Pilgrims Urged Not to Stop at Kaaba's Black Stone During Tawaf

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has advised pilgrims to avoid stopping at the Black Stone during Tawaf, warning that lingering can disrupt the flow of worshippers and create unnecessary risks.

Instead of attempting to kiss or touch the stone, pilgrims are encouraged to keep a steady pace and simply gesture toward it while continuing the ritual around the Kaaba. Guidance from authorities emphasises that spiritual focus and remembrance should not be compromised by physical crowding.

The reminder comes as part of wider crowd management strategies in place during high-traffic pilgrimage seasons. With millions of worshippers visiting Makkah annually, any disruption to Tawaf can have a cascading effect on overall safety and order in the Grand Mosque.