Is it permissible for the Saudi state to determine the number of pilgrims from each country?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Well, likewise, does this apply to determining the number of pilgrims from each country?
The Shaykh : This also returns to the committee composed of people with different specializations, headed by a body of scholars, people of virtue, and righteousness. Because, if we take the issue theoretically, meaning if the whole world were to become Muslim, the world would have to camp in Mina, and the world would have to camp at 'Arafah. This is impossible. Therefore, regulation is necessary. But the problem is that when the rulers are not scholars and not righteous, they may pursue their own comfort rather than the interest of the Muslim community.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Without a doubt, the more the number of pilgrims increases, the more the costs increase on the Saudi state. Therefore, it is incumbent upon this state to bear these responsibilities in order to facilitate the path of Hajj for the general Muslim public to the House of Allah the Sacred. But who are those who bear this? They are the scholars and the righteous and the God-fearing. It is known now that the scholars are not heeded and are not consulted at all; rather, they are exploited to support a policy that may be contrary to the Shari'ah and may also be unjust.
The questioner : If there is a restriction for the benefit of the pilgrims, to prevent overcrowding and the frequent occurrence of [incidents].
The Shaykh : Deviation is not permissible.
The Shaykh : This also returns to the committee composed of people with different specializations, headed by a body of scholars, people of virtue, and righteousness. Because, if we take the issue theoretically, meaning if the whole world were to become Muslim, the world would have to camp in Mina, and the world would have to camp at 'Arafah. This is impossible. Therefore, regulation is necessary. But the problem is that when the rulers are not scholars and not righteous, they may pursue their own comfort rather than the interest of the Muslim community.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Without a doubt, the more the number of pilgrims increases, the more the costs increase on the Saudi state. Therefore, it is incumbent upon this state to bear these responsibilities in order to facilitate the path of Hajj for the general Muslim public to the House of Allah the Sacred. But who are those who bear this? They are the scholars and the righteous and the God-fearing. It is known now that the scholars are not heeded and are not consulted at all; rather, they are exploited to support a policy that may be contrary to the Shari'ah and may also be unjust.
The questioner : If there is a restriction for the benefit of the pilgrims, to prevent overcrowding and the frequent occurrence of [incidents].
The Shaykh : Deviation is not permissible.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.