Assalamu’alaykum
Inshallah, earlier this year I made an intention to perform Hajj. While I have done my Hajj in the past, my wife has not and I take this as a serious responsibility and core pillar of Islam. Subhanallah last week I gave my deposit to hopefully secure our bookings.
In the past we went with Al Anwar Hajj & Umrah group, their service I could not fault, their friendly & honest staff I remember till this day.
While I’ve no qualms with Al Anwar, my issue is with SAHUC -Â Before I type ahead please know I have no intention to slander or run-down this organization, with the responsibility they carry I’m sure constructive criticism will only help them to improve & better their organization. I understand they have a tremendous responsibility & immense pressure to look after the public’s best interests. For taking on this monumentous task I applaud them and pray that Allah accepts their efforts and guides them correctly.
- Public transparency: they need to be more contactable. When doing the registration I emailed a few times and did not received any reply. Add to that their office lines (JHB) are very seldom answered. Perhaps it was just my personal experience.
- Coming from a website developer & graphic design perspective – Their website is not very compliant; broken links (gallery), scripting errors. The website simply does not work with Firefox. I’ll not even bring up the mediocre webdesign. We as muslims should pride ourselves in what we do. Should not the world’s view of south african Hajjee’s have a professional look & feel?
- Payment options:Â When registering, SAHUC give no option but to use a credit card or debit card. Personally i’ve no gripe with this but my concern is for our elderly folk who are;
a) not internet savvy &
b) not trusting of online sites.
Running a successful online store I tackle these issues daily. During online payment all three of my credit cards did not authorise due to a programming error on their side.Eventually I had to call the Cape Town office (JHB did not answer) to pay over the phone. It is here that I got told that they do not accept bank transfers. Nonetheless after four or five tries the brother eventually processed my payment.  Not a very efficient payment model.
- Website security – Anyone can simply type in an ID number (here)and immediately you will have access to an individual’s;
a) Full Name,
b) Contact numbers,
c) physical address,
d) gender,
e) next of kin.
With rampant crimes in South Africa could you imagine what a would be thief or fraudster can accomplish with such personal information? Yes one will have to know a registered ID number but the risk is still there. I feel a password protected area is a must-have. - News – Their website has very few news updates. I understand that they do conduct interviews at random times on Radio Islam – why not make these transcripts available through their website. – Since registering I have had no feedback or communication. Simply word of mouth from friends saying “they’re going to release a list next week” or similar.
- Reputation – I do not speak for all muslims in Southern Africa, however many friends & family that I do know express a fair bit of frustration. While I do not know their full issue with SAHUC – perhaps if SAHUC had a public friendly face, more press releases, email newsletters and so forth they could air their side of a problem and not have the public condemn them.
With all complaints, it’s all too easy to complain, especially with the anonymity of the internet –
The above, in my opinion, is valid and constructive criticism. I urge you to add in your comments & options on this post.
Lastly, from my side – I’d be willing to design & implement a wordpress driven website, complete with static information pages, newsfeed with multiple categories, photogalleries, compliant in all web browsers at no cost to SAHUC. As for their registration system, I will gladly have my programmers & coders create a system to their spec and advise them accordingly, once again at no additional cost to SAHUC.
Once again, it is not my intention to run down SAHUC or complain, I like all prospective Hujjaaj want a better experience for everyone, including the selfless volunteers who donate their valuable time and energy to keep SAHUC going.
14 Responses to “Hajj 2008: My gripe with SAHUC”
June 30, 2008
junaideI totally agree with your sentiments ecpressed above. I can add a few more :
1. Fix all the links – its frustrating when more than half of them have no information, and broken links
2. Current information – what use are SAHUC’s 2006 plans. How must a hajee prepare or know what to expect. How must anyone even help a hajee when SAHUC has no plans for 2008
3. VERY IMPORTANT – Registration is closed..just like that. Every year many people drop out, for whatever reason. Why not have a waitlist so people that did not have the funds at the time, but do now, are able to apply. Hajj is still many months away. Every year we hear the “quota issues” and then 7000 people go for hajj. This year there are 5000 applicants and – registration is closed!
4.Answer phones please. JHB never answers, DBN and CT is constantly engaged.
5. SAHUC does not answer emails from their website – how about putting your email addresses down on the site so we can email directly. Considering the state of the links, maybe their emails don’t work eg..all these valid comments can only get to SAHUC if we PRINT it and deliver it (and hope someone reads it)
5. Current financial statements – thelast one is 2006. SAHUC is a public organisation, answerable to muslims. The money (1 million in cash according to 2006 statements) is doing what exactly. Surely some of it can be used to employ someone to…answer the phone.
6.public relations department…one line on website – spend some money on doing – public relations and communication.
This ivory tower attitude really does make people anti-SAHUC. SAHUC has a responsiblity and amaanat – it must live up to these expectations – its sad that these kind of comments have to be aired in the first place.
We have many dedicated muslims that can help – and many of the best IT skills in the industry are muslim. Harness the power of the ummah and serve the ummah.
June 30, 2008
AslamAll has been said brother naeem cannot add anymore..
Alhamdullilah i have made intention as well to go for hajj this year..ALLAH accept all our intentions insha-allah.
Just to add 1 or 2 things..SAHUC has been in charge for a good few years and surely by now they should’ve set some sort of structure in the running of the organization as well as there site as it needs some real attention.For the past few months since the opening of the registration its been the same with no real information that needs to be known to the public…
second thing today the accreditation is available on site but what about those that have 60points there might be the mahram but they have been 3 or 4 times which is certainly not fair to the 1st time hajee..
ALLAH accept us all…
wasalaam
July 11, 2008
CONCERNED MUSLIMTHE REAL ULAMAH,IF ANY ARE STILL LEFT, SHOLD GET TOGETHER AND ELEMINATE THE FITNAH CALLED SAHUC.
July 17, 2008
Finally - Affordable Hajj in South Africa! | My Ummah .co.za[…] this is taking a good direction. Before SAHUC or any one else things I’m anti-sahuc (see here) – Neither has Khitmatul A Awaam approached me to advertise this. I simply thing everyone should […]
July 27, 2008
Salem RahimWe don’t need SAHUC.Srap them.To go to the
House of Allah, one must be free to go any number of time.If you can afford,it take the less fortunate ones to.
July 31, 2008
AbdoeragmaanLet’s just say SAHUC Kan gaan slaap. I spoke to them via email about the old people not being compu literate & the credit card thing. They quick to reply when you criticize them. By the way the quota system is given to SAHUC by the Saudi government but SAHUC decides on who goes. I know of couple who were first timers but weren’t successful.
One thing I can say is the SAHUC staff in Makka have no adab; I nearly gave it to one a few years back. fortunatly one sheikh stoped me.a decendant of Rasululah SWA to be exact.
my parents whent without SAHUC & not even an agent & they had the time of their lives.
August 1, 2008
NASER HUSSAINhello iam inttrested to working with volenteer staff of hsjj 2008 if any vacancy is there you can call me
August 4, 2008
MyUmmah July Web Update | My Ummah .co.za[…] saw my (yet to be replied by SAHUC) ‘gripe with SAHUC’ which at the time of this post, shows up at no.6 on Google.com & no.4 on Google.co.za – Perhaps […]
November 15, 2008
DISGUSTED MUSLIM1. Who has mandated SAHUC to represent muslim interest regarding Hajj in RSA?
2. Why should a few arrogant individuals be given the responsibility & right to decide who should & should not go for Hajj?
3. Is it true that family members of SAHUC officials are allowed to go as helpers? Free trip? Free Hajj?
3. Why are our prominent ulema of RSA not on the accreditation board to assist these arrogant individuals to decide who & who should not be accredited?
4. If SAHUC where efficient many more poorer first time Hujaaj whould have been able to finalize packages well before financial crises.
5.5000 @ R700,00 per person equals 3,5 million rands. How is this spent? Where is the transparency?
6. Does SAHUC receive kick backs from tour operators for accreditation favours? How is this monitored?
7> Essentially who is SAHUC accountable to?
November 16, 2008
yusef patelMay be as an Ummah we should stop complaining an dphysically do something. The times have come for the lessons to be learnt of stopping the wrongs in the ummah physically whuch is the strongest method of eradicating crooks and robbers, Dua is the weakest link so lets get together and physically eradicate not only SAHUC but many more like them.
WHO GIVES ANYONE THE RIGHT TO DICTATE WHO GOES TO VISIT ALLAH NO ONE NOT EVEN THE GREATEST MAN ON THIS EARTH WHO WAS RSAW DICTATED THAT.
November 16, 2008
naeem.co.zaYusuf, Agreed.
From my side and on behalf of MyUmmah – i have assisted in designing & developing the Khitamatul Awaam website, South Africa’s non profit Hajj & Umrah services. Headed by a strong team of docters, lawyers as well as spiritual leaders such as Ml. Bham. – http://www.kasa.org.za
Blowing my own trumpet when i say that Kasa’s website is miles ahead of Sahuc in terms of design, functionality, security & browser compatibility.
There is a little rumour and hope that in 2009, kasa could be selected as a Hajj Accreditor.
SAHUC proved to be even more circus like in the last few weeks before the hajjee’s left, families had to write a letter “why they want to perform hajj” and SAHUC would in turn approve it.
For our Ummah in South Africa, its simple. We need to Enjoin the Good and Forbid the evil.
for the record, since publishing this letter and emailing to SAHUC – i have yet to even get a single response out of them, let alone a reply to an email. THAT speaks volumes about their transparency & intentions.
November 29, 2008
nadeemI have never been on hajj before, may Allah make me and all muslims who have yet to go of HIS guests soon insha Allah.
I have a friend in Makkah who offered me full accomodation at no charge if I should ever go on hajj insha Allah. My problem is that if I were to accept his offer, SAHUC says they cannot help me in such a situation. Their reason is that they must only help hujaaj who are working through haj agents and these laws are put in place by the Saudi gov.
Why must I then book through, an agent who is going to give me a haj package with various accomodation which i will have to pay a couple of thousand rands, but i have free accomodation in Makka?
The haj is becoming very expensive and unnecessarily so. Their lots of cheaper methods but protocol dont allow it.
If there is any btother or sister who can advise on how to move forward in a case like mine i would really appreciate it.
March 16, 2009
hasanAs salaam u alikum
I have read various articles regarding the negativity one has towards SAHUC. Allow me to pose a few questions. The Saudi Admin issues let us say 5000 visas. we have 1.1 million Muslims in SA. Please advise me which 5000 from the 1.1 million be chosen ? according to my info the Ullema bodies were consulted and together a method was formulated. Secondly as businessmen, agents were prone to taking the rich continuously as premium prices. How then were those who had the minimum supposed to go? The Saudi Admin dictates that no person may attend within 5 years not SAHUC. SAHUC was launched as a result of non performances by agents. The hujaaj had no recourse when after paying exorbitant monies were not serviced accordingly. At last they now a recourse. SAHUC. Many hajji that have lodged complaints were attended to and received favorable results. Whenever any person or group of persons try and do something Shaitan whispers in the ears causing fitna. It is easy to criticize. What have you done for the betterment of the Umah? I have been on hajj and met with Sahuc officials who assisted and guided us. I later discovered that they were all volunteers. We have a tendency to moan when we don’t get our way. Do we ever say thanks. I therefore encourage that all you persons who have any any criticism to go and spend a day or so with SAHUC and see what is being done and why? then you will have a right to criticize. One cannot go by what others perceive. This what is called fitna. Gossip mongers have existed from before our Nabi SAW and still exist today. We as Muslim must first establish Truth (HAQ) before making any decision. there are difficult situation that one faces , to name a few, a family wishes to go for hajj and have a child who is 7 years old. Must we allow this child to go on hajj when it not even Fard on him or allow an adult who has not attended before. The family then cry out that they do not have anyone to care for the kid and are upset and decide that SAHUc is wrong for not accrediting their child and create all sorts of fitna. A person has been on Hajj many times and wants to go again. Does one allow a repeat hajj to do so, or does one in the spirit of Islam allow a first timer perform his fard. the repeat hajji then moans that SAHUC does not have the right to stop him. Again Fitna mongering commences. These ar just a few issues attended to by SAHUC when a just call is made, one is unhappy nad starts his fitna.
I as a Muslim only have one request. If you wish to uplift the umah then do something constructive. If you you witness anything wrong then act against it. Allah SWA has given us all a brain, let us us it and make up our own minds. Let us not be wavered and brought into fitna by shaitaan the cursed one. Shukran WasSalaam
Hasan
March 16, 2009
hasanOur Nabie SAW was on the mimbar when he clench his fist the opened his hand with fingers spread wide and sat down sad. The sahabah RA enquired what was wrong and he replied that if my Ummah stand together they will be force to reckon with but alas they choose to stand separated as each weak individual finger.
This is how we Muslims truly are. We tend to separate rather than unite. What is wrong with us. Let us be one as there is only one Islam…let us be the force to reckon with. UNITE UNITE UNITE