Between Reporting And Worship: A Journalist's Haj Experience

By Amirul Mohd Sajadi

MAKKAH, May 24 (Bernama) -- As millions of Muslims gather in the Holy Land to perform the haj pilgrimage with full devotion, a small group of media personnel continue carrying the responsibility of ensuring that every development of the haj operation reaches audiences back home.

For former Bernama editor-in-chief Khairdzir Md Yunus, the experience of covering the haj season in 2007 as a journalist assigned by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) remains vivid despite nearly two decades having passed.

Khairdzir, 64, said that, unlike ordinary pilgrims who are able to fully focus on worship, haj journalists must remain constantly prepared to respond to developments throughout the pilgrimage season while also fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam.

Sharing his experience, he said his daily routine in the Holy Land involved monitoring pilgrim activities, attending press conferences, covering official visits involving haj management and completing various reporting assignments for audiences in Malaysia.

“We came as media personnel, but at the same time we were also performing the haj. So the challenge was balancing both responsibilities,” he told Bernama recently.

According to him, the task was even more demanding due to the limitations of communication technology at the time compared to today.

“At that time, Blackberry devices were among our most important tools. Internet access was very limited and sometimes I had to search for specific locations, such as the Grand Mosque, just to send reports back to Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

The demanding schedule also meant that media personnel occasionally had to adjust their worship routines according to operational requirements.

Khairdzir recalled an incident when several journalists at the Grand Mosque could not be contacted because of poor network coverage at a time when haj management urgently required media coverage of an event.

“We realised that our responsibility then was to ensure Malaysians received accurate and timely information about the haj journey.

“At the same time, we also did not want to miss the opportunity to worship in this blessed land,” he said.

According to him, the experience taught media personnel about the sacrifices behind every report read or watched by the public.

“Many people see the news that is published, but they do not know the challenges behind gathering information, writing reports and sending them under limited conditions,” he said.

Now, after completing 37 years of service, Khairdzir has returned to the Holy Land as a “dhuyufurrahman”, or guest of Allah, without professional duties attached.

“There are no more assignments to complete or reports to submit. This time, I can focus entirely on worship that I once had to balance with professional responsibilities,” he said.

He described haj journalists as more than just reporters documenting the pilgrimage, but as individuals who also become part of the spiritual journey itself.

“When I reflect on my experience in 2007, I am grateful to have been allowed to experience both roles...as a journalist reporting on the haj and as a pilgrim performing it.

“Both experiences were different, but each taught me about trust, patience and sincerity,” he said

-- BERNAMA