The Kaaba of the Grand Mosque can be visited by residents in Indonesia metaverse and become a new experience for Muslims. However, this activity is declared not worship hajj actually because it’s not a physical visit.
The Saudi Arabian government last December launched a metaverse program that allows Muslims around the world to experience virtually visiting the Kaaba.
The program called ‘Virtual Hacerülesved’ or Virtual Hajar Al-Aswad was launched by the Grand Imam of the Kaaba, Abdurrahman Sudeysi, in collaboration with Umm al-Qura University and the Ministry of Exhibitions and Museums of Saudi Arabia.
According to Sudeysi, there are many Islamic historical heritages in the Mecca Mosque that should be digitized for the common good.
The experience of visiting the Kaaba virtually can be obtained using virtual reality (VR) glasses.
Reported from Tech Briefly, the experience of visiting the Kaaba given in this metaverse is said to provide not only a visual and audio experience, but also a touch and smell experience.
Is Hajj in the metaverse legal?
The Turkish Ministry of Religious Affairs or more commonly known as Diyanet states that visiting the Kaaba in the metaverse is not considered a ‘true pilgrimage.’
The statement came after lengthy discussions that lasted for a month. Diyanet stated on Tuesday (1/2) that visiting the Kaaba virtually would not count as worship.
“[Ibadah haji di metaverse] this cannot happen,” said Remzi Bircan, director of Diyanet’s Department of Hajj and Umrah Services Hurriyet Daily News.
According to Bircan, the pilgrimage must be carried out properly in the real world with the body in the Muslim holy land.
“Believers can visit the Kaaba in the metaverse, but that will never be considered true worship,” Bircan said.
“Their feet must touch the ground [Kabah],” he added.
Bircan further said that the virtual Kaaba program may be launched for promotion, while giving the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul to do the same.
(lom / fea)
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