Traitors Finalist's Dream Realised as Billionaire Funds Mecca Pilgrimage
In a heartwarming turn of events, Faraaz Noor, the devout Muslim finalist from the hit BBC series The Traitors, will now fulfil his lifelong dream of visiting Mecca with his family. This comes after billionaire businessman Umar Kamani generously offered to fund the entire pilgrimage out of his own pocket.
A Dream Nearly Dashed
During his appearance on the show, Noor had openly shared his intention to use the £95,750 prize money to take his immediate family on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia's Masjid al-Haram, the most significant mosque in Islam. However, after failing to identify the Traitors—Rachel Duffy and Stephen Libby—who ultimately won and split the prize, the Middlesbrough-based internal auditor's hopes seemed shattered.
Generous Intervention
Kamani, the affluent CEO of online fashion giants PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo, stepped in with a remarkable offer. He has committed to covering all expenses for Noor and his family, ensuring the 22-year-old can realise his spiritual ambition. 'It was important to me that this wasn’t just a social media moment,' Kamani, 37, told the Daily Mail. 'The visas are being sorted, the costs are covered, and his whole family will go.'
Emotional Meeting
Noor had his first opportunity to thank Kamani in person on Thursday evening at the Kamani Living Evening held at Mayfair's prestigious Dorchester Hotel. 'Meeting Umar was surreal. He didn’t have to do any of this,' an ecstatic Noor expressed. 'The fact that he’s covering everything for my whole family, I don’t have the words for it. My parents have waited their whole lives for this.'
From Disappointment to Joy
Reflecting on his journey, Noor had previously emphasised the importance of Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam, stating his desire to complete the pilgrimage with his family if he won. After the final, he was stunned when Kamani reached out via social media with the funding offer. Recalling his reaction, Noor said, 'I came back and I was talking to my mum and I was like, I just can’t… to Umar, I’m so grateful, Alhamdulillah, I was literally crying my eyes out honestly. I couldn’t believe it.'
Key Decision in the Final
Despite the joyous outcome, Noor also reflected on the pivotal moment that cost him the prize money. He pointed to a conversation with Rachel Duffy during the Chest of Chance challenge, where she asserted her faithfulness. 'That is exactly how I felt,' Noor explained. 'And me being a Faithful I really resonated that and that sort of tipped me so I was toying between, do I protect myself and vote Rachel or do I know I am right with Stephen and stick with Stephen. It was really 50/50 and my mind was made up when I stood there.'
Ultimately, this decision led to his loss, but with Kamani's intervention, Noor's dream remains very much alive. He had previously told the BBC, 'Inshallah, one day I'll be able to hopefully take them to Hajj or even complete Umrah. I'm looking forward to that.' Now, thanks to this generous act, that day is assured.
