Streets were teeming with Hajis as they made their way to their respective camps. The chatter of the pilgrims was punctuated with the loud cries of sellers, hawking everything from fruit and vegetables to copies of the Holy Qu’ran.
Arab News bumped into a familiar face from last year’s Haj — Abdul Ali, a Yemeni who makes money by offering pilgrims the opportunity to take pictures by his beautiful camel for SR10.
He said he was glad to be back at Arafat and said he hopes to make up to SR1,500 on the day.
“Remember, I have two mouths to feed, me and the creature responsible for my livelihood in the first place,” he said with a smile.
“What I make isn’t always enough, but it will keep me going by the grace of Allah.”
Riyaz Uddin, a Bangladeshi vendor who sells copies of the Holy Qu’ran and religious calendars, said he can make around SR1,000 in one day. Indeed, he was surrounded by potential customers attracted by his wares.
“I have plenty of stock,” he said. “And I can always bring more because I know people will want to buy. Why wouldn’t they want to buy religious literature, especially if they are looking to seek closeness with Allah on this holiest of occasions?”
Perhaps the most touching story is that of Ali Abu Raith, a 23-year-old man from Yemen who is selling fruit and vegetables to pilgrims. “I don’t really like to say how much I can make in a day because as far as I’m concerned, it’s Allah’s will what I take home and I should accept that,” he said.
Abu Raith said it was a privilege to serve the guests of God in any way he could.
“It was a bit of problem coming to Arafat because I had to drag my stall all the way from Makkah. It took me five hours in all. But the trip has been worth it,” he added.
Abu Raith also said that other members of his family, in Yemen and in the Kingdom, all sell fruit and vegetables, which is why he decided to get into the business.
Although many of these vendors sell without permits, which is considered illegal in the Kingdom, police officers tend to leave them to sell freely, contributing to the peaceful atmosphere in Arafat.
At the end of the day, most sellers give away their leftover fruit and vegetables to pilgrims for free to ensure no food is wasted.
