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The selfie pandemic has extended its grip to Islam as the selfie has gone on the Hajj and has turned up at the Kaaba, the cube-shaped black stone building in Mecca that is the holiest place in the Muslim faith.

Indeed, Hajj 2014 is “the Year of the Selfie” – and Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook are all abuzz with digital self-portraits of pilgrims who, to fulfill one of the five pillars of faith in the Islamic tradition, have gone to Mecca.

“Best Place ever,” wrote iam_pedr0 on Instagram as the pilgrim posed for a selfie in front of the Kaaba.

“Epic #selfie #hajj #Mecca,” wrote @dan_a_lowe on Twitter as he posed, Ellen DeGeneres-Oscar-style, in front of a group of smiling fellow Hajjis.

But, of course, not all Muslims are selfie enthusiasts – even if camera phones are no longer strictly banned at the Kaaba. Although one pilgrim described the selfie craze as an “endemic not easy to stop,” some clerics are doing their best to remind Muslims that digital self-portraits in front of the Kaaba are an insult to the Prophet. “Say no to Haj selfie!” thus implores the Arab News.

“O Allah, I ask of you a pilgrimage that contains no boasting or showing off,” adds Jeddah-based scholar Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem. “Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our Prophet.”

“The hajj is all about overcoming your “self”!” reminds @yshirin on Twitter. “#hajjselfie wont bring anyone anyhere (sic).”

So is anything sacred anymore?

•Adapted from a CNN report.

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