Jeddah: Haj pilgrims should refrain from visiting sites not approved by the Qur'an and the Sunnah because this contravenes Shariah principles. This was the warning issued to pilgrims by Dr. Saleh Bin Fouzan Al-Fouzan, member of the Board of Senior Scholars (Ulema). He said such visits are a form of innovation (or Bid'a in Islam). Al-Fouzan told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that some pilgrims exhaust themselves physically and waste their time and money to travel to these so-called holy sites in Makkah and Madina, like Ghar Hira (Cave Hira, the sanctum of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Ghar Thour and some others. He said such visits are not sanctioned by the Shariah and that the ban was decreed to prevent evil. He said some pilgrims travel to the “seven mosques” and the “Qiblatain mosque” in Madina to perform prayers, supplicate and seek blessings. He said that worshipping in these areas is nothing but an innovation in Islam. Al-Fouzan said the mosques that pilgrims are allowed to visit, and decreed by Allah, are the Grand Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque and the Aqsa Mosque. It is also allowed to visit the Qaba Mosque for those who live in Madina. “In Islam there are no caves or other places to be visited in Makkah and Madina with the exception of the ones decreed by Allah. There is no evidence in Islam condoning this. A pilgrim comes only for the sake of Allah's reward, therefore, he should only confine himself to what is decreed by Almighty Allah.” He urged pilgrims to rather devote themselves to worshipping and supplicating to Allah in the Holy Haram instead of wasting their time on such innovations. He also urged them to save their money and to spend it for the sake of Allah and on alms to win Allah's blessings. He said those who visit these places are sinning. He appealed to them to refrain from such malpractices, not to listen to those who have little knowledge about Islam, or to believe what is written in some booklets about the Haj rituals. He called on pilgrims to abide strictly by authenticated documents which are sourced from the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah. He also urged pilgrims to seek the advice of scholars.
