings during the Haj by raising sectarian issues.” The Secretary General of Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Academy, Sheikh Ali Abdul Baqi, warned against exploiting pilgrim crowds during the Haj to voice political slogans “which have no connection to Haj.” Sheikh Baqi called upon pilgrims to “devote themselves to worshipping Allah and seeking His forgiveness, and not engaging themselves in earthly matters which have no connection to Haj and Islam.” The Palestinian Minister of Communications Imad Al-Falouji, has also warned against politicizing the pilgrimage season. Al-Falouji, who also chairs the Center for Civilizations Dialogue in Gaza, said that “calls from some quarters to politicize the Haj through sectarianism, to trespass on the Kingdom's role and address crises occurring in various countries” were not a part of the rites of Haj and “have nothing to do with Islam”. Responding to calls by officials in some countries to divide pilgrims along sectarian lines and increase their numbers, Al-Falouji said: “We believe that the Haj is an integrating Islamic season.” – Okaz/SG where there is no difference between one school of thought or sect and another. It is a grave mistake to try and tamper with Muslim unity during that season, and the most important thing in Haj is to show Muslims in unity, irrespective of schools of thought, borders, countries or color.”
