MAKKAH — The Saudi Council of Senior Scholars called on the Hajj pilgrims to stay away from everything that causes division and disagreement. In a statement issued on Thursday, the council urged the pilgrims to ensure performing the rituals of Hajj strictly in line with the directives of God and the Tradition of His Messenger (peace be upon him). "The pilgrims should keep away from all sins and leave everything that causes animosity and hatred among Muslims in terms of arguments and slogans that provoke hostility. All the words and actions of pilgrims must be calls to goodness, righteousness, piety, and extending cooperation on the basis of them," the General Secretariat of the council said in a statement. The council called on the pilgrims to be keen on performing the rituals of Hajj, following the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with devotion to God alone, and diligence that all actions must be to God alone, whether it is prayer, supplication, tawaf (circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), sai' (ritual of running between Safa and Marwah), and all other acts of worship. The council noted that what God Almighty urged the pilgrims to do is to be keen on doing all kinds of good, including good words, advice, charity, guiding the lost, teaching the ignorant, and all other good for which God will reward. "God commanded the pilgrims to furnish with everything that would benefit them in their pilgrimage, including foodstuff, and useful books that teach them to perform their rituals," it said while emphasizing that the best provision is piety. The council urged them to fear God and keep away from everything that angers Him. "Fear God in the matter of other pilgrims who are their brothers so as not to do anything that are harmful to them in word or deed." The scholars urged the pilgrims to ask the people of knowledge about any matter in which they have some doubts or needed clarification so that their pilgrimage will be in accordance with what God has commanded and the Prophet (PBUH) instructed. They asked God to protect the pilgrims and make Hajj easier for them and accept their rituals.
