This forms part of Dr Salim Parker's hajj stories, which can be found at hajjdoctor.co.za The huge bear of a man towered over the nearly anorexic skeleton of his small wife. ‘They’re arguing again,’ someone remarked. We were all assembled in the huge breakfast buffet area of the five star hotel in Makkah about two weeks before Hajj. I was afraid that just by brushing lightly at her with his […]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) says it has placed the list of 1st time hujjaj applicants on its website which will assist people to gauge where they are in the queue. South Africa has an extensive waiting list due to the limited quota that has been afforded to the country by Saudi Arabian authorities. The current quota has been increased to 2500 following the completion of construction […]
Some 750 days after the crane crash incident in Makkah Haram, the Penal Court in Makkah on Sunday acquitted all 13 people who were charged with negligence. The court said they are not criminally responsible for the incident in which 108 people lost their lives and another 238 were injured when a crane involved in the Haram expansion project crashed on September 11, 2015. The Attorney General objected to the […]
This forms part of a series of hajj stories written by South African hajj doctor, Salim Parker. More articles can be found at www.hajjdoctor.co.za The first day of Hajj and millions made their way to Mina from Makkah in the days when there were no restrictions on numbers. Most walked the few kilometres. Others took busses, but the massive crowds, crazy traffic congestion and confusing police regulations led to absolute […]
As South African hujjaj return to their lives, concerns relating to the difficulties experienced by elderly hujjaj this year have been a source of great discontent. Speaking to VOC, imam of Masjid al-Quds and hajj spiritual leader Shaykh Abdurahman Alexander said the hajj is a spiritual journey that requires arduous physical exertion. The shaykh has made a plea for a ruling to be implemented that would ensure that elderly hujjaj […]
With temperatures rising to some 45 degrees, hujjaj this year are said to have experienced a challenging haj. Dr Salim Parker, well known as South Africa’s hajj doctor, says that given the fact that hujjaj maintain a mind-set that allows them to tolerate the heat, most South African hujjaj remained unperturbed by the soaring desert temperatures, which ranged between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. “The passion and the spiritual upliftment […]
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 a time shared with new made friends, new formed alliances as well as strengthening existing bonds. The atmosphere is invariably […]
As the climax of the Hajj season has come and sadly gone, the many hujjaj will be leaving the sacred lands over the next few days taking with them ever lasting memories. On Monday, hujjaj performed their Tawaf Al Wida (Farewell Tawaf) around the Kaaba in Makkah as they sealed their five day journey, “Many of us are very much satisfied on how the hajj has gone off this year… […]
Over two million pilgrims on Sunday entered their second Tashriq day during which they continued throwing stones at the devil for the second day and left for Makkah to do Tawaf Al-Wada (farewell circumambulation) and prepare either to go to Madinah or leave for home. The Haj will be officially over on Monday. A large number of pilgrims visited Madinah before the Haj to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
