Click clack in Harmain Sharefain

Heart To Heart

By Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah

“Say cheese!” instructed the proud father, while adjusting the camera settings. And the click clack announced the capturing of scene in digital memory. "Please take another shot," advised the mother as Hameed was not smiling. The exchange is familiar but the setting is rather new to such adventures. This is the most revered of holy places in the world. Till very recent photography was strictly banned in letter and spirit. Though, it is still banned in theory, practically a camera flashes almost every minute from one of the nooks of the Haram Shareef and the sound of click clack is audible all over.

At Asr prayers we had the good fortune of finding a space in the first row. Overwhelmed with emotions of excitement and gratification, our lips naturally started rolling prayers and eyes shedding brine. A young man tried to attract my attention by nudging me on the side. To my sheer amazement and displeasure, he wanted me to take his picture with a mobile phone in the front row. My vehement refusal did not dampen his spirit as he turned back and took his own picture himself. Undeterred, he continued to take pictures of Khana-i-Kaaba from different angles.

As we settled in Mataf for Maghreb prayers for a simple Iftari, I noted a lad in mid twenties using his mobile phone and talking to it. It transpired that he was making a live video and enriching it with his running commentary. I had difficulties in coming to terms with still photography; now the video was rather crossing the limits. Later, during Tawaf I saw few people making video of full Tawaf, concentrating at Hijar Aswad, Multazim, Hateem and at the same time documenting pilgrims attired in Ahram and native clothes. Even during 'Saee' many youngsters had their videos on, attempting to preserve the physical aspect and losing track of the spirit behind the 'Saee'. Concentration is a precious gift and some people while concentrating on photography lose the spirituality of the precious moments when prayers are answered and 'Maghfirat' is granted generously. A gentleman in his mid thirties was using his mobile to capture the surroundings and the people with every now and then focusing on himself. His concentration was more on preserving the memories than spiritual uplift and utilising the most precious moments to get close to Allah Subhanu Taala. Many pilgrims were seen using newer versions of still cameras with facilities for video photography.  Till today, I could not spot any one using bulky video cameras, but the way things are going one never know, what does the future hold?

Many youngsters do not take the trouble of asking some one else to compose a picture. They decide on the back ground, turn around, look into the camera and press the shuttle. Many cameras have the option of actually seeing the whole scene wile photograph is being taken. Such close ups with large nose and tainted eyes look horrible and   awful - but then they like it and this is all that matters to them. Some experts can take a volley as they scan in clockwise or anti-clockwise directions offering the same face with prominent countenance and different background. Some prefer to keep still so that the pictures are taken from different angles and other chose to keep looking at the camera with artificial smile. Some use this motion with their video mode to document in live mode. 

For a long time, people have been enjoying watching the great pageant of Tawaf in Haram Shareef from the upper floors -especially after prayers.  Now many nooks of second floor have become favourite spots for photography. Primarily there is very little chance of being caught 'red handed' as the place is not patrolled by 'shurtas' as intensely as the ground floor. More importantly it offers a very enchanting panoramic view of the most beautiful and graceful - almost magical Khana-i-Kaaba with people thronging around it. Different angles capture different shades with different settings and backgrounds. Taking a picture from Umra gate shows Hateem in its entirety with Khana-i-Kaaba in the background. A picture from opposite side captures tombs of old Osmanian architecture and people fighting out for Hijar Aswad - a present for mankind from heavens. Just above Fahd Gate, shows Hateem on the side with a sea of people in the fore ground. One may picture 'Multazim' with people vying for the holy door with arms up in the air. This view may document Hijar Aswad on left side and Hateem on right side. Pictures taken at sunrise and sunset may add the magic of light, with sunrays shining the sparkling gold braided writings on the black background. But the mere respect and awe of the Khana-i-Kaaba discourages any worldly pursuit - not to mention touristic venture like photography. Unfortunately, now it has become a norm and the second floor has become a favourite spot for taking pictures as it offers Khana-i-Kaaba in the background and the person can appear in the forefront. People visit second floor for photo shoots, where every one gets photographed individually in different poses and the family then gets the moments preserved by all posing together in different combinations.

So far, people had been discreetly using mobile phone cameras to 'steal' a few pictures. It was almost unimaginable to stand boldly, say cheese and ask someone to take a picture. The photography if any was confined to preserving the images of holy shrines from a distance, while talking or posing to converse. During my previous journey in last Ramazan, whereas women were strictly forbidden to take a mobile with camera, however, men were excluded from detailed search. But never ever the history witnessed people actually posing for pictures while choosing the background in Harmain Sharefain. 

I do not object to people taking pictures of exterior of Haramain as souvenirs. But taking personal photographs and especially then making a ritual, where every member of the family is photographed individually and then the family poses in different combinations, with many looking towards right and other towards left, is certainly not very desirable. Some wish to be photographed while sitting and larger families prefer to have it composed half sitting and others standing. Early on people used to confine such activities to their hotel lobbies and rooms but now this is not uncommonly witnessed in the courtyard and mostly in front of major gates in Harmain Sharefain.

Photographing young children in Haram is the new nuisance/fashion and considered as benign by many. But many a time the father joins in to make it more memorable. Not infrequently, mother adorns the picture to render it more historical. Grand parents are requested to join in to make it more unforgettable. Child photography leads to family photography, with choosing of background and adorning fake smiles for the camera. The overall sanctity of the Harmain is seriously challenged! Unfortunately, this adds a new dimension of 'tourism' to this spiritual sojourn which may not be appreciated by many.

Most cameras are now digital, and there is no classical shutter to click clack. But most cameras and mobile have this added sound effect to give the act its authenticity. If people had to take pictures in tranquility, it would have created only a few ripples and raised a few eye-brows, but constant click clack is surely most annoying and abominable. It is especially so during very precious and most revered moments like between Azaan and prayers and at very well respected places like close to Khana-i-Kaaba or Roza Mubarik. Whereas most are building new bridges with their Creator and supplicating for forgiveness with utmost concentration such frolics with cameras are most distracting and disturbing. This is disgraceful to the sacredness of the ambience!

The activity is not confined to youngsters. All age groups enjoy being pictured and they pose very happily for the camera. Older generation, most happily join in after a mute perfunctory vote of protest. I saw many not-so-young people venturing themselves with their mobiles. They may consider this as a 'holy' use of digital technology. Some take pictures under the pretext of preserving memories and others wish to use them to attract those less blessed ones back home. Many people consider it perfectly legitimate to set the picture as the background on computer screen or mobile and later boast that this picture was composed by them.

Though, there is general resentment by people at large but no practical steps are taken by people or police to curb the new evil. General population may not approve of it but few would raise audible hew and cry about it. Some old gentlemen and ladies may publicly admonish the defaulter but the element of acceptability has certainly increased over the last year.

Can something be done about it? Or more importantly, should something be done about it? Every place has its décor and demands. Mobile phones are not allowed in any important high level meeting. Mobiles are taken away while meeting an important person. Many historical places do not allow cameras. Flash photography is strongly prohibited in many art galleries around the world. All important strategic places have the board displaying, "photography is not allowed". Harmain Sharefain is the most sacred place of the world. People do not come here for touristic adventures. Umra and Haj, for many are fulfillments of life long dreams. Emotions run high and spirits run higher. These are like life time opportunities for forgiveness and a golden chance for self amelioration. This cannot and should be allowed to become a tourist resort, the sanctity and holiness has to be preserved at all costs.

At present all ladies have to undergo gentle but thorough check and mobile phones equipped with cameras are not allowed. However, it has become difficult to imagine life without mobiles. On a positive note, special counters can be opened to deposit mobile phones on some charge (to discourage the habit!) and later ban it all together. Jammers should be installed to render the mobile phone use impossible hence actively discouraging the use of mobile in the Harmain Sharefain. And if some one is so important that he or she cannot part with the mobile even during prayers, they may as well stay away from such sacred and holy places.  The sanctity of Harmain Sharefain should be preserved and held higher than short time worldly gains.