By Tauhierah Salie Nervous. Excited. But mostly grateful for being chosen by Allah. These were the sentiments used by hujaaj Nurabie Abrahams, to describe her state of mind before embarking on the sacred pilgrimage of hajj 1443. She was among several dozen others preparing for takeoff at the Cape Town[…]
INTERNATIONAL Just weeks before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia has introduced new rules which mean prospective travellers from western countries must now book their visits to Mecca through a government website, rather than via travel agencies. Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Ministry confirmed on Monday that pilgrims from “Europe, America and Australia” would need to[…]
By: Aneeqa du Plessis With the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah a stone’s throw away, aspiring Hujaaj [pilgrims] for the year 1443/2022 have begun their preparations for the auspicious journey. But, for Voice of the Cape’s (VOC) loyal supporter, Shamshudeen Paulsen, 55, affectionately known as Shamsu, this is more than fulfilling[…]
INTERNATIONAL Saudi Arabia says it will begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from vaccinated foreign worshippers starting on August 9. The announcement on state media early on Sunday came about 18 months after the kingdom closed its borders to foreign pilgrims due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Saudi Press Agency said[…]
Phone text messages can be so impersonal. ‘Allah grant you complete recovery,’ was the seemingly terse message that I sent him. I deliberately kept the message short as I was told that he was quite sick. He was on high flow oxygen in a high care hospital unit. He was[…]
Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing this year’s Hajj amid strict coronavirus precautionary and preventive measures. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the WHO chief said: “As the faithful gather to perform Hajj this year, we welcome the public health planning[…]
‘You must be relieved,’ she was told. ‘I mean you cared for your bedridden mother for nearly six years and had to postpone your and your mother’s Fard Hajj all that time. I remember we booked together all those years ago and I was sad that we could not travel[…]
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[…]
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