The black line to mark the beginning of the tawaf

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, I read in some newspapers that one of the Shaykhs said that the beginning of the tawaf and the placement of a black line is an error.

The Shaykh:
May Allah keep you safe.

The questioner:
I read in the newspapers that one of the Shaykhs said that the beginning of the tawaf and the placement of a black line to mark the start is an error because it causes congestion and harm. Is this correct?

The Shaykh:
Yes, this has a point of view. This line is an innovation; it did not exist before. I wish it had not been innovated or placed, because it caused confusion among the people. The ignorant ones stand on the line and pray, blocking the path of the tawaf, or those performing tawaf, if it is washed, stand there and block the path. So this line has caused harms. Perhaps Allah will hasten its removal, because the study of it is currently underway and it will be removed, if Allah wills. Yes.