The things social networking can do for you these days.

At least that’s how I felt after a friend of mine direct messaged me on Twitter saying, “Mubarak bro! Radio Islam is doing a show on Hajj today and I would like you to be a part of it,” after seeing an update I posted about how I was just a week from embarking on the journey to Hajj.

Excited and up for the offer to be on the local radio show based in Chicago, IL, I got in touch with the program, set up the time for an interview and went at it. The interview went well alhamdulillah and I’d like to share the recording with you here today.

Title: Interview With A Future First Time Hajji
From: Radio Islam WCEV 1450AM Chicago
Host: Janaan Hashim
Guest: Saqib Shafi
Length: 15 minutes

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Questions I was asked

The host, the very kind sister Janaan Hashim, spokesperson for the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago amongst other efforts in Chicagoland, asked me the following questions.

• What kind of expectations of Hajj do you have in mind?
• How have you prepared spiritually to get ready for Hajj?
• What do you think is the purpose of asking for people for forgiveness before going?
• Do you have a guarantee that you will return back from Hajj?
• What made you decide that this is your time to go for Hajj?
• If you were to assume that you could go for Hajj only once in your life, do you think later in your life you would wish that you would have waited to go at an older age?
• What is your biggest challenge on this spiritual journey?
• What reaction have you gotten from family and friends about your going for Hajj?

I wonder how I’d answer the questions or change my answers after coming back from Hajj, or after performing Hajj again in my life. InshaAllah we’ll have to wait and see.

For those of you going on Hajj this year (may Allah give us all a Hajj Mabrūr!), what are your answers to these questions?

Radio Islam is a daily Muslim talk radio show broadcasting on WCEV 1450AM in Chicago, IL USA and also live on internet at www.radioislam.com. Tune in everyday at 6:00pm CST for daily programs on Islam, stories, interviews, and more.