Cycling from Hamburg to Makkah: Syrian Refugee Dies in Outskirts of Sacred City

Riding his bike for thousands of miles, a Syrian refugee launched his journey to Makkah last October 22 from Hamburg, Germany filled with a dream to perform umrah.

After 73 days on the road, 53-year-old Syrian refugee Ghazi Chehada passed away on February 17 on the outskirts of Makkah, only to be buried in the sacred city he has been longing to visit, Egypt Window reported.

Originally from Homs, the Syrian refugee immigrated to Hamburg, Germany, but he wanted to go to the Grand Mosque in Makkah by bicycle.

Chehada documented his last days and published them on his personal pages on social networking sites.

“Alhamdulillah, you have reached your goal and set your feet on the holy land. You put on your ihram white clothes and set out for the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” a moderator of his page on Facebook wrote.

“Allah chose to take you to Him at this moment, for this choice, God willing, you will be in Jannah.”

Muslim pilgrimage or hajj is a lifetime journey that many aspire to.

In Islam, pilgrimage isn’t just an act of worship. It is an invitation from God himself.

Allah Says in the Qur’an, “And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).” (22:27)

SOURCE: https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/cycling-from-hamburg-to-makkah-syrian-refugee-dies-in-outskirts-of-sacred-city/