This Is Not a Video of Jews in Mecca's Grand Mosque
The Claim
A video shows Jewish pilgrims performing the Umrah and circumambulating the Kaaba in Saudi Arabia.
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Emerging story
Some users on social media are spreading a video of people circumambulating the Holy Kaaba in Saudi Arabia, claiming that they are Jewish. Since it is well-known that only Muslims are permitted to enter Makkah and Madinah, users have expressed shock and disbelief at the claims, which have spread across both English and Arabic languages.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar looked into the claim and discovered it to be false. The sounds made by the people in the video are reminiscent of Sufi Muslims' Dhikr or remembrance chants. In some instances of Dhikr, certain words such as Allah are abbreviated to "ah." This type of Dhikr has sparked debate between Sufi and non-Sufi Muslims. The latter believe that God's full name should be mentioned in remembrance.
Additionally, non-muslims are not permitted to enter Makkah; previously, the entry of a Jew into the Holy city made headlines. According to the search results on credible news websites, there were no reports about this claim.
Although the acts are controversial among Muslims, the people in the video are Sufis, not Jews. The Msibar team confirms that the claim is false based on its findings.
