More than 1.68 million Hajj pilgrims had arrived in the Kingdom by noon on Thursday, the General Directorate of Passports announced. Maj. Gen. Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Yahya, director general of passports, told a press conference: “Up to this moment, our air, land and sea checkpoints have warmly received 1,684,629[…]
The Grand Mosque in Makkah is overflowing with pilgrims who have come to the Kingdom from various parts of the world for the journey of a lifetime which begins on Aug. 19. About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived till Sunday, according to the Directorate General for Passports. A total of 1,301,912[…]
In a surprise turn of events, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia issued a royal decree on Monday, stating that South Africa will be issued with 1000 additional visas for this year’s hajj season. However, the South African Haj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) on Tuesday morning made a decision to decline[…]
As is the custom every year during the Haj season, the Kiswa (the black cloth covering the Kaaba) has been folded up from the ground by three meters. The folded portion of the Kiswa has been covered on all four sides with a white cloth approximately two meters wide. Director[…]
By Dr Salim Parker ‘YOU need anything, Doc?’ The questioner enquired about my comfort, whether I needed any food or drink, whether I wanted any luxuries, such as decadent chocolates, and even indicated that he’d sponsor any medication that I may require. We were in Makkah, about two weeks before[…]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has confirmed that SIM cards for prospective hujjaaj have arrived in the country. Hujjaaj will be issued the cards via their respective operators. In a statement released in June, SAHUC said hujjaaj are not obligated to use the SIM cards, which can[…]
By Dr Salim Parker I looked at the photo. It was a black and white one, looking faded as you would expect a fifty-year-old, frequently exposed to the elements polaroid to be. Yet, its texture was pristine, a tribute to the loving nature with which it had been handled and[…]
The South African Haj Umrah and Council has confirmed that the biometric recording system for hujjaaj is once again online. This after the retina and fingerprint verification process was halted when VFS TasHeel confirmed that it went offline this week. Hujjaaj are required to undergo the biometric verification prior to[…]
Prospective hujjaj traveling to the holy lands for hajj this August will be required to conduct biometric verification in order to be issued a visa to Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Hajj in the Kingdom has commissioned VFS TasHeel to conduct the biometrics, with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.[…]
For more Hajj Stories visit www.hajjdoctor.co.za ‘HOW I wish I could be served as the lord of the manor!’ he smirked. The two of us were sitting at breakfast in our hotel in Makkah. Hajj was to commence in about two weeks. We had already spent more than a week[…]
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