JEDDAH: Saad Al-Hajri, Asir’s mufti, has issued a fatwa banning some traditional dances of the region. This fatwa was issued during a religious lecture in Mahayel Asir.
Responding to a students’ question, the mufti said: “If people who perform traditional dances imitate women, this dance should be haram.”
Al-Dammah, Al-Aradah and the southern Al-Khatwa are traditional dances performed at official events in the Asir region and many artists who perform them pretend to be women.
The edict has been criticized in the region and has sparked a heated debate on social networking websites.
Mohammed Al-Nujaim, a professor at the Superior Institute of Justice, told Arab News: “All fatwas should be issued in light of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah by senior scholars. And one should avoid weird fatwas from unknown scholars.”
The Council of Senior Scholars had previously warned against issuing fatwas outside its purview.
A previous royal decree delivered to Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh had said: “As part of our religious and national duty, we want you to ensure that fatwas are only issued by members of the Council of Senior Scholars and other permitted people.”
Traditional Asir dances ‘haram’: Fatwa
Traditional Asir dances ‘haram’: Fatwa
Scouts record 45,000 volunteer hours serving pilgrims at Grand Mosque in Ramadan
- Volunteers guide pilgrims, organize prayers areas, distribute water
- 600 young men and women scouts will work until end of Ramadan
RIYADH: Volunteers participating in the Umrah service camp supervised by the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association at the Grand Mosque in Makkah have contributed over 45,000 hours during the first half of Ramadan.
Six-hundred young men and women scouts, representing various teams across the Kingdom, participated in the camp’s activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
They helped to guide pilgrims, organize prayer areas, support security and service personnel, care for children, and provide water and fragrances in the Grand Mosque and its courtyards.
The scouts supported the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques and the public security sectors.
Three-hundred scouts participated in guidance and orientation with 22,500 hours, while 180 scouts assisted with public security services for 13,500 hours.
Sixty scouts who participated in the organization of prayer areas recorded 4,500 volunteer hours.
Additionally, 30 scouts participated in the Little Pilgrim Initiative, which focuses on caring for the children of pilgrims while their parents perform Umrah, contributing 2,250 hours.
In support services, 15 scouts participated in the water distribution initiative, contributing 675 hours.
Another 15 scouts contributed to the fragrance distribution initiative in the corridors and courtyards of the Grand Mosque, achieving 1,125 hours.
Camp leader Ziyad Qadir said the services of the scouts would continue until the end of Ramadan. He said the camps develop a sense of social responsibility and national belonging among young people.
