Living and Dying- Salim Parker ‘When I was living, I wanted to die. Now that I am dying, I so much want to live.’ She sounded distant and detachedly melancholic. How I wished that I could see her face revealing hidden emotions, see the reflection of her words in her[…]
Saudi authorities said Monday that only people immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage, starting from the holy month of Ramadan. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement that only “immunised people” will be granted permits to perform Umrah as well as[…]
This is part of a series written by Dr Salim Parker. More stories at hajjdoctor.co.za They were fuming. It seemed whatever that was promised to them did not materialize. The early check-in in Madinah, the City of Peace and Light was non-existent and they had to hang around for a[…]
This is part of a series of Hajj Stories by Dr Salim Parker. Visit www.hajjdoctor.co.za ‘I cannot perform Hajj this year,’ he said. ‘Please postpone my journey till next year,’ he added. He looked down, dejected and close to tears. His shoulders slouched. He not only was evidently close to[…]
This forms part of a series by Dr Salim Parker, known as the Hajj Doctor. More stories at www.hajjdoctor.co.za He lay on his bed on his right side. He looked serene and content. Life may not have been as financially kind to him as for others in his group but[…]
This hajj story is written by Dr Salim Parker, known as the hajj doctor. More stories can be found at www.hajjdoctor.co.za Hajj 2020 is over. Some close to me kept themselves busy. My Imam, who was supposed to have set off for his half-century of standing at the time of[…]
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will assess the experience it gained in organizing this year’s exceptional Hajj within two weeks and will try to benefit from lessons it learned. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Dr. Hussein Al-Sharif, deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah for Hajj affairs, said that the[…]
This forms part of a series penned by Dr Salim Parker. More stories can be found at www.hajjdoctor.co.za The day had to come that I would write a Hajj Story without being on Arafat that year. I always thought that one day I’ll be too sick to travel to the[…]
He looked so at peace. He had minutes ago breathed in his final breath and seemed to be at a very leisurely pace and content manner exhaling any minute particles that might still have disturbed his acceptance that his Creator had finally recalled him. Those present were all grateful that[…]
This story forms part of a series called Hajj Stories by Dr Salim Parker. For more stories, visit www.hajjdoctor.co.za ‘I am coming home.’ he told me over the phone. He was in Makkah accompanying a group of mostly first-time travellers whilst I was still in Cape Town. He had performed[…]
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