Photos by Cherrie Hanson
From left to right, Malik Hamed, branch manager of Alforqan Group, Faraj Jaber, trustee and board member of Alforqan Group, and Ghassan Jaber, certified accountant and CEO of United Pro Tax and general manager of Alforqan group.
Every year, Muslims from around the world congregate in June or July for the sacred, mandatory pilgrimage, Hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Throughout the year at any time except Hajj, Muslims may go on Umrah, the shorter, voluntary pilgrimage that also goes to Mecca as well as Medina.
Because these journeys can be expensive and may contain busy itineraries, they can sometimes become inaccessible or difficult to navigate. While there has always been the option to book trips without a travel agency, with the sheer number of pilgrims all arranging the same thing at once, it can be extremely challenging without proper guidance.
That is why travel agency Alforqan USA, 4818 S 76th St. in Greenfield, recently opened to organize Hajj, Umrah, and luxury trips with competitive prices for Muslims of the Midwest.
“There’s no other travel agency in Wisconsin that specializes in this,” Alforqan USA Branch Manager Malek Hamed affirms. Before Alforqan opened, Muslims in Wisconsin often had to arrange Hajj or Umrah trips through agencies in places like Chicago, New York, or Florida.
The mother company of Alforqan USA originated in Palestine in 2011. Getting established in the U.S. had been a three-year process before the Wisconsin branch opened its doors last May. “Alforqan” is a holy word translated to “the Qur’an” in Arabic, referring to what separates right from wrong in Islam.
Hamed himself has been on Hajj four times and Umrah six times. He has had many opportunities to go through his roles and responsibilities within Alforqan USA, but there are often barriers for others. For one, Hajj typically costs anywhere from six to fifteen thousand dollars per person. Umrah, on the other hand, can cost two to seven thousand dollars per person.
The comfortable waiting room features a live broadcast in Mecca at the Kaaba.
“There are two billion Muslims in the world, and you have three thousand spots for the States only,” Hamed puts into perspective. “That’s how limited it is. In Palestine, there are over five million people and only three thousand spots.”
He continues, “Almost three million people are doing the same thing that you’re doing. The hotels, transportation, arrivals, and departures are busy with other people, but you need your own people to take care of everything. We have our own rooms that we’ve reserved a year before, so you will have a way better price in Medina, Mecca, or Palestine for these reservations.”
Hajj trip packages Alforqan USA offers are ten days, while their Umrah packages range from six to nine days. In addition to their agencies, the company has teams in Mecca, Medina, and Jordan that assist pilgrims with their lodging, transportation, and religious guidance.
While arranging each trip, the agency shows the traveler everything from their destination on maps to the inside of their hotel to what is near their hotel to who will be waiting for them. Additionally, the company has a 24/7 unit to accommodate travelers’ needs around the clock.
“We make it easy and connect everyone right away,” Hamed explains. “All of these teams know you as a person and get everything prepared for you as soon as you get there.”
While Alforqan USA did not open in time to get anyone organized for Hajj in 2024, they are sending at least fifteen pilgrims this year. The agency has already sent over 60 pilgrims on Umrah. Hamed recommends booking trips about three months in advance for the best prices.
“Our team in Mecca recorded videos of pilgrims on Umrah, mentioning what they saw,” he mentions. “Alhamdulillah, they were so comfy and everything was easily arranged for them.”
In one such video, Milwaukee-based pilgrim Odwan Museitef shares his positive experience traveling with Alforqan USA: “From the start when I met Malek, he helped me out with booking reservations last second and made it very smooth and easy for me and my family. I appreciate him wholeheartedly for it.”
Alforqan Group is next to Nadiana Art Gallery and Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. on Barnard Ave. in Greenfield.
Alforqan USA recently partnered with local influencer Shako Mako for a social media contest held through Ramadan, geared toward reverts and themed around Islamic trivia. Three winners of the contest each received a free Umrah trip. Hamed hopes to continue this contest annually.
“We’re not just a travel agency; we’re here to make your life easier in general,” Hamed says. “As support for people who convert to Islam, we want them to see the real Islam in person, not just in the States. Our religion started from Mecca and Medina, and we want to show them that.”
In addition to Hajj and Umrah, Alforqan USA organizes luxury travel to destinations around the world, including Turkey and Japan. They also arrange trips for Christians traveling to Palestine to visit holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Ramallah, as well as to Saudi Arabia.
“Christians are our brothers in religion,” Hamed notes. “Palestine is my motherland so I know everything over there, and it’ll be easy for me to arrange it. We’re going to be announcing their own annual trip soon.”
While the Greenfield branch is still their only one in the U.S., Alforqan USA plans to continue expanding in the future. Hamed concludes, “A lot of people want to go on Hajj so bad, and we have all the power to take you. We’re not just here for reservations and business; our job right here at Alforqan is to do a special treatment. We have our agents all over the world who are waiting for you.”
