The Mataf—the sacred white-marble area encircling the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram—has taken on an uncharacteristically tranquil appearance as Saudi Arabia enforces stringent entry restrictions to Makkah ahead of the 2025 Hajj season. This development follows the Kingdom’s directive limiting access to the holy city exclusively to individuals holding valid Hajj permits, residents with Makkah-issued residency,
The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, has held a high-level meeting with Islamic leaders from the United Kingdom in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss emerging challenges confronting the British Muslim community and to strengthen international collaboration for religious tolerance. The strategic engagement, which took place on Wednesday, focused
In a significant leadership transition within Nigeria’s Islamic legal community, Dr. Bashir Umar has been appointed as the new President of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), succeeding Sheikh Hadiyatullah, who has served in the role for over two decades.​ The announcement was made during the council’s national conference held in Abuja, where
In a decisive move to reform the financial ecosystem governing pilgrimage in Nigeria, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has called on key stakeholders to embrace a more resilient and inclusive financing model to sustain the nation’s Hajj operations in the face of growing economic pressures. This call was made during the second National
In a strategic response to the rising complexities of today’s professional landscape, the Graduate Members’ Association (GRAMA), the alumni arm of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, has reiterated its commitment to grooming Muslim graduates for success in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. This resolve was
The Nigerian Muslim community was thrown into deep mourning as Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullahi, the President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), was buried in his hometown of Iwo, Osun State, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The late Islamic luminary, who passed away at the age of 81, was interred following Janazah
RIYADH, April 30 – In a firm move to maintain the sanctity and security of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rolled out stringent penalties against individuals and facilitators who flout regulations by attempting to undertake or assist others in performing Hajj without official permits. The Saudi Ministry of Interior, in
In a fresh declaration backed by Islamic jurisprudence, Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority has stated categorically that embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage without an official permit constitutes a sinful act under Islamic law. The position, made public by the Council of Senior Scholars, reinforces the kingdom’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the sacred rites of
In a major step towards enhancing the experience of millions of Muslim pilgrims expected for this year’s Hajj, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ramped up housing capacity in the holy city of Mecca to accommodate up to 1.8 million people. This move comes as the first wave of international pilgrims begins to touch down
Saheed Adekunle The National Human Rights commission (NHRC) in collaboration with KAICIID and other partners like Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society, NASFAT, KUKAH Centre have developed programmes and strategies that will promote freedom of religion and belief among different faithful in line with human right standards. As religious intolerance was identified as a product of ignorance and fear.
