The luck of the draw - The Road to Hajj - India | Featured Documentary

India is a land of paradoxes and extreme opposites, a country with a legacy of violence between Hindus and Muslims. It is also home to more than 12 per cent of the world's Muslim population - 154 million people.

Hafiz and Qulsum live in one of the most conservative Muslim neighbourhoods of the country's capital, Delhi.

Hafiz runs a small fish and vegetable market stall and they have both worked hard for the past 30 years to provide a good education for their six children.

With each of their children married and their parental duties discharged, the elderly couple felt that the time had come to perform what they consider to be their utmost duty to God - the Hajj pilgrimage.

But in India, whether you get to go on the Hajj is down to the luck of the draw - literally.

Those who would like to go send in their applications and then lots are drawn.

Wish granted

Hafiz and Qulsum were selected to perform the Hajj pilgrimage [Al Jazeera]

It was the first time that Hafiz and Qulsum had applied, but their names were selected.

"Since childhood, I have prayed to God and asked him to call me to his house," Hafiz says.

"A lot of millionaires have not been able to go. It is not about how rich or poor one is. If Allah wants to call you, you will be able to go."

One of their sons, Abid, and his wife, Reshum, had hoped to travel with them, but their names were not selected.

"The fact that I could not go is all Allah's doing. The people who get permission to go are the ones whom Allah wants to call," Abid says.

"But I am very happy that out of 12,000 people my parents were chosen and that is enough for us."

Since they found out they had been selected, Abid's parents have been counting the days until they leave India for Saudi Arabia.

"This is the first time we made a request and the great Allah has granted us our wishes," Hafiz says.

"We had to spend $2,300 per person. So in total I spent $4,600. When Allah has given so much, we will spend on him also. If we do not we will feel so bad about it.

"Anyone who has saved money should utilise that money on a Hajj trip."

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