This forms part of a series by written by South African hajj doctor, Salim Parker. More articles can be found at www.hajjdoctor.co.za ‘Where is your husband?’ someone asked her. We were all in the restaurant of our hotel in Makkah about two weeks before Hajj was to start. Breakfast was[…]
South African pilgrims on umrah in the holy cities are on a spiritual high as they anxiously await the climax of Ramadan, the 27th night. Makkah is buzzing with pilgrims from around the world who have jetted in for the last ten days of the sacred month, considered the most[…]
While Muslim citizens around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, leaders of Muslim majority nations are at loggerheads, in a move that has sent ripple effects across the globe. On Monday Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and the Maldives implemented a diplomatic ban on the state of Qatar;[…]
Ramadan is the time of year when religious and historical venues linked to the Prophet, peace be upon him, after his Hijra to Madinah are of particular interest to Madinah visitors. These places are popular destinations for visitors before they meet for iftar in public squares, enjoying the wide-ranging services[…]
While Muslims around the world observe Ramadan while going about their days, a lucky few are venturing to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina to perform Umrah. Ramadan being the busiest period of the year for the Umrah pilgrimage, thousands of mu’tamireen flocks to the holy lands, where Saudi[…]
Individuals embarking on pilgrimage have once again been met with confusion, as vaccination documentation required for Saudi Arabian visa approvals has recently not been readily available. Following weeks of discussion about the increase in visa charges, last week the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) voiced concern at the[…]
Hajj Stories by Doctor Salim Parker ‘I need to go home,’ I told my friend. He smiled and nodded understandingly. He lived in Madinah and whenever he left the city for whatever reason, he always could not wait to return home. I had just arrived in Madinah having completed Hajj[…]
A delegation from the Anti Visa Fee Committee SA (AVC SA) met senior officials of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) today. The committee raised its serious concern about the excessive visa fees that have just been implemented worldwide. “We also stressed that in addition to Hajj and[…]
Two meetings in Cape Town and Johannesburg to discuss the umrah fee hike have unanimously agreed that umrah should not be boycotted. On Sunday, hundreds of concerned residents gathered in both cities to call for the visa increases to be scrapped. Saudi Arabia has increased visas from 350 riyals to[…]
As a meeting got underway in Cape Town, at the same time hundreds of Muslims met in Crosby, Johannesburg on Sunday to voice their opposition at the introduction of excessive visa fees for hajj and umrah. The Saudi Arabia Government recently announced the introduction of visa fees of SR 2000,[…]
WhatsApp us 