Anwar Abbas Saudi Government's Response To Build Kaaba In The Metaverse: Not In The Hajj Category

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Abbas, said that it is a good thing to surround the Kaaba in the metaverse. But it cannot be called part of the pilgrimage because it does not meet the requirements for the implementation of the pilgrimage.

"If someone is going to perform the pilgrimage virtually via metaverse, it means that he is not performing his pilgrimage not physically but only through sight, then this is clearly not included in the category of performing the pilgrimage", said Anwar Abbas, Wednesday 9 February quoted by Antara.

The government of Saudi Arabia plans to present the Kaaba in the metaverse. So later, Muslims around the world can experience seeing the Kaaba and the Black Stone virtually.

According to Anwar, seeing the Kaaba virtually would be like watching a culinary program on television, tantalizing but unable to cope with hunger.

Anwar explained that the pilgrimage includes physical activities in predetermined places such as in Padang Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Safa, and Marwa. The time of the pilgrimage is also determined in the month of Dzulhijjah.

Anwar then quoted the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, "Whoever finds wukuf at Arafah, then he finds Hajj".

"This means that if there are people who cannot be present at Padang Arafah at the time determined by the syara', then the person concerned cannot be recognized according to sharia as having performed the pilgrimage because the person concerned cannot be present at the place referred to at the time specified. determined", said Anwar.

"Not to mention the mabit at Muzdalifah, throwing the jumrah in Mina, tawaf at the Kaaba, and sa'i between Safa and Marwa. All of that must be done physically at a place and time that has been determined by syara'", he added.

Anwar said that the presence of the Virtual Black Stone Initiative could be used to get to know the Kaaba virtually and motivate Muslims to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but it could not be used as a means to perform the pilgrimage.

"Is this act in vain? I don't think so, because this will obviously lead to goodness and benefits for the person concerned because by doing so he will know a lot about matters related to the Hajj", he said.