MAKKAH, 17 December 2007 — The wives of pilgrim guides, who work during the Haj, often do not get to see their husbands for weeks because of the nature of their jobs. Such wives end up remaining at home alone while their husbands are busy with pilgrims during the busiest time of the year in Saudi Arabia.
Elham Sabban’s husband, Hussein Rawa, is a guide working for the South East Asia Haj Establishment. “At the start of the Haj season I rarely see my husband. He’s busy with work for days and only drops in at home to change his clothes or eat,” she said.
“This is normal and it’s been like this for the past 29 years. Not only that, even my sons are attracted to their father’s job and disappear with him during the Haj,” said Sabban, adding that her husband, like others in Makkah, is proud to serve the guests of God.
Haifa Omar Lashgar’s father, Omar, and her husband, Talal Mahjoub, are also guides working for the East Asia Haj Establishment.
Lashgar said her entire family loves serving pilgrims. “My dad has an office in Jeddah. Before I got married I used to help my father with the secretarial work and by organizing his many appointments.”
It’s not just Lashgar’s father who gets busy during the season. “My mother prepares food for pilgrims,” she said.
“One month before Haj starts my dad moves to Makkah and rarely comes home to Jeddah. It’s been the same after marriage. My husband also rarely comes home, because he’s busy,” she said, adding that she helps him by preparing food and sending it to Makkah. “So he is not wasting time coming back and forth between Makkah and Jeddah.”
“He’s so busy to the extent that sometimes he can’t come home for emergencies. I remember one time when I fell inside the house and broke my leg and when I called him to take me to hospital he couldn’t come. He couldn’t leave the office because he was very busy,” she said.
Radeya Shawish, wife of Muhammad Doman, who works for the Arab Countries Haj Establishment, said that before she used to become very bored during the Haj season.
“I used to complain about him staying away from home. Over time I’ve become used to it and feel proud of him. He sacrifices his family to serve the guests of God,” she said.
“During Haj, the people of Makkah turn into soldiers serving the guests of God. We try our best not to bother them with our demands at home until they return safe and sound,” she said.
