An elated Goolam Fakier leaves Thursday at 7.30am to cover haj for VOC this year.
Patience and perseverance are the two fundamental qualities required of all hujjaj as they fulfill the final pillar of Islam and for VOC's technical manager, responsible for technical maintenance, outside broadcast and scheduling, Goolam Fakier, the last month was good practise. After being chosen by VOC to cover haj for the station and having applied for haj accreditation as a first time haji, he had to suffer the disappointment of not being accredited on any of the four lists the South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) released.
When it became clear that none of the countries who applied for increases to their quota would be successful due to a shortage of space in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, VOC had to make special efforts to apply to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Pretoria for a visa in order to continue its tradition of covering haj live annually. As motivation, the station explained that this annual coverage since 1995 has helped to inspire listeners to perform haj.
For Fakier, the wait was long, but finally this week he was notified that his application had been successful and that he would be among the final SA hujjaj to depart this week. But for Fakier - a father of three - just knowing that he will be able to perform haj is a good enough. "The last two months, waiting on news from the embassy, has been very difficult and truly a big test for me," he related on Tuesday morning.
Having asked to leave early since he was down with the flu, Fakier said, he was unable to contain his emotions. "The tears just rolled down my face. I forgot all the aches and pains and just thanked my Creator, right there sitting in my car. I could really see how Allah had tested my iman and it is a test I will never forget for it showed me the power of dua."
Part of the test, he said, was making peace with the fact that he might not be able to perform haj this year. "I had to make peace with the fact that although my name may have been called among millions of Muslims in the world, that alone was enough...whether I performed haj this year or in future. It was an honour just to know the possibility existed that I might perform haj. I really had become content with that. But then to be told that I would be going...!"
In previous years the station opted to have only staffers who had performed haj previously cover the event for the station so as not to intrude in their ibada. However, with haj authorities now eliminating repeat hujjaj, a change in the policy became necessary. This made it possible for a number of VOC staff to also perform their fard haj.
"He was incredibly supportive and kept motivating me whilst helping me to prepare for haj and for that I cannot thank him enough. I used whatever spare time I had to study up on my haj, reading as much as I could, attending as many classes as I could manage, watching DVD's. With so many people giving advice, it could become confusing, but I've decided to stick to the advice that correllate and stay focused," he said.
The waiting, Fakier said, also helped to prepare him spirtually for the next month ahead. "I'm not the most patient person in the world and through this process, I have had to learn to have sabr," he chuckled. I've also become much closer to my Creator, asking Him for lots of guidance, keeping my tongue wet with reciting Quran...all in preparation. But I also know this is only the beginning. The true test still lies ahead and I pray that I may be up to the task, insha Allah."
Fakier expressed his sincere thanks to his family, friends and listeners who had been very supportive and pledged to keep them informed on this year's haj to the best of his ability. "We are finalising the link up times today, but we hope to make the link up as spiritual and informative as possible. Also, having successfully used 3G connections for our local outside broadcasts, we are hopeful that the nightly link ups will also be of better quality than before, insha Allah."
Besides filing daily on air link ups during the main days of haj due in two weeks, VOC onliners will also be able to stay tune to Fakier's regular haj blog on this website. Fakier will be departing from Cape Town at 7.30am on Thursday. VOC
When it became clear that none of the countries who applied for increases to their quota would be successful due to a shortage of space in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, VOC had to make special efforts to apply to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Pretoria for a visa in order to continue its tradition of covering haj live annually. As motivation, the station explained that this annual coverage since 1995 has helped to inspire listeners to perform haj.
For Fakier, the wait was long, but finally this week he was notified that his application had been successful and that he would be among the final SA hujjaj to depart this week. But for Fakier - a father of three - just knowing that he will be able to perform haj is a good enough. "The last two months, waiting on news from the embassy, has been very difficult and truly a big test for me," he related on Tuesday morning.
Power of dua
"I would go to the office of my station manager three times a day to ask if there was any news and was told constantly to just remain firm and keep making dua. It would leave me feeling very dispondent and I was very, very, very close to giving up. Then this week the embassy informed our haj panel that we were successful and I was called on the phone about it on my way home from work yesterday."Having asked to leave early since he was down with the flu, Fakier said, he was unable to contain his emotions. "The tears just rolled down my face. I forgot all the aches and pains and just thanked my Creator, right there sitting in my car. I could really see how Allah had tested my iman and it is a test I will never forget for it showed me the power of dua."
Part of the test, he said, was making peace with the fact that he might not be able to perform haj this year. "I had to make peace with the fact that although my name may have been called among millions of Muslims in the world, that alone was enough...whether I performed haj this year or in future. It was an honour just to know the possibility existed that I might perform haj. I really had become content with that. But then to be told that I would be going...!"
Coverage
Fakier is the latest VOC staffer to be sent on his first haj whilst covering the biggest annual gathering of Muslims for VOC. Last year presenter Jamiel Wallace covered haj, preceded by Muhammad Faseegh Petersen in 2010 and Muhammad Zain Majiet in 2009. According to Fakier, Majiet had been a big inspiration in his haj preparation.In previous years the station opted to have only staffers who had performed haj previously cover the event for the station so as not to intrude in their ibada. However, with haj authorities now eliminating repeat hujjaj, a change in the policy became necessary. This made it possible for a number of VOC staff to also perform their fard haj.
"He was incredibly supportive and kept motivating me whilst helping me to prepare for haj and for that I cannot thank him enough. I used whatever spare time I had to study up on my haj, reading as much as I could, attending as many classes as I could manage, watching DVD's. With so many people giving advice, it could become confusing, but I've decided to stick to the advice that correllate and stay focused," he said.
The waiting, Fakier said, also helped to prepare him spirtually for the next month ahead. "I'm not the most patient person in the world and through this process, I have had to learn to have sabr," he chuckled. I've also become much closer to my Creator, asking Him for lots of guidance, keeping my tongue wet with reciting Quran...all in preparation. But I also know this is only the beginning. The true test still lies ahead and I pray that I may be up to the task, insha Allah."
Fakier expressed his sincere thanks to his family, friends and listeners who had been very supportive and pledged to keep them informed on this year's haj to the best of his ability. "We are finalising the link up times today, but we hope to make the link up as spiritual and informative as possible. Also, having successfully used 3G connections for our local outside broadcasts, we are hopeful that the nightly link ups will also be of better quality than before, insha Allah."
Besides filing daily on air link ups during the main days of haj due in two weeks, VOC onliners will also be able to stay tune to Fakier's regular haj blog on this website. Fakier will be departing from Cape Town at 7.30am on Thursday. VOC
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