Recession, Swine Flu Hit US Hajj

Travel agencies predict a drop of about 30 percent in the number of pilgrims this year.

"The trend is clear," Saidi Gaddoor, co-owner of the Dar El-Eman travel agency, told IslamOnline.net.

"A lot of people who were keen to go on hajj this year dropped the idea."

North America’s largest hajj and `umrah travel agencies are reporting a sharp decline in the numbers of American Muslims traveling to the holy lands in Saudi Arabia.

Gaddoor notes that while hajj journeys are usually sold very fast every year, almost all traveling agencies in the US are reporting a 25-40 percent decline in the number of would-be pilgrims.

According to agencies estimates, between 12,000-14,000 American Muslims embark on hajj every year.

"We would estimate a drop of about 30 percent in the numbers of American pilgrims this year," Ahmed Mohammed, managing director of Dar El-Salam agency for hajj and `umrah services, told IOL.

"This year we expect that around 9,000 only would make the journey."

Around three million pilgrims from over 160 countries are expected to perform hajj this year.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime.

Hajj is expected to climax on November 26, when the faithful descend the Mount `Arafat.

"Once you have tawakul and strong belief you should not be afraid of anything," Badee Al-Rahman told IOL.

Recession First

Gaddoor, co-owner of the Dar El-Eman travel agency, believes that the economy is responsible for 70-80 percent of the drop in the number of pilgrims.

"People have been losing their jobs and homes for long months now."

The US fell into the grip of the worst economic crisis since 1930s in September after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the fourth-largest investment bank, and the financial woes of a number of Wall Street giants.

The fallout has developed into a full-fledged recession, threatening personal finances as home prices fall, retirement funds shrink and access to credit and jobs evaporate.

The United States is home to a Muslim community of nearly seven millions.

"The swine flu definitely had an effect but the combination of flu and economy has affected the situation dramatically," agrees Mohamed, of the New-York based travel agency.

The swine flu (H1N1), a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, first emerged in Mexico in April.

The virus has so far killed thousands of people in 191 countries.

But Mohamed insists that the swine flu concerns had faded away gradually in recent months.

"The concerns were the most in June and July, but once the information came out, the concerns were removed.

"People now understand what the swine flu is about, and they were also relieved by the fact that there were no deaths during Ramadan `umrah."

Anisa Salman and her husband are a case in point.

They are determined not to let the economy or the swine flu stand in the way of their once-in-a-lifetime dream.

"If am going to catch the flu I might have it here in my own country," Salman told IOL.

Badee Al-Rahman, who is embarking on the journey with a group of her community in Sterling, Virginia, can barely wait.

"Nothing could have stopped me from joining hajj this year," he said passionately.

"Once you have tawakul and strong belief you should not be afraid of anything."