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Performing Hajj was a 'turning point' in Faraz's life, now he helps Australians make the holy journey
Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world like Faraz Nomani travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Credit: AP / Rafiq Maqbool / Faraz Nomani Sydney-based Faraz Nomani is about to attend his third Hajj, also facilitating the pilgrimage of a group of 50 others.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a life goal of the world's estimated 2.05 billion Muslims.
Pilgrims face searing heat and long walks as part of completing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
It is understood between 3,000 and 4,000 pilgrims will travel to Hajj from Australia. Faraz Nomani was 28 when he embarked on his first Hajj — the sacred Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca — and he says it was a turning point in his life. "It was an extremely emotional time for me," Faraz recalls. 'Particularly, my oldest son had just been diagnosed with autism. It was quite a tricky period of life." The 35-year-old Australian was born in Saudi Arabia and wasn't a stranger to the Muslim holy city, with childhood memories of performing a smaller pilgrimage (Umrah), and even a honeymoon pilgrimage to Mecca. But, Faraz says the sheer number of people and the peak day during Hajj — the Day of Arafat, when people gather on a mountainous plain to pray and offer supplications — made it different altogether from other pilgrimages. "It's really the emotional apex of a person's life in Islam. ... It's a huge day of renewal, renewing your intention to be a better family person, a better Muslim, a better community member. "To experience that at that age, it really was a turning point in my life."
Now, years later, Faraz, a risk consultancy professional living in Sydney, is not just a pilgrim but a guide. Having performed Hajj twice before, this year he is leading a group of 50 Australian Muslims to the pilgrimage. Their group is called Al Bait Guests Australia. An estimated 3,000-4,000 Australians are expected to travel to Mecca for Hajj this year, which will take place from 4-9 June. The Muslim pilgrimage is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, with over 1.83 million people congregating in Mecca in 2024, according to the Saudi Arabian government. Faraz's role for the group is multifaceted: a facilitator, a spiritual guide, and even a media and content manager, armed with gear to capture and share the profound journey with a wider audience on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The Hajj, one of the five foundational pillars of Islam, holds immense significance in the religion. It is obligatory for all Muslims at least once in a lifetime, if they are physically and financially capable. Historically, it was an arduous, months-long overland journey, a feat beyond the reach of most. "Now in the modern day with modern travel," Faraz says, "it's actually become very doable for most people. And the only thing that prevents them is the financial aspect."
And the financial cost is substantial. While the visa itself cost only a couple of hundred dollars, the all-inclusive packages range from $15,000 to $35,000 per person, Faraz said. These bundles cover flights, hotels, and the extensive logistics of navigating the sacred cities. The price of the package depends on the level of comfort pilgrims seek in terms of accommodations and their proximity to the Kaaba, the black cube at the epicentre of Muslim prayer.
The core rituals of Hajj spans only five days. However, most Australians extend their stay, often for two to three weeks, to immerse themselves in Mecca and Medina, the latter being the city where Prophet Muhammad established the first Islamic government. Leading a group of people, especially one with varying needs, is a "gargantuan task", Faraz acknowledged. The challenges are significant, with overcrowding remaining a major concern. "The behaviour of [some] pilgrims ... is a huge challenge sometimes," he explained, describing the jostling and shoving of millions of devout individuals, all desperate to get as close as possible to the Kaaba. Touching the black cube itself is a rare feat, though, Faraz said, as most pilgrims aren't physically capable of navigating "the world's largest mosh pit". "You've got people like six foot seven inches ... and then you've got [people who are] five foot tall. It's not going to happen. So most Muslims do not get anywhere close to [the black cube]."
Then there is the heat. Saudi Arabian summers can see temperatures soar between 40C and 50C. "It is ridiculously hot," Faraz says. The sheer physical exertion required to perform the Hajj is immense. On the Day of Arafat, pilgrims could walk anywhere from 20 to 50 kilometres in the scorching heat. Faraz himself had clocked 40 kilometres two years prior. This demanding physical aspect requires weeks of preparation, with pilgrims aiming for 20,000 steps a day in their training.
The Saudi government, after past incidents like the heat-related deaths last year, are set to significantly step up efforts to mitigate risks, providing industrial-scale cooling fans and free water. SBS contacted the Saudi embassy in Australia for information but has not yet received a response. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), offers consular assistance to Australians in case of emergencies. "From advice on permits to information on safety and security, taking care of your health, local laws and customs and entry and exit into Saudia Arabia, Smartraveller should be Australians' first destination," the spokesperson said.
Saudi Arabia sets national quotas for each country by allocating a specific number of annual pilgrimage slots according to the average size of the resident Muslim population. Australia's Hajj quota, though ostensibly 1,000 people based on population ratios, is often exceeded. "Australians can afford it a lot more than other people around the world," Faraz says, indicating that Australia often picked up unused allocations from other countries. The planning for Hajj begins months in advance. For this year's pilgrimage, packages were confirmed by mid-April, but information sessions and online seminars had commenced as early as January, making it a four to five-month process just to secure a place.
Faraz says he is not just guiding people through a series of rituals but also facilitating a profound spiritual journey, sharing a privilege he himself had experienced. "For those who get the chance to go multiple times as I'm getting, it's just you're more and more thankful each time you go for the opportunity. "A great memory that I have is the [Day of Arafat] culminating at sunset, which is when it all ends. That was the highlight. That's the highlight for whoever [had performed Hajj] will tell you."
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