Chat Ed : Hello and welcome to tonight’s live chat with Serfraz Qayyum from 'Hajj - The Greatest Trip on Earth'. Serfraz Qayyum is a 23 year-old care worker from Middlesbrough has left behind a wife, toddler and newborn baby to perform Hajj. It's the second time Serfraz has performed Hajj. Serfraz is now determined to perform Hajj again, although he admits this time he feels "overwhelmed" about having his experience recorded on television for millions of viewers in the UK.
Serfraz Qayyum : Hello everyone..
Abidah : assalam-alaikum
Mudz : Assalaamu alaikum
Umar Malik : aslaamu alaikum
Arsalan : Assalamualaikum brothers and sisters
Ayesha : walalikumasalaam
Abdullah : Salaam Serfraz
Abdul : do you think that the filming of your Hajj in any way detracted from it being a sacred experience?
Serfraz Qayyum : Yes it has a bit because when the camera is on you, you feel a bit like “ooh look the camera is on you”, but I've been praying to Allah to make it easier and it's working, when the camera is on me now it feels so natural. So it's ok now. I've done quite a bit of filming today. But I know what you mean Abdul, how can you be sincere to God and be on camera at the same time for Channel 4?
Mariam : Salaam brother..firstly I am so pleased that Alhumdulillah that ur son Bilal is well..we were all so worried..you seemed to be so happy about the whole experience of Hajj.Just want to say to you..Hajj Mubarak....hows it going overall...bet you would love to do it ALL over again right?
Aisha : and how's little Bilal now?
Mohammed : How's your baby now???
Serfraz Qayyum : Thanks very much, it's been great here. I'm learning loads from all these people here. It's been amazing. The baby is fine.
Aisha : How did Serfraz find Hajj? Was it hard what was it like?
Saima : How hot is it there?
Serfraz Qayyum : It's hot for me because I'm from Middlesbrough, but here it's winter time. It's night time now, and it's quite nippy. Hajj is really hard, because you have to make sure you don't hurt anyone's feelings and you have to do everything in advance, if you want to go to the mosque and pray at 6am you have to get up at 3am. There are so many people. Whatever you are trying to do there are 2 million people trying to do it before you, so that does make it hard.
fayeza and hussein : Why did you decide to go at 23 and not earlier or later?
Salam : Would you recommend Hajj at a young age. So many people wait
Serfraz Qayyum : I went when I was 17, with my Mum and Dad. I've wanted to go back ever since then and I've never had the chance. It's just a matter of the time being right. I'd recommend anyone to come to Hajj as soon as they can, you feel the light in your heart. Don't delay it because you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. I see people here who are 70, 80 and 90 and they all say to me that they wish they had done it when they were my age, when they were young enough to enjoy it and be able to do it properly.
saj : how did you feel when you fisrt caught site of mecca?
Faisal Sheikh : Can you feel the presence of Allah
Serfraz Qayyum : When I first saw it, it was 1997 and I couldn't believe it. Now I believe in God's mercy in my own life and I've realised how lucky I am. I'm just beginning to recognise his mercy. All I could do was thank god for bringing me here once again. I thought that if I die right now, I really wouldn't be bothered. Nothing else matters to me. I just want to stay here forever. I can feel Allah all the time. All the time. You are always conscious of him and wherever you look around you can see him and feel him, the sky, the stones, the people, and the trees. It's a beautiful feeling that everyone is remembering and praying to God.
reda : i am in the uk studying at present but i qam libyan i would like to go to the hajj next year but how would it go visa wise and all preparations can you please advise
Serfraz Qayyum : You have to apply for a visa through your own embassy. Other than that I don't know much about how it would work if you were not a British citizen.
mukarram : Hello serfraz, what kind of experience have you gained from the hajj?
omra : has hajj been a life changing experience?
Serfraz Qayyum : Yeah, everyday is life changing. Every prayer that you make changes you sincerely. It's a spiritual experience - your face doesn't change and your clothes don't change but you feel peace with every single creature in the world. You just want to remember God and do everything that he has commanded. The reason for that is because you love the whole thing. Now that I've been here it allows you to focus. I feel like I have achieved my goal in life. The only thing I'm worried about now is living up to it in the eyes of God. I need to keep these promises throughout my life and if I do that god will be merciful.
aaq : was this hajj spiritually differnt to your first?
Serfraz Qayyum : Yeah definitely. When I first came here I was 17 and came with all my family. The atmosphere was like a holiday. This time I worked to get here and earn the money to be able to come. I've sacrificed to come here. I've come here to save my soul and be closer to God. It's been more spiritually uplifting for me. So I've always wanted to come back. I've tried my best to get on with everyone here and be the best person I can. I feel like I'm becoming a better person in every sense.
safina : is it hard as a british muslim to complete all your duties to allah
Serfraz Qayyum : In England... no it's not, England is a very great country. England respects religions, all religions. There is nothing restricting religion in England. The culture and atmosphere is different and there are many distractions, but you have to live with that. You have to respect the British lifestyle too though, the thing is we live in this country and we don't see Islam being practiced, we only hear about it. So that makes it a little bit harder. In Mecca the lifestyle is completely different. In England your whole life revolves around where you work, it's all materialistic. Islamic philosophy is to live this life as a traveller and to earn the next life. God is kept out of the social circle in England. Everything here revolves around God. There are no physical limitations in England though.
Bilal Mohammed : How does it feel to meet muslims from other countries
Serfraz Qayyum : It feels great. You look at them and think wow you're from somewhere in the world that I didn't even know about and yet we want the same things and pray to the same God. Some people though I've felt really sorry for because they come from countries with poverty, war and famine, where people aren't really treated like people. I thank God that I live in England and that we have rights to believe in what we want to believe in. There's no peace for a lot of people in their home countries though. This is even changing my political views on things. It's not America or the UK that the finger should be pointed at. You have to point the finger at yourself too sometimes.
meriem : have you met the other volonteers taking part on this program they are great too!
Serfraz Qayyum : No I haven't actually, I haven't had a chance to yet. I've read in the Saudi Gazette about them.
Abidah : what r ure thoughts now for the next few days?
Serfraz Qayyum : Concentration and I just want to thank God every step of the way. I hope I can continue the way that I started. I better not show off or be proud or hurt anyone's feelings. So I'm mainly concentrating on the things I should not do.
ali shah : have you been able to touch the Kabbah doors.
Serfraz Qayyum : Yeah I touched the Kabbah itself. And I've seen the black stone but not touched it yet. I know it's a great thing to do, but there are just so many people. Even if you are able see it with your eyes wide open you're lucky.
Abdulla X : I have kissed the cornerstone! Mind you I did get crushed!
Serfraz Qayyum chuckles at Abdulla, I know that feeling!
idrees : do a lot of people speak english in saudi arabia because i'm going umrah inshallah in july
Serfraz Qayyum : All the officials speak Arabic, but don't worry you'll get by. Use eye contact and body language and basic language.
Rahat : Do you plan to perform Hajj with your family Inshallah, or has your wife already performed the pilgrimage?
Serfraz Qayyum : My wife really wanted to go, she's never done it before. Inshallah - we will go as a family - another 10 years time maybe when the boys are older. I'd love to take my wife, I'd love to do that for her.
Shahzaaduk : I would love to go Ummrah or Hajj,but alas I have no idea were to start please advise i.e. on how much you you need etc etc
Serfraz Qayyum : Well the best thing to do is to contact someone who is taking a group because it's best to go in a group rather than by yourself. I think Hajj is about £1200 upwards. Food is really cheap. £10 for the week for food will be more than fine. Ummrah I think is £700 upwards. I think if you're doing Hajj for 2 weeks, then £2000 would do it. There are so many groups who come though, just surf the net or go to your local mosque.
wolf239 : how do you feel leaving your wife behind, due to the birth?
Serfraz Qayyum : I didn't want to do it. I felt so guilty. I have a lot of respect for every mother out there. She knows how much it meant to me and she reassured me that it was the right thing to do for me to come. If she gave me even so much of a hint that she was unhappy then I wouldn't have come. I just thank God for having such a beautiful and wonderful wife. I always pray that God keeps us together and that we never ever separate. Thanks for the questions...I've come here and my eyes in my heart and my head have been opened. Everyone who hasn't been should come here. You will feel how amazing it is when you come.
wolf239 : eid mubarak to you for tomorrow
Faisal Sheikh : inshallah
Aisha : inshAllah
halima : eid mubarak
Abidah : salaams serfraz
Chat Ed : For more information and background on the Hajj visit channel.com/hajj
