Is it permissible to take photos and videos during Hajj and Umrah?

Photography during Hajj is a contemporary issue on which scholars have varied opinions. Many contemporary scholars, including members of the Permanent Committee and individual scholars, permit photography in general as long as it does not involve prohibited content. The question specific to Hajj relates more to the appropriateness and impact on worship rather than the basic permissibility of photography.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, while having general concerns about photography, acknowledged that documenting certain moments is part of modern life. However, he strongly discouraged excessive photography during the rites of Hajj, particularly during Tawaf, standing at Arafat, and stoning. These are moments of intense worship and supplication, and the pilgrim should be focused on Allah, not on capturing content for social media or personal albums. He considered it a form of heedlessness (ghaflah) to be preoccupied with photography during the most sacred moments of Hajj.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta advised that pilgrims should minimize photography during the rites and focus entirely on their worship. Taking photos of the Ka'bah, the Haram, or the Hajj sites at neutral moments (not during active rites) is less objectionable than photographing during Tawaf, on Arafat, or while stoning. Blocking other pilgrims, causing congestion, or using selfie sticks in crowded areas is harmful and prohibited due to the principle of no harm.