As Muslims around the world mark the month of Dhul Hijjah, one of the most sacred months of the Islamic year, all roads lead to the holy cities in the Saudi Kingdom for the annual haj pilgrimage on Thursday. Millions of pilgrims will don the ihram on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah to participate in the pre-historic rites of haj, the fifth pillar of Islam. For the next few days, VOC will bring all the latest haj coverage and on air programming will reflect this year’s theme ‘Honouring our Hujjaj”.

This theme is based on the following hadeeth: Ibn Umar (ra) reports that Rasulullah (saw) said, “When you meet a haji (on his way home) then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allah on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allah for his sins.”

“We chose this theme because our hujjaj are honoured by Allah (swt) and VOC wants to honour them when they return home. We make make dua that Allah accepts all their Ibaadah, Ameen,” said VOC programming manager Mishka Daries.

While there has been daily coverage in the run up to the five days haj with news correspondents and various haj groups in the Saudi Kingdom, the official haj programme kicks off on Friday on the Day of Arafat with a special naseegah from 10am. The Arafat khutbah from Makkah with translation by Maulana Ighsaan Hendricks and Sheikh Ighsaan Taliep will air at 6pm on Friday.

At 2pm, Afternoon Cruise will host a special Arafat programme from the South African camp of hujjaj with a linkup to Al Anwar’s haj jamaah. At 7pm, Sheikh Waseem Abrahams will reflect on the spiritual aspect of haj and the importance of the day of Arafat. On matters of Qurbani, listeners can tune in at 8pm, for a programme with Sheikh Mohammed Moerat on ‘choosing your sheep’.

Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated in the Saudi Kingdom on Saturday and VOC will broadcast a live Eid khutbah from Muir Street Masjid ar 7.30am. Eid dedications kick off at 10am and will be interspersed into programming along with qasaa-ied and takbir throughout the day.

With the majority of Capetonians observing Eid on Sunday, VOC moves to St Athens Road masjid in Athlone for the Eid salah at 7.30am. At 10am, a programme on the etiquettes of Qurbani and the three days of Tashreeq will be featured with Sheikh Qaasim Gabriels. This is followed by a special haj compilation with Naeem Roomaney at 3pm.

From 9pm, the station links up with IFM in Port Elizabeth for a synchronised broadcast where PE and Cape Town listeners can send messages to their loved ones. VOC