Egyptian grand mufti emphasizes illegality of distributing political leaflets during Hajj

The Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Shawqi Allam emphasized here today the illegality of distributing political leaflets or raising partisan signboards, whatsoever they might be, during the rites of Hajj, as such acts are strictly prohibited by Islam, because they trigger disunity, struggle and controversy, contrary to the very motives and principles of Hajj. In a religious legal opinion (Fatwa) issued to address a quest concerning the legitimacy of a call by some political movements for shouting political slogans during the great gathering of Muslims at Arafat and distribute leaflets among Egyptian and otherwise pilgrims, the Mufti decided that such acts show disrespect and scorning the religious rites by using the highly prestigious religious occasion for secular interests and distracting pilgrims from their main objective of extolling God Almighty.