Fit For Hajj is a program created to physically and mentally prepare pilgrims for their arduous journey to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj period. The program aims to get participants to walk at least 10 km effortlessly and improve their fitness leading up to their departure.
The program was conceived roughly ten years ago by Dr Mohammed Nasir Jaffer and a colleague of his who is a travel medicine specialist who accompanies pilgrims on their journey.
He said he approached his colleague to prepare pilgrims after numerous incidents where pilgrims would get sick or injured. Therefore, the program was created in response to that and to anticipate any possible ailments.
Dr Jaffer, who is a sports doctor, said, “The obligation is on every capable Muslim to perform this act [Hajj] at least once in their lifetime … It is arduous, it is energy sapping, and it’s also very psychologically demanding … So [the program] was born out of that.”
In 2015 Dr Jaffer launched the pilot project with a local running club in Cape Town. The pilot program would fail due to logistics, time and training methods.
However, it was picked up three years later, in 2018, after they addressed these issues with a better understanding and implementation. Ever since then, it has seen much success.
Implementing the Scientific Method
It is a walking program that simulates the distance pilgrims will be walking once their journey begins.
Dr Jaffer said they began to conduct various studies, using renowned methods and questionnaires which focused on the physical and psychological health of the pilgrims.
In their study, they measured three items which included the participants’ fitness level before they started the program, their fitness level during the program and their fitness level after they returned.
“In 2017, there was a study done by my colleague … He did a random survey of a thousand pilgrims from Cape town. Just to see how many of them became ill and attended the clinics on that side … He found that half the number he interviewed, there were 65% of them that became ill, had injuries or attended a clinic … When we did our study, we divided it into two parts. We had the people who did the program, and we did a random survey of people who did not do the program. We wanted to check how they compared to the 2017 study … In our group, when we asked them how many of them became ill. It’s only 12% of them who became ill compared to 65%. There was a staggering drop of almost about 82%.”
Gaining Momentum
Dr Jaffer said most pilgrims who returned after their pilgrimage and attended their program began forming their walking clubs and social groups.
He said there had been a demand for the walking program in different areas in Cape Town and various provinces in South Africa.
The long-term goal for the project is to reach the Hajj Ministry in Saudi Arabia and show them the numerous benefits of improving the pilgrims’ fitness before departure.
“Our whole idea is to motivate other countries to implement a similar strategy and even to get the attention of the Saudi Hajj ministry. To show them what their benefits will be. Because obviously the fitter the people are, the fewer illnesses they’ll have, the fewer injuries they have and the less [money] they will spend on these Hujjaj. So we’re going to try and do a presentation for them as well. To discuss the huge financial benefit to themselves as hosts.”
