It has become a serious distraction for both Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and scholars are warning about it openly.
Content creators bring awareness, but when Hajj/Umrah turns to content, it destroys the soul of Ibadah.
Now, let’s analyze the the real negative consequences we see in Makkah/Madinah now:
- Loss of Sincerity (Riya) — Biggest danger
Hajj is supposed to be: “Labbayka Allahumma labbayk — Here I am, O Allah, only for You.”
Camera changes intention from for Allah to for followers.
Prophet ﷺ said: _”Whoever shows off, Allah will expose him.
Many now do Tawaf while holding phone live, crying for thumbnail, not for Allah. Scholars say if intention was views, reward is lost.
- Disrespect of Haram and Rituals:
Filming during Tawaf, Sa’ee, inside Rawdah and on top of Jabal Nur — blocking thousands.
– Dancing, makeup tutorials, outfit transitions inside Masjid al-Haram.
– Turning Arafah dua — the most sacred day — into vlog time.
In 2024, two influencers were arrested for filming TikTok dance in front of Kaaba.
- Crowd, Safety and Nuisance to Pilgrims
Haram is already 2-3 million capacity. When a creator stops to film, they block path.
– Pilgrims miss Tawaf because tripod in the way
– Old people get pushed while someone does selfie
– Guards now spend time chasing cameras instead of helping pilgrims
- Spreading Misinformation
Many creators never learned Fiqh of Hajj. They teach wrong rituals for views:
– “Touch Kaaba for blessing” — not Sunnah
– Wrong way of stoning, wrong dua in Arafah
– Selling fake “Hajj hacks” — e.g. “Skip Mina, stay in hotel, it’s okay”
Followers copy it and spoil their Hajj.
- Privacy Violation
Filming women in Ihram, crying people making dua, dead bodies after heat — without permission. Especially women who didn’t consent to be on someone’s 500k views video.
Saudi new rule 2025: No filming of other pilgrims’ faces without consent.
– Commercializing a Pillar
– Promoting brands inside Ihram — “This abaya from my store”
– Begging for gifts: “Sponsor my Hajj next year”
– Fake “Hajj giveaway” scams using Kaaba background
Hajj becomes business content farm, not Ibadah.
- Psychological Pressure on Poor Muslims*
When influencers show VIP tents, 5-star Clock Tower, $20k packages, normal Muslims feel their N5M Hajj is inferior. Hajj is about equality in Ihram, but Instagram makes it look like luxury competition.
What Saudi is doing now:
– Nusuk guidelines: No live streaming during main rituals, no tripods, no professional equipment without permit
– Signs in Haram: “Hajj is Ibadah, not exhibition”
– Fines up to 10,000 SAR for disruptive filming
– Scholar’s advice: Put phone on airplane mode from Ihram till you finish. Film only 1-2 clips after for memory, not during dua.
Nasiha: If you must create content, do it after* ritual, outside Masjid, to educate — not during Tawaf, not during dua in Arafah, not in front of people praying. Allah sees intention before camera does.
