MUI Calls for Dedicated Schedule for Pilgrims Seeking to Kiss Hajar Aswad

Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Buya Anwar Abbas has urged the Saudi government to establish more orderly regulations regarding the kissing of the Hajar Aswad at Masjidil Haram in Makkah al-Mukarramah. He stated that such regulations are crucial for ensuring the safety, comfort, and devotion of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Buya Anwar explained that kissing the Hajar Aswad, embedded in the Ka’bah’s wall at the Baitullah, is a practice followed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). However, he noted that the black stone itself holds no inherent sanctity. He recalled the story of Prophet Muhammad’s companion Umar bin Khattab, who kissed the stone solely in emulation of the Prophet, not because of the stone’s own significance. During the act, the companion known as al-Faruq would often declare loudly, audible throughout Masjidil Haram: ‘If the Prophet had not kissed you, I would not have either. But since he did, I do as well.’ However, Buya Anwar added that current conditions differ vastly from the time of the Prophet and his companions, when the number of Umrah and Hajj pilgrims was relatively small. Today, millions of Muslims from across the globe visit the Holy Land each year, with each pilgrim desiring to touch or kiss the Hajar Aswad. This often leads to long queues and crowding around the Ka’bah, which, according to Buya Anwar, frequently results in behaviour that should be avoided during worship. ‘Generally, pilgrims wish to kiss the Hajar Aswad, leading to scrambles and crowding among both male and female attendees, with elbowing and pushing not uncommon,’ Buya Anwar told Republika on Saturday, 30 May 2026. He also highlighted the plight of female pilgrims, who sometimes find themselves trapped among male crowds while attempting to approach the Hajar Aswad. Such conditions, he noted, can compromise comfort and potentially breach decorum, particularly in the sacred area surrounding the Ka’bah. Therefore, Buya Anwar urged the Saudi government to consider specific policies to regulate access for pilgrims wishing to kiss the Hajar Aswad. The MUI vice chairman proposed designated time slots for female pilgrims to kiss the Hajar Aswad, managed through a prior registration system. ‘We urge the Saudi government to properly regulate and organise the kissing of the Hajar Aswad, particularly for female pilgrims,’ he said.