Egypt’s Grand Mufti: Performing Hajj Without Official Permit Violates Islamic Law

CAIRO – 16 May 2025: Dr. Nazir Ayyad, Egypt’s Grand Mufti and Head of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, has affirmed that performing Hajj without an official permit from Saudi authorities constitutes a violation of Islamic law.

Speaking to the state-run MENA news agency, Dr. Ayyad emphasized that regulatory permits are essential for ensuring the safety of pilgrims and the orderly organization of the Hajj rituals. He stated that compliance with such regulations, issued by the guardian (i.e., the Saudi authority), is a religious obligation.

He further explained that disobeying the guardian in matters that serve the public interest—such as the regulation of Hajj—is impermissible under Islamic law. Therefore, performing Hajj without a permit is considered sinful due to the act of disobedience.

Dr. Ayyad concluded by stressing that obtaining a permit has become a necessary condition for fulfilling the requirement of “ability” in Hajj. Without a permit, a person is not deemed capable of performing the pilgrimage and thus is not religiously obligated to do so.

Last year, approximately 600 Egyptian pilgrims died during an extreme heatwave in the 1445 Hajj season. These individuals did not have official Hajj permits and, as a result, lacked access to designated camps in the Arafat and Mina areas—locations where all pilgrims are required to stay during specific days of the pilgrimage. Many of these unregistered pilgrims had entered Saudi Arabia using visit visas rather than official Hajj visas and remained in the country until the Hajj season, often relying on unauthorized or dubious operators.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said on Friday that except for those arriving on official Hajj visas, holders of visit visas—regardless of their type or designation—are not permitted to perform Hajj.

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has previsouly affirmed that the relevant authorities will enforce the prescribed penalties against anyone who violates Hajj regulations. 

Individuals found attempting to perform Hajj without an official permit will face a fine of up to 20,000 riyals. The same fine applies to all visit visa holders—regardless of visa type—who enter, attempt to enter, or remain in Mecca between 1 Dhu al-Qi'dah and 14 Dhu al-Hijjah, the Ministry added.

In addition, the regulations impose severe penalties of up to 100,000 riyals on anyone who facilitates the entry of violators into Mecca and the holy sites during the Hajj season. This includes knowingly issuing visit visas to individuals intending to perform Hajj, as well as transporting, sheltering, or concealing such violators.