Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2013-10-18

Hajj 1434 has been described as a hajj of epic proportions and the easiest hajj ever. The low quotas not only affected South Africa (Only 2000 were accredited) but the entire world.

The once in a lifetime journey has also yielded some dreams that were realized, like the Benoni women who passed away in Medina, a day before she was set to leave for Makkah.

Then there were the momentous occasions. On Friday the 11th of October on the blessed day of Jumu'ah, little Baby Muhammad Makki Moolla was born to overjoyed parents, Yunus and Sarah Bibi Moolla, in Makkah.

However Allah SWT's Mercy has no bounds. At 10.30pm on the 4th day of Hajj a pair of blessed twins, a boy and girl named Mina and Arafah were born to proud parents Ishaaq and Amina Canchitoo.

The parents of the babies will not only return to South Africa as new born babies themselves as the authentic Hadith of Nabi SAW attests to, but they will bring back with them the babies that they've been blessed with.

Affirming the success of this year’s hajj was the South African ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Siddique Jaffer.

In an exclusive interview, Jaffer told Radio Islam's Mufti Moosagie that the hajj has been very good; saying the difference in numbers was quite evident on the roads.

"So there's been fewer crowds, definitely the crowds have been fewer and that has helped when officials in the haram better managed the people going in," said Jaffer.

Jaffer also said that due to the roads being lighter with traffic, hajee's could spend a lot more quality time at Arafah, Musdalifah, Mina and other holy sites making ibaadah.

Given South Africa's low quota and the many South Africans desire to embark on hajj, Jaffer said the quota is an on-going discussion with Saudi authorities.

"The quotas are fixed in terms of size of population. So there's not a lot of play that one has around that aspect," said Jaffer

"However we try to appeal to the Saudi authorities to say that given the fact that you know South Africans want to make hajj, and South Africans by and large are not over stayers in the Kingdom, they should look at our applications favourably," he added.

"We will continue that engagement until you know we have success. I mean we are not going stop in our attempts to get an increase in the quota," reiterated Jaffer.

Jaffer also elaborated if countries wanted to use neighbouring countries unused quotas to accommodate hajee's, there has to be regional or bilateral discussions and an agreement in place between the countries as the Saudi Arabian Government only deals with countries.

Asked about the opening of umrah visas, Jaffer said that all hujjaj will have to leave the kingdom between the 10th or 15th of Muharram 1434.

"And then normally they would have a week or two where they would have almost what you call a shutdown and that allows them to ensure that they get everything sorted out, get things back on track and then the umrah visas will open. But in all likelihood the umrah visas will be open for hujjaj wanting to come for December umrah's," said Jaffer.

In a general message to the ummah, Jaffer said that Muslims should work towards increasing their Islamic knowledge, being the example, being the ambassadors of Islam that they always are.

"We need to live a life that people are proud to say that's a Muslim, and that's the intention that we have to work towards Insha'Allah"

(Twitter: @Faizie143)