ISLAMABAD: Former cricketer Wasim Akram, ex-captain Misbah-ul-Haq, host Fakhr-e-Alam, former cricketer Saeed Anwar and several other prominent Pakistani personalities performed Hajj together this year, but later faced criticism on social media over videos and images shared during the pilgrimage.
A video of Wasim Akram performing Rami al-Jamarat went viral in which he humorously mimicked his signature bowling action while symbolically throwing pebbles. In another clip, he was seen carrying bananas for Misbah-ul-Haq, drawing mixed reactions online.
Fakhr-e-Alam also shared multiple moments from the pilgrimage, showing other public figures including actor Bilal Abbas Khan and comedian Tabish Hashmi, which some social media users described as “more like a picnic than Hajj.”
Responding to criticism, Wasim Akram, Fakhr-e-Alam and Misbah-ul-Haq said Hajj is a spiritual obligation, but it does not mean a person remains engaged in ritual worship 24 hours a day, adding that moments of travel, interaction and companionship are also part of the experience.
They also addressed questions about not shaving their heads after Hajj, explaining that they had consulted religious scholars beforehand and were given two permissible options: shaving the head completely (halq) or trimming the hair (qasr), and they opted for the latter.
The personalities said their intention in sharing videos was to guide and inspire younger generations about Hajj and to encourage them to understand the pilgrimage process.
Speaking from Madinah, Fakhr-e-Alam said the journey inspired many people to ask what motivated them to perform Hajj, while Wasim Akram said the group did not plan the pilgrimage in advance but decided to join when the opportunity came and others were going.