What are the common innovations to avoid during হজ্জ and উমরাহ?

নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that is not of it, it is rejected.' During হজ্জ and উমরাহ, many practices have crept in over the centuries that have no basis in the Sunnah. Scholars have warned against these innovations, as they can detract from the true worship and may lead to beliefs that contradict the correct creed.

Sheikh Ibn Baz listed several common innovations to avoid: Making dua in a group, where one person recites and others repeat in unison during তাওয়াফ — the Sunnah is individual dua in one's own words. Specifying particular duas for each circuit of তাওয়াফ — there is no authentic dua designated for specific circuits except the dua between the Yemeni Corner and the হাজরে আসওয়াদ. Touching all four corners or walls of the কাবা শরীফ — only the হাজরে আসওয়াদ and the Yemeni Corner are touched. Wiping the কাবা শরীফ's cloth (Kiswah) and rubbing it on one's body for blessings — this has no basis in the Sunnah. Visiting sites in মক্কা মুকাররমা like 'the cave where নবী করীম was born' as holy places — নবী করীম never designated these sites for visitation.

Sheikh Al-Albani added further innovations to avoid: Kissing the Yemeni Corner (it is only touched, not kissed). Raising the voice excessively during তাওয়াফ, disturbing others. Reading specific surahs of আল-কুরআন at the Multazam. Believing that water from the Zamzam well at the কাবা শরীফ area is more blessed than Zamzam from other sources. Making several consecutive উমরাহs from Tan'eem as a formal ritual. The principle is simple: follow নবী করীম's example as authentically documented, and do not add to it.