MUI Affirms The Metaverse Kaaba Platform Is Only A Simulation Of The Hajj, Not A Substitute

Head of MUI for Fatwa Asrorun Niam (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) stated that Saudi Arabia's plan to provide a metaverse platform to view and surround the Kaaba through virtual reality (VR) must be interpreted as a simulation of the pilgrimage.

"The platform must be interpreted positively to make it easier for prospective Hajj pilgrims and prospective Umrah pilgrims to 'explore' locations where worship activities will be carried out by knowing precisely where the location of the Kaaba is," said MUI Fatwa Chair Asrorun Niam, quoted by Antara from ANTARA, Saturday, February 12.

Asrorun said that digitization efforts in the metaverse platform are part of technological developments that are muamalah. That is, the technology can make it easier for prospective pilgrims to get to know more about places of worship before they go directly to the Holy Land for Hajj.

"Starting from where will the Tawaf start, then where is Al Mustajabah the efficacious places, where is the Tomb of Ibrahim, then where is the Black Stone, then where is the Pillars of Yamani, and where is Mas'ah. So with technology it can be more easily recognized so that illustrated by the prospective congregation," he said.

Thus, said Asrorun, seeing or circling the Kaaba by using technology in a metaverse manner is a good thing, but it cannot be said to be on a pilgrimage because it does not meet the conditions for Hajj.

He said the implementation of the Hajj must be physically present at designated places, such as in Padang Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, Kaaba, Shafa, and Marwa. In addition, the implementation time has been determined which is held in the month of Dzulhijjah.

"But that doesn't mean we are enough and can only go through virtual media, if Hajj goes through the metaverse, it's not valid," he said.

Previously, the Government of Saudi Arabia planned to present a metaverse project called the Virtual Black Stone Initiative. Through this project, Muslims around the world can experience seeing the Kaaba and the Black Stone through VR.