Focus group: data analysis

As noted earlier, a qualitative exploratory research strategy has been adopted for this study. At Stage One, one focus group was conducted in the UK comprising members who have participated in the Hajj as pilgrims within the last three years. The focus groups provided essential foundational data which was built upon and explored in more detail at Stage Two.

Kitzinger (1995) suggests that a number of aims can be achieved through focus group interaction including the ability to identify participant’s understandings and values in relation the topic. Furthermore, the interaction within focus groups can have a ‘yes...

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but…’ quality (Morgan 1997:21) when participants do not necessarily agree with what is said in the group, affording insight into different perspectives on the same broad topic. When presenting the data within the discussion chapters, an effort will be made to refer to interaction by, for example, highlighting if a participant is referring to another participant’s contribution by picking up on an earlier point in the discussion. This adds transparency to the nature and flow of the discussion and ensures interactional data is preserved.

Following the recording and subsequent transcription of the focus group discussions the coding process took place. In the initial round, the coding process identifies themes evident in the data, ranging from words to sentences, which are highlighted in different colours. These colours remain same until the fourth stage of the process which

involves developing a hierarchy among the categories and codes (Kitzinger 1994-1995;

Hyde et al., 2005; Zorn et al., 2006 & Wibeck et al., 2007).

In the second round, sub-codes, also called the researcher analytical lens, (Lune et al., 2012) was used to interpret and perceive what is going on in the data collected. These codes can be the same as in the initial round or mostly the reconfiguration of the codes themselves developed thus far. The third round, the categorisation of codes, shown in black bold words, is where the researcher is arranging codes in order to classify the data, to categorise. When codes are applied and reapplied to qualitative data, the researcher is codifying – it is a procedure that allows data to be segregated, clustered, reformed and reconnected in a way to combine connotation and clarification (Punch, 2005: 201-205). The last and fourth involved the creation of the hierarchy structure among the categories and codes. The hierarchy categories are shown again in black bold words, similar to the third round but in grading order. Here the researcher prioritises categories in order to take out the most and the least important themes which can play a pivotal role in qualitative data analysis of this research. Figure 5.2 below is an example of the entire coding process of data from the focus group.

154 Figure 5.2: Coding Process of Focus Group

Open Codes from Focus Group Interview Transcripts

Comparison of Hajj cost, lot of reasons behind, difference of currency value, Hajj as business, Hajj tour operators, facilitation become business, extra services, glittery services, sell their products, Saudi behind this, concept of business, Saudi Ministry of Hajj have given it a new shape and converted it in a business, before the air ticket was £200 not it is £900 for Pakistan, commodity when it getting expensive, Hajj Visa services, hotel, Air ticket, Transportation, the business expenditure, earn money from these services, facilities, Saudi industrial missions are involve, Saudi government that they take is as a business now, Hajj is not business from now it was a business existing since centuries, before Islam it was a business of Mecca, Hajj and now 5 million so the demand encouraged needs and wants, Saudi like other countries has also day to day expenditures of their country, companies to invest in Hajj operations and yes they are earning millions and billions from it, In 1970 there was only one road here, now they have 2 to 3 roads and now it is one way traffic, on a sad note on the cost heritage places,

modernisation, Hajj in 1970 it was very simple, people respect pilgrims a lot, they say truth now they are lying, everybody want to make money from pilgrims, there were no hotels, these buildings I feel suffocated, 1970, at that time KSA never consider Hajj as a business or Tourism and always accept pilgrims as the ‘Guest of Allah’, There was no mandatory concept of buying a Hajj package or going in a group, it was simple and easy; though claiming at that time Hajj was not in too much demand, is not correct, enjoyed and remember that Hajj from religiously, spiritually and authenticity perspective, Mecca is full of New York Style buildings, worldly inauthentic commodities, rather than sharing their Hajj experience with each other, they are discussing their Hotel experience and amenities of tour packages, KSA shouldn’t encourage Hajj as a part of their business strategy, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did: simple, without ostentation, no

discrimination between poor and rich, sacrifice of the and only staunch worship, person, recent experience of Hajj, desolately this is not the case now, The rich and poor gap can be observed due to different Hajj packages, pilgrims are not concentrating on worship but they do concentrate on their SMART phone. Pilgrims do not want to tolerate any pain, and the simplicity element is totally invisible, I bought it in £1700, the Hajj tour operator told us different names of the packages like, VVIP, VIP, hotel which is now no more existing near Grand Mosque premises, Mecca is totally changed in fact I couldn’t recognise this holy city, there are everywhere 5 stars if you have money you can stay there if not you

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can’t even dream of it, very comfortable bed there in my room, every day I was getting 2 Towels, 2 shampoos, 2 soaps and the breakfast was so lavish I can’t explain you, it was huge buffet, eat cornflakes, vita-bix, you name it you will get it.

The evening dinner is 2 times more lavish than breakfast more than 30 dishes, roast chick, curry, Nan bread, roasted mutton, they take extra money no doubt about it but give you as well, too much construction and your worship came under timetable now, I have feeling everybody was running left and right but very few are concentrating towards worship, In 2001 there was no mobile phone pilgrims have time for each other now pilgrims are SMART they are busy with their phones, 2001 you can’t take the picture but now every second someone is taking selfie. So there is a lot of change, But I learned one thing from this experience, pilgrim is looking for comforts in Hajj now, they can’t resist even a small pain, These buildings are giving wrong Messages, for instance when I went on the roof top of the hotel I felt that Allah house is under your feet, very sad very painful. When we are in our houses we always say do not face your feet towards Mosque and do not make your home higher than Mosque, but what’s happening in Mecca, is out of mind.

The real actual house of Allah in this condition really put negative impact on your spiritual experience, Hajj is now a business, The which our Prophet (pbuh) has performed , we have to perform Hajj as our Prophet told us, what our religion is telling us, so we have to perform Hajj according to Islamic ideology, No, that business is different from current business. In the past the pilgrims used to bring commodities with them to sell in Mecca or during Hajj, only to cover their

expenses, But current business strategy is actually taking money from pilgrims, so there is a great deal of difference between current business and the business of the past, But now you can’t find this sprit anywhere in the Hajj, because it is only now business and but business, This is the main reason that Hajj became the product now, Saudi stopped this, because they want pure business. I would say Saudi Arabia should do a Business but out of the premises of Mecca, If Saudi wants to promote tourism they should do outside Mecca premises, no problem, facilitate people there, and earn money from people, there. What’s happening currently in Hajj according to me is not reasonable at all, and therefore it is not Hajj like our Prophet (PBUH) taught us, Look at those big towers standing right on the Allah house, gave negative feelings or experiences, This can be taken from 2 perspectives, as you said it is a facility more people will be accommodated, but on the other side it is a business move, more pilgrims more revenue, more visas, more hotels, more infrastructure etc, Let me tell another thing, all the buildings surrounding the Grand Mosque belongs to the Royal family of the Saudi Arabia, , if the grand Mosque extended where the business revenue will go, to Saudi royal

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family, Saudi Arabia wants to earn more revenue. Actually Saudi Mixed Hajj with Tourism, but in the reality the tourism sprit is different to Hajj, Saudi government is actually putting his back for Hajj and mixing it with tourism, the commercial

activities regarding Hajj should be stop at once, draw a line, and all tourism activities should be across that line, Saudi government gave religious ruling (Fatwa) that all hotels in the premises of the Mecca should be consider the part of the Grand the Mosque, can you believe it now Hajj is running on the Fatwas, now Hajj is not Hajj it is controlled by Saudi government, hotel people told me you can perform the prayers in this hotel as this is declared the part of the Grand Mosque, but in the end he said it was my regret that I couldn’t offered my all prayers in the premises of grand Mosque and having lacking of spiritual experience, well this is good for Saudi government because more cash is coming in, I think they should stop putting more pilgrim inside, and I think they should increase the restriction time on pilgrim from offering Hajj which is current 5 but should be increase to 10 years, Like this I think the Hajj sprit should be restored because less commercial activities will take place, Then in this case brother the Hajj is not (Farz) on you, Allah said if you can’t afford it financially do not perform it. Yes on the other hand I understand we sometimes do Hajj for status which is a wrong concept, Listen brothers, at the moment poor and rich both pilgrims are going there but they are now classified and segregated which is totally wrong, we are pilgrims should be same there shouldn’t be a difference between rich and poor, I have heard that when tourism penetrates in the roots of something that place lost its authenticity, Look now in these 5 star hotels you are enjoying Spa bath and showers, you are eating 36 dishes a day, and you are not coming out from your air condition rooms and offering prayers from there, this is the impact of Tourism on us there in Saudi Arabia, these are all tourism products. Yes if you want to accommodate 5 million pilgrims construct standardised rooms instead of 5star hotels, I want to add something here please, I do not want to name people of my group, they are standing in front of Kaaba, they started offering their prayers but they didn’t finish it, and left prayer in the middle went back to their hotels, as they said it was very hot, so I want to say the sprit in Hajji’s are decreasing due to the luxury services available in the Mecca, so there are Haji’s like this now as well and it is increasing, I saw almost everybody is having this phone there and almost everybody is having headphones as well and performing Tawaf, I am really surprised how a pilgrim can be involved in such a devil’s act, we are there for the confessions of our sines but actually we are gaining sins there, when a person start performing Tawaf he is entering in a spiritual zone where he communicate with Allah, say Labik homa Labik loudly, but suddenly phone rang and they went back to the world the

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communication from Allah is now easily disconnected due to this Phone

technology, they he pilgrim opened his camera and show to world look what I am doing and start taking selfies with different postures. Talking talking and talking on the phone is Hajj now, 100 % it is putting negative impact on the spiritual

experience of Hajj, this is now Religious Tourism brother, the pilgrims are becoming tourist now, The haji’s are demanding these things now from the tour operators, because the moment they landed on the soil of Saudi Arabia they need to contact their families and friends, and this is our number if you want to contact us you can do it. And people outside also send them each and every news of the external word. When I went to Hajj I bought 2 sim card one for the phone one for the speedy internet, this internet is very important in Hajj now because you can use free WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Webber etc, . But due to weak faith we are enjoying their cyber Hajj not the actual Hajj, if he is religious he will only do worship there but if he is obsessed with worldly items then he is performing in your language a touristic Hajj, Look being a tour operator, this is the demand of pilgrims to have these luxuries, and I am the witness for this, the pilgrim when approach us to buy Hajj package they ask first for luxuries, comforts, the Hajj question will come in the end. Look we are not pushing any pilgrim to buy this sim or that luxury rooms and other luxury amenities, it is they who demand. So therefore accusing tour operators for all of this mess is not correct. We told them morally do not make selfie but this is an individual act, Hajj is now converted in to an industry of

hospitality, tourism and telecom sector. If they do not introduce these things there will be no demand, they actually try to derail pilgrims from the religious path, Off course we are all agreed on this and due to this the spiritual experience is going down and down every day. Our spiritual experience is converting into touristic experience, we go to perform Hajj but are we performing it according to Sunnah, no we are doing this for the world, Both parties are involved in Business, pilgrims and Saudi government but more Saudi government, because this is readymade religious market, which will never ever go into loss. They switched their trade strategies into this. Now people are saying Hajj packages actually are contributing in Saudi economy, and also people said now Hajj is the most expensive tour of tourism in the world. Therefore Hajj is a product, can be bought from anywhere in the word, I said this before all Muslim countries should contribute in Hajj facilities not into the luxuries like Saudi is currently doing, these luxuries are the root cause of discrimination between rich and poor, expensiveness of Hajj, making of cyber Hajj, Luxury hospitality, luxury transports etc. these are not facilities these are accessories, and due to this concept Hajj is converting in to religious holidays, Jabal al Rahmah is like a park now, with camel riding, swings for kids, and no . . .

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authenticity due to modernism. When our kids read in books the significance of Jabal al Rahmah, and literally then visit that place, it is no less than a picnic spot, therefore the loss of heritage is taking away Islam from the hearts of pilgrims and future generations, Even the Kabba when it was build it was in oval shape not in square shape but due to wear and tear of seasons and extensions from different ruling parties of Mecca, the shape has changed.

When I went in 1989 for Hajj, there was no building at all there and lot of heritage was there, even the well of ZAM ZAM, Ottaman empire didn’t damage that much as Saudi did it, because of extension and their religious sect’s ideology of

Wahhabism. It was an open field and the fortress of Ottoman Empire was on the hill which was visible from Grand Mosque, let me give you an information that Ottoman Empire fortress was knocked down in 2008 maybe and they build Mecca clock tower hotel on it, which is a shame. Because this is now business so

anything can be knockdown for builds anything which is commercial, I think it is still authentic as our Prophet (PBUH) is authentic, our Quran is authentic, Hajj never stopped, Its tangibility authenticity is there as well, the Maqam Ibrahim is there, never changed, the Black stone is there never changed. Its intangibility is authentic as well because Hajj never stopped, in any condition up till now, Look Kaaba ancient pictures are like idols now people start hanging these pictures in their houses to keep the history alive, and they respect it a lot, it is symbolic now.

A grand Mosque premise is changed on transformational level, concepts are changing, and this is against Islam. Look even in this room we are hanging the ancient Kaaba picture; it is like idol, even in my own house I have old pictures hanging. One of my relative gave me the replica of ancient Kaaba door which I hanged on the wall but due to some reasons it was damaged and my relatives who presented me this gift felt very bad and angry on me, actually we brought Kaaba in our houses now, this is wrong actually, Actually authenticity is also challenged with comfort, look at the place of Saee, fully air-condition marble place, the real surface is vanished. So authenticity is under question, even a place, are unanimously agreed but R2 added that we pilgrims no doubt we are addicted for comforts, and we became very competitive and status conscious people in the context of Hajj, for instance one person did 5 star Hajj so I have to do in a same way, money is not the problem, I want comfort, One day will come that pilgrim sit in the train or standing on the conveyor belt to perform Tawaf, people are also looking for that time as well, they do not care what is heritage, authenticity, Actually Hajj has been commodified since the time of Prophet Mohammad and Abu JAHAL, when Muslim took over Kaaba, Abu Jahal said now they have power and we have nothing,

A grand Mosque premise is changed on transformational level, concepts are changing, and this is against Islam. Look even in this room we are hanging the ancient Kaaba picture; it is like idol, even in my own house I have old pictures hanging. One of my relative gave me the replica of ancient Kaaba door which I hanged on the wall but due to some reasons it was damaged and my relatives who presented me this gift felt very bad and angry on me, actually we brought Kaaba in our houses now, this is wrong actually, Actually authenticity is also challenged with comfort, look at the place of Saee, fully air-condition marble place, the real surface is vanished. So authenticity is under question, even a place, are unanimously agreed but R2 added that we pilgrims no doubt we are addicted for comforts, and we became very competitive and status conscious people in the context of Hajj, for instance one person did 5 star Hajj so I have to do in a same way, money is not the problem, I want comfort, One day will come that pilgrim sit in the train or standing on the conveyor belt to perform Tawaf, people are also looking for that time as well, they do not care what is heritage, authenticity, Actually Hajj has been commodified since the time of Prophet Mohammad and Abu JAHAL, when Muslim took over Kaaba, Abu Jahal said now they have power and we have nothing,