Clarifying Ad-Diddu's Misguidances (1)

He claimed that taking “fees” from those performing ʿUmrah and Ḥajj is impermissible, and that this was never part of the history of Muslims. ● This is the statement of one who possesses neither Fiqh nor reason. There has never been a pilgrim to the Sacred House in times past except that he spent large sums of money during his pilgrimage to guarantee the “safety of the road” and to secure his “food and drink” for both the outbound and return journeys—so much so that the scholars considered these among the الاستطاعة “means of ability” without which Ḥajj is not obligatory. ● Guaranteeing the protection of the pilgrim and serving him from the moment he enters the Saudi state, and providing him with “free” services such as water, lodging, medical care, and transportation between the sacred sites, Makkah, and Madinah, along with the presence of security personnel and service staff day and night. ● What was formerly dispersed among payments made to caravans of pilgrims has now been consolidated in the state that assumes responsibility for the pilgrim’s service from his arrival until his departure. ● The sums of money that the pilgrim and the performer of ʿUmrah pay constitute only a small portion of the immense sums expended by the state in serving the pilgrim, which come from: * The state treasury and its resources. * The revenues of the endowments dedicated to the Two Holy Mosques. These two sources are many times greater than what is taken from the pilgrim for his service. ● The illusions of opening Ḥajj free of charge to every Muslim on earth without permits or regulation of numbers are words uttered only by a madman or a stubborn denier. For if the very one who says this were to receive a hundred men in his own house, he would be overwhelmed by accommodating them and serving them for even one hour of the day—so how could the door be opened to hundreds of thousands—millions—within a limited space and during limited days? Thus, the regulation of the affairs of pilgrims and those performing ʿUmrah with respect to numbers and costs is solely for their service, safety, and benefit above all else. ● None of this constitutes a “repulsion” from Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām; rather, the one who truly repels from Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām is the alarmist who says: “Ḥajj is unsafe,” and the one who says: “Do not perform Ḥajj, for your wealth will go to your enemies!” ● In conclusion: The creedal works of Ahlus-Sunnah unanimously agree on the obligation of performing Ḥajj with every ruler—whether righteous or wicked—and on the prohibition of casting doubt about this matter. Indeed, the one who prevents it or casts doubt regarding it is none other than a misguided, heretical Khārijite innovator. ✍️ D. Badr ibn ’Ali Al-’Utaibi