Selfie expression

Self portraits taken during the Haj prompt controversy about whether they are respectful

Pilgrims pose for a selfie during the Jamarat ritual near the holy city of Mecca. Mohammed Al Shaikh

Now that millions of newly-minted Hajis are returning from Mecca to their countries of origin, social media sites are awash with a phenomenon that has been dubbed "Haj selfies" – photographs they took of themselves during their pilgrimage. Given that Haj is such a significant and usually a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, this has prompted mixed reactions. Some say it is disrespectful while others see it simply as a reflection that the Haj is a pinnacle of one's life and faith. If other landmark life events, such as marriage or the birth of a first child, can be endlessly chronicled via selfies, why not the Haj?

Possibly one of the causes of this ire is that the pilgrimage is meant to be a moment when Hajis assess the way they are living and make improvements. Simply taking lots of selfies and posting them on social media could easily be seen as self-obsessive behaviour.

But is there really anything wrong about having a visual reminder to go with the experience of completing one of the five central tenets of the Muslim faith? Ultimately, the merit or otherwise of Haj selfies depends on the person who took them. As one religious scholar put it, there is no problem if these images are used by the Haji as a personal reminder every day to strive to be a better person. But if these Haj selfies are simply intended for showing off, that crosses the line and warrants disapproval.