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A recent disclosure by Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe, Shepherd-in-Charge of Genesis Global, regarding his visit to Makkah and Madinah for Umrah has stirred reactions within sections of the Muslim community, with calls for stricter screening of pilgrims by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Taalib Jami’ei of Islamic Propagation, Rabwa, Saudi Arabia, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the concern was not rooted in interfaith hostility but in the need to preserve the sanctity of Islamic rites as defined by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
He stressed that Hajj and Umrah are exclusive acts of worship legislated for Muslims and not cultural visits or spiritual tourism.
Citing Qur’an 9:28, which states, “O you who believe! Indeed the polytheists are impure, so let them not approach Al-Masjid Al-Haram after this year,” Agunbiade noted that Islamic scholars have consistently interpreted the verse as prohibiting non-Muslims from entering the sacred precinct of Makkah.
He also referenced Qur’an 3:97, which establishes Hajj as a duty owed to Allah by those able to undertake it, explaining that the obligation applies to Muslims who affirm the testimony of faith.
Quoting a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, he added that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described Islam as being built upon five pillars, including Hajj, and declared that no polytheist would perform Hajj after the ninth year of Hijrah.
According to Agunbiade, participation in Hajj and Umrah requires clear and genuine adherence to Islam, and this places a responsibility on NAHCON to ensure that only qualified Muslims are granted access to perform the rites under its supervision.
He called on the Commission to strengthen its screening procedures, noting that verification should go beyond verbal recitation or documentation, especially in cases involving public figures or individuals previously identified with other faiths.
“If a person has genuinely embraced Islam, that conversion should be clear, documented and confirmed through recognised Islamic authorities,” he said.
Agunbiade warned that failure to conduct thorough screening could create confusion, undermine the sanctity of the holy sites and provoke avoidable religious tension.
While emphasising that Islam encourages peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among people of different faiths, he maintained that such coexistence does not extend to participation in acts of worship reserved exclusively for Muslims.
He urged NAHCON to adopt a more structured and transparent profiling and verification mechanism to prevent future controversies and safeguard the integrity of Hajj and Umrah.
