By Annisa Essack
30062022

Hajj 1443/2022 is the first Hajj that is taking place “post-Covid” and has invoked several emotions as those chosen to participate in the Hajj this year are elated, those who, due to several circumstances, are unable to. However, for the Ummah, it is still a time to rejoice.

Hafez Ebrahim Moosa said this Hajj would be remembered as the “first Hajj after Covid.” He took us through a timeline from the initial onset of the global pandemic and subsequent lockdown to the current Hajj, where only about 45% of foreign Muslims will be performing Hajj.

With some restrictions still in place, he said that those older than 65 are most heartbreaking as they cannot perform the Hajj, especially as many have been looking forward to the pilgrimage and saving, for some, for a lifetime.

But for the less advantaged globally, the cost of Hajj is exorbitant, especially for those in Muslim majority countries where the Hajj subsidies have been curtailed. Another factor is, of course, the lack of air and land transport worldwide.

A Hajj-only package, for South Africans, for the days of Hajj would cost from R40 000 to R60 000.

He alluded to the fact that as the Hajj experience costs more, the expectation from Hujjaj would be higher, and they want more for their buck.

For European, the US and British citizens, a planned and eagerly awaited journey has been a nightmare with the launch of the Motawif system, which involves a lottery draw with only a chosen few would make the trip. The mediators who facilitated the Hajj were omitted when the system was introduced on June 6th, 2022. The hujjaj were expected to complete their applications by June 13th, 2022.

The challenges were many, as they tried to obtain refunds, working with a computer system with many flaws and approvals were successful, and the flexibility of the packages was non-existent. The horror continued, even for those who jumped the many hurdles as they faced botched bookings for accommodations and other issues.

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