MINA, 22 January 2005 — Haj may be once in a lifetime journey for the faithful but for countless young Saudis it is an opportunity to earn a few extra bucks and learn a few extra words from other languages. They make the most of the pilgrimage season and try to acquaint themselves with the culture and tradition of foreign pilgrims. They either work for tawafa organizations or in fruit shops or just as security guards at the thousands of tents housing millions of pilgrims. Arab News had a rare opportunity to talk to these young and proud Saudis as they were in a relaxed mood yesterday on the second day of the stoning ritual.
For Khaled Ahmad, a 19-year-old high school graduate, this was the first opportunity to work during Haj. A Jeddawi himself, he is working in the food section of a tawafa organization.
“This experience is important to me as I go up in life; I am learning the ropes. It is a lot of hard work and I deserve every single halalah that I earn during these 10 days,” he said, his chest swelling with pride.
Abdullah Rifaee is just 15. He is working at one of the tents as a security guard. “This job will fetch me SR700 for 10 days. This will help my father in repaying part of our house rent. I wanted to help him in any way I can and this is one small step in lessening his burden,” he said, getting a little emotional.
Thamer Al-Sufi is working as an assistant to the electrician working at one of the tawafa organizations.
“Money is not important to me, experience is. Working during Haj offers its own set of problems. I have to take care of myself. This job has taught me how to organize myself,” said the 17-year-old Saudi.
“When I go from here in the next three days I will be much experienced and much wiser,” he added.
For 16-year-old Haitham Muhammad from Jeddah, neither money nor experience was the catalyst.
“Last year, most of my friends came to Mina to work during Haj. I was left all alone. I felt very bored. What is life without friends. So I decided I too will go along with them and here I am making merry and also making money. I will get SR700 for 10 days,” he said proudly.
“Also, I made lot of friends from Makkah and Jeddah. This is great. We have formed our own little community of friends.”
Haitham is homesick, too. “I will buy gifts for my brothers and sisters. They are waiting for me and I am dying to see them,” he added.
Sadik Al-Oufi, 15, is from Makkah. This is his second year at the Haj.
“My mother asked me to work during Haj. She wants me to get experience in the art of serving pilgrims. This has given me immense experience and she was very happy when I told her about my work here in Mina,” he said.
What will he do with the SR600 that he has been promised for work. “I will pay my JAWAL bill,” pat came the reply.
Tarek Al-Harbi, 21, is a university student. “I am doing a course in English language at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. “This is my sixth year at the Haj.”
He helps with different companies in organizing accommodation facilities in Mina.
He is not too pleased with the money though.
“Fifteen hundred riyals is nothing considering the amount of efforts that I put into this work. I am doing a course in English language because I realized after coming here that English holds the key to getting anywhere and in any country,” said Al-Harbi.
