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Worshippers in Ìýhave been told not toÌýsnap selfies in front of the or elsewhere in while on pilgrimage.

The MinistryÌýof HajjÌýand Umrah bemoaned the number ofÌýphotographs being taken in the holy site during the Umrah - the minor Islamic pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of the year - sayingÌýit distracts worshippers from "reverence and obedience to God".

It could also cause pilgrims to bump into one anotherÌýor bother passers-by, the ministry warned.

"Dedicate yourself to worship in the purest parts of the world," the ministry tweeted in Arabic, attaching an emoji of a "no entry" or "forbidden" sign next to one of a mobile phone.

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The Kaaba is believed to have been constructed by Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, alongside his son Ismail, and is the holiest place in Islam. It is also the location which Muslims face in prayer.

Muslims flock to Mecca's Great Mosque during the HajjÌý- the major pilgrimage performed during the last month of the Islamic calendar andÌýis mandatory for Muslims who are able to, at least once in their lifetimes.

Many Muslims also perform Umrah, theÌýoptional minor pilgrimage, if they can. Ramadan is a particularly popular time for this pilgrimage.

The move to allow women under the age of 45 to perform pilgrimage without a male chaperone - known as 'mahram' in Arabic - has been halted "indefinitely", according to Saeed Bahashwan, member of the Saudi national committee for Hajj and Umrah ⬇

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"Respect the privacy of others while they are performing rituals," the ministry told pilgrims, adding that theyÌýshould "avoid photographing any private situation."

The ministry'sÌýadvice discourages pilgrims from taking photos but is not seen asÌýan official ban.

Taking photos at used to be illegal and there were religious rulings, or fatwas, that declared it banned in Islam.

Saleh Al-Fawzan, who sits on Saudi Arabia's Council of Senior Scholars, the highest Islamic organisation in the kingdom,Ìýargued in 2014 that some of those who go to the Kaaba to take photos should have their cameras destroyed, news websiteÌýArabi 21Ìýreported.

He said photography at the mosque is "immoral and harming Muslims".