CHAPTER 4 HAJJ AND FINANCE
4.3 ESTABLISHMENT OF AGENCIES TO FACILITATE HAJJ
4.3.4 RADIO STATIONS
organisation would benefit financially as all monies collected from the hajjis would be kept in trust by the Trust Bank until required by the jamaKah to finalise arrangements.
The jama^ah requested that the books of the account be scrutinised by members of the Muslim Judicial Council at any time at their general meetings. The jama ah would also endeavour to solve problems which might occur during the hajj and be responsible for conducting hajj classes under the guidance of Shaykh Sulayman Mosaval.
Currently, the method of paying off for a hajj package has become more sophisticated.
Al-Anwar Hajj and ^Umrah Group allow their clients to pay off the complete package for hajj. However, the client first needs to pay a deposit of not less than R3 000 00.
Thereafter the client's name is recorded on the computer as a potential hajji. Al-Anwar Hajj and yUmrah Group would supply banking details to the potential hajji if he/she intended to make direct deposits into their banking account. A copy of the deposit slip is presented to Al-Anwar Hajj and "Umrah Group, at which time a receipt is issued to the potential hajji. It is required of the potential hajji to pay the balance of the debt/contract price one month before the actual departure of hajj.35 Rafeeq (Rafiq) Harris of Al-Anwar Hajj and "Umrah Group, stated that the group prefers cheques to be deposited into then- account, as it is much safer than to handle cash at the offices. He also asserted that in 2005, the group had lost more than a R100,000-00 because of cash deposits.36
community radio stations are instrumental with the assistance of the public, in sending deserving members of the community every year for hajj.
Many deserving people in the community have been able to perform hajj through the efforts of Radio 786 and as its listeners. The Radio 786 "Hajj Nominations Award"
programme was introduced in 1995. Only one person was sent to perform the hajj in that year. The following year 13 people were sent from the community and in 1997 ten deserving people were sent on this sacred journey. Islamic organisations and the general public were requested to submit the names of prospective hajjis together with motivating candidates' reasons for their nominations. The nominee had to be older than 55 years of age, he/she had to be in good health, it was expected of him/her to be actively involved in the community, and he/she must have been financially unable to undertake this journey.
Finally they had to be Qur'an literate (i.e. able to read Qur'an text).38
According to one of the radio's programme presenters:
"The enthusiasm with which the programme was met has proved to be contagious. Because the selection criteria specifies that candidates be Qur'an literate, it is amazing how many Qur'an literacy classes for older people have mushroomed!"
Since 1995 a hajj selection committee has assessed hundreds of nominations, which are submitted as far as the Boland. Each nomination is evaluated and points are allocated.
Thereafter a short list is made up and the hajj committee visits these nominees. After further deliberations the final list of people is announced. One deserving nominee, Abdol Rajap Daniels, 88 years of age, of Hanover Park, had sufficient funds to pay for his airfare, however, he died before he could undertake this journey. On the other hand,
Jamilah Cassiem of Wellington was the first person to be sent on hajj outside Radio 786s broadcasting perimeters. Gadija Rulumente, who lived in the African township, Khayalitsha, in the Cape, had embraced Islam after her husband's demise. When Radio 786 informed her that she had been selected as one of the twelve recipients out of the 3000 nominees to go on hajj, her response was: "My first thought was that it was a joke.
But when I received my passport on 24 November 1996 reality struck me, that this was for real".
In all probability she was selected to go on hajj out of the 3000 nominees because she did not only embrace Islam, but she also administered a creche (25 kids) in the morning a madrasah (30 pupils) in the afternoon and an adult class for women on Sunday mornings.41 This programme is financed entirely by the community in conjunction with Rasool's (Rasul's) Travel, who organises the flight arrangements as well as the accommodation in Mecca and Medina..42
According to Rasool Mahomed of Rasool's Travel, between 1998 and 2002, 25 deserving people had gone on hajj with the assistance of Radio 786, the community and Rasul's Travel. Those who were part of the selection committee on behalf of Radio 786 were the late Hajji Abbas Cloete, Habib Khan, Hajji Moerat, Halimah Adjouhaar and Solly Allie (SulaymanN AH). According to Solly Allie all cash donations were directly deposited into the radio station's banking account at Al-Baraka Bank.43 The first lady who was given the opportunity to go on hajj in 1995 with the assistance of anonymous donors was Mariam Naz. Rasool Mahomed initiated the idea that:
"Every hajji should contribute at least R2, 500 from their own pocket in order to show their independence, though every one could not raise this amount. There
were pledges and contributions from anonymous donors. All the accumulated funds went towards the airticket and the accommodation, which was organised by
Hafiz Andan at a special rate. Some members of the public contributed suitcases and Ihram clothes to the hajjis". In conjunction with Marwan Moerat ofPaarl, "I have also annually contributed towards a few hajjis' airfare and accommodation.
The names of the fortunate ones were normally announced at the Paarl annual food fair festival.
The following businesses including Rasools Travel, Elite Supermarket, Namso Drapers, Global Textiles, Ry lands Gas and Glass and the community of Cravenby contributed towards the hajj of the 13 deserving cases (see Appendix F).
Since 1998 the Voice of the Cape (VOC) radio station has also been instrumental in sending deserving persons on hajj. After a careful evaluation by the selection committee, the fortunate candidate was announced on the last day of the VOC annual festival. The prize, which is sponsored by the Al-Anwar Hajj and ^Umrah Group as well as Elite Super Market and Elite Cash & Carry, is awarded to an active member of the Muslim community who had been nominated by community leaders in various areas of VOCs reception area because of their work serving the community at large. A presenter of VOC interviews these people, which is normally broadcasted over the radio. In 2002 this package was worth R25 000.45 Ali Banderker, director of Elite Cash & Carry pointed out that:
"We have contributed two tickets towards the hajj of deserving cases on an annual basis in conjunction with the Al-Anwar Hajj and "Umrah group who would organise the accommodation, etc. We were never involved with the
selection process - this was done by the Voice of the Cape radio station. We would give the donation to Imam Pandy who in turn would bring us a receipt of the air ticket. Besides contributing the ticket money, we have also contributed towards the hajjis' spending money".
Mogamat Ganief Harris, director of the Al-Anwar Hajj and "Umrah Group, stated that since the inception of the organisation in 1996, the group has contributed annually towards hajj. The Elite Super Market Group has contributed towards the air tickets for intending hajjis. The Voice of the Cape radio station has been instrumental in the selection process of the hajjis, though some were selected by Al-Anwar Hajj and KUmrah Group as they received direct requests from Islamic organisations for donations towards deserving cases.47