BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts.

Oh, hello. You have chosen a BBC podcast, but before you listen to it, we thought you might like our podcast too.

You might. You might. It is called Sightraught with me, Nick Grimshaw.

And me, Annie Mack. And we talk about the week in music.

All the news, all the cultural happenings in the UK and beyond.

And great guests. And it's on BBC Sounds. Yes, where you can also enjoy lots of playlists,

music mixes and live radio. Everything from my six music breakfast show to Radio 3 Unwind.

But obviously start with our podcast, sidetrack. Obviously. Obviously. So if you like music, listen on BBC Sans. Ali, mate, what is Hodge? It's basically a halal glastonbury. No, Ali, don't dumb it down for me. What actually is Hodge? The Fifth Pillar of Islam, an annual pilgrimage. Ali, stop pandering. I don't want textbook definitions. I want nuance and detail. I've watched Slumdog Millionaire. I drink masala tea and I've been to four entire Asian weddings. Tell me about Hajluck it's never been spoken about before. All right, James. Here goes nothing.

That is the sound of intense worship from Mount Arafat. Millions of Muslims gather every year to perform their spiritual obligation known as Hajj.

In 2024, I was somewhere up there on that mountain.

Haj, a word you may remember from Ari lessons and still not know it has two's. Hodge has been top of my bucket list since I was a kid, just above learning how to juggle and solving a Rubik's cube. I know. Banging bucket list, bro. I always thought I'd do Hodge much later in life, like properly old and grey type situation. You know, like when they finally fixed the potholes in my area, when fast and furious

stop doing sequels, or when people shut up about air friars. But then you live a little and see a lot and you're thinking matures. What if I never reach old age? And I'm gone before I can complete the last pillar of Islam. What will I tell my creator? Yeah Allah, I didn't go hudge, but I can juggle. come on now.

Welcome to Hajj and Seek,

a journey where you find yourself but lose your patience and if you're

my dad, your shoes as well.

True story, let's get into it.

Hodge and Seek with Ali Shalom Salams and salutations

My name is Ali Shalom

A.k.a. Ali official.

A comedian, actor and content creator.

I'm a Muslim in a non-Muslim space

trying to be a Muslim.

...