Saudis under fire for making pilgrimage every year

A senior Saudi scholar has criticized people living in the Gulf kingdom for making the annual pilgrimage to Makkah every year, saying they are crowding the holy places and causing deadly accidents.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Mutlaq, a member of the seven-man supreme scholars council which was appointed by King Abdullah, said Muslims living in Saudi Arabia should go on pilgrimage once every five years in line with the Monarch’s instructions.

“Those who go to Haj (pilgrimage) every year are violating the King’s rules and hurting the Haj reputation…this amounts to disobedience,” he said.

“We must comply with the King’s instructions and make Haj once every five years because this amounts to faith and obedience…many Muslims come from abroad for Haj and we here should give way to them to reduce crowding and prevent deadly accidents…causing death during the Haj rites is a big crime.”

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