Saudi Arabia advises pilgrims against jostling for Black Stone in Mecca Grand Mosque

Cairo: Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims not to stand for too long next to a revered stone in the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest place in the city of Mecca, saying the behaviour disrupts the flow of movement.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj explained that prolonged standing near the Black Stone, a rock set in the eastern corner of the Holy Kaaba, during performing the Umrah rites or lesser pilgrimage hampers the smooth movement of the pilgrims in the central courtyard of the Grand Mosque.

The ministry advised pilgrims to avoid this behaviour, saying that stopping next to the Black Stone causes disruptive crowding and scrambling during the Tawaf or circumambulation ritual.

Some pilgrims sometimes push and shove in the congregation for touching or kissing the sacred stone.

The ministry pointed out that stopping is not a condition for the validity of Tawaf, and pilgrims may point to the Black Stone as they move.

Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is quoted as saying that the Black Stone came down from Paradise and was "whiter than milk but the children of Adam's sins made it black".

The main rituals of the Umrah are encircling the Holy Kaaba for seven times known as Tawaf, and likewise walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, a rite called Sa’i, in the Grand Mosque.

The current season of Umrah, which can be undertaken around the year, began in late June after the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The Ministry of Hajj has set April 29, corresponding to the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul Qadah, as the final day for foreign Umrah pilgrims to leave the country, as the kingdom is stepping up efforts for the upcoming Hajj season.