Saudi- Reserving space in Haram un Islamic

(MENAFN- Arab News) MAKKAH: Reserving places at the Grand Mosque by members of the public is not allowed in Islam a senior Saudi scholar said on Wednesday.
The practice is bid'ah a heresy said Saleh Al-Luhaidan legal and scientific adviser to the International Society for Mental Health. He said such practices are acts of vanity and pride.
People doing so most likely want others to consider them important. The companions of the Prophet peace be upon him did not act in this way when they entered the Prophet's Mosque and then had to leave for some reason he said.
Al-Luhaidan said it is only permissible to reserve places for muezzins; those worshippers who came early and had to leave for an urgent reason such as going to the washroom; and scholars delivering fatwas religious edicts for worshippers.
It is not allowed for those in ihram the special dress of pilgrims for Umrah and Haj to send their children or employees to reserve places for them their family or friends. It is also not right for people to book places with fancy carpets. This behavior tramples on the rights of others Al-Luhaidan said.
Turki bin Ali Al-Shareef director general of a committee that monitors this situation said officials have been sent out to ensure that worshippers do not engage in this behavior.
He said officials have been deployed to the mataf circumambulation area around the Kaaba various halls and the roof to confiscate carpets laid down to book places. Those asking for payment for such practices would be referred to the police he said.
Al-Sharif said the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is also working to correct this phenomenon through education and awareness campaigns. It has distributed brochures containing fatwas on the matter from senior scholars and the Permanent Committee for Research and Religious Edicts.
Hamoud bin Saleh Al-Ayada director of operations at the Grand Mosque said the presidency has a special operations room where it receives reports about such practices.