Cii Hajj Nerve Centre, Pic: (File) | October 24, 2012

A South African man has begun a collection among his group members to feed underprivileged hujaaj in this year’s pilgrimage.

Ismail Oberay, from Kimberely in the Northern Cape, witnessed the financial plight of some of the pilgrims who come from far and wide to perform the fundamental of Hajj and decided to make a change.

“We found 5 to 6 people sitting on the pavements with a bowl the size of a saucer but a little bit deeper, with a little bit of dhall and all of them were sitting with bread similar to roti and they dipped it in there to fill their stomach to do the Arkaan (rituals) of Hajj,” Oberay said.

He collected SR7700 between his counterparts in the Hajj and made and distributed 550 food parcels. These parcels were further shared between the pilgrims themselves.

“Initially we intended to feed a few people. But the response was so wonderful,” he said.

The food parcels include half a chicken, rice and a cool drink.

Oberay said that in this way over 1000 people were fed from various countries including Sudan, Pakistan, India and Somalia.

“It was so overwhelming that the Hujaaj shed tears. We South Africans come for Hajj we have it easy. We have 2 or 3 course meals while our fellow Hujaaj from other countries don’t even have a proper meal to eat.”

The pilgrim urged Muslims to pray for the suffering of the impoverished people of the world.