Dubai: Haj rituals have stayed the same for more than 1,400 years, but the experience has evolved considerably, especially in the last few decades.
Ajman resident Khaleeq Ahmad Mufti, 58, should know — his first Haj was in 1976.
“Back then pilgrims used to fear for their lives when performing the stoning ritual because of the huge crowds and deadly stampedes that had happened there. You didn’t know if you would make it back safe,” said Mufti, who last went on the Haj in 2012.
“Today that area is a multi-storey modern facility with lifts, escalators, air-conditioning and wide open walking ramps for people.”
Between 1976 and 2012, the Pakistani expatriate has performed the Haj several times, seeing improvements in arrangements for pilgrims each time.
“It’s so much easier now to do the Haj. I remember when there were no tunnels and roads and pilgrims walked around the mountains. Now there’s even the Makkah Metro. Traffic, though it’s still heavy, has also improved because of the road network.”
Gone are the days, he added, when “bulldozers had to move or bury the wasted sacrificial meat because there was not enough storage for extra meat.”
“You had to search around for a butcher, haggle over prices. The area for sacrifices was not so clean either. For the sacrifice ritual these days, all you have to do is appoint a Saudi government-certified agent there, and they’ll take care of everything from start to finish. And there’s no waste, they even export the meat to poor countries.”
However, pilgrims should be on guard against unofficial “roaming butchers” who offer a cheaper fee but “never actually carry out the sacrifice on your behalf,” he added.
Besides the facilities for rites, lodging and dining options have also “totally transformed” for the pilgrims.
Mufti said: “Back in the day, the tents were flimsy, temporary, and flammable. Now Mina — the place where pilgrims stay overnight — is a tent city, with permanent, safe, well-equipped tents.
“Food is no longer an issue. There is free food and water everywhere. If you want something more, you can find paid food stalls too.”
Spirit of brotherhood
Still, the Haj is not easy, especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Safaraz Jukaku, an internal auditor in Dubai, was caught in a freak storm when he went on the Haj in 2005. But what surprised him even more was the spirit of brotherhood between pilgrims and the help from Saudi authorities.
“First came the wind, it blew off the roofs of tents. Then it poured hard, and water came up to the knees. I was with my mum and we had to break off from the main group of pilgrims we were with,” said Jukaku, who is from India.
“Even in such circumstances, people helped each other, while going about their rituals. There was this sense of patience and fortitude; you only see something like that on Haj.”
Prime concern
By comparison, Sharjah resident Zubair Tirmazi has never been on the Haj. However, he plans to change that soon.
“God willing, I will go with my family if I can. The plan to go has always been there, but it will happen when it’s destined. The Haj is an obligation if you can physically and financially manage it. I can only imagine how nice it would feel to be a pilgrim,” said Tirmazi, 35, a Pakistani expatriate who works in retail.
“It’s not crowds or the heat during the Haj that worry me; my prime concern would be to perform the rituals properly. You’re going on a special journey and you want to get it right. There’s no guarantee in life you’ll get another change for Haj.”
Tirmazi’s sentiments are echoed by Mohammad Omar, a 38-year-old British businessman in Dubai.
“You see pilgrims returning from the Haj as completely different persons — new and improved. Many times I’ve wished I was one of them. I’ve seen Haj on TV and it’s awe-inspiring. Imagine the feeling of actually being there,” Omar said.
“I see the Haj as a turning point in your life, a fresh start. My plan is to reach that point soon, God willing. Only a sincere Haj can bring you that.”