Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 09-02-2018

While Saudi Arabia has banned pilgrims from taking selfie photos and videos using any devices for any purpose at Islam’s two holiest mosques, ironically, it hasn’t stopped the kingdom from setting up a free mobile charging service at the haram in Makkah and Masjid-un-Nabawi in Medina.

Millions of people visit Saudi Arabia every year to perform Umrah or Hajj and naturally want to document the journey by taking photos.

The extended usage of the devices to take photos, make calls, send messages or post on social media depletes the battery, requiring a quick charge if you don’t have a power bank.

Secretary General of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa Moulana Ebrahim Bham who is in Saudi Arabia says he was taken by surprise when he saw the mobile charging stations.

Ml Bham says while many would deem the charging stations as in appropriate or going against the sanctity of the two holy masajid, circumstances have changed.

“Today the mobiles phone has not only been a means of talking to others, it has also been a means of doing our hotel and plane bookings, setting up our arrangements and appointments. Therefore it was quite interesting that the charging stations will only have charging for five minutes, just to keep in mind emergencies etc.”

Ml Bham has reiterated that mobile phone is as good or as bad as the person using it.

“It all depends again to the point, that the usage of the mobile phone will be beneficial or harmful according to how we utilize it.”

The charging stations are attached to pillars which is wired up to the haram’s electricity.

They are designed to power eight phones at any given time and worshippers will be required to remain near their phones whilst they are on charge.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143