Muslim pilgrimage umrah is a lifetime journey that many aspire to.
Seeking to fulfill the spiritual journey, French traveler Mohamed Boulabiar recently completed an extraordinary eight-month journey on foot to perform Umrah, covering a remarkable distance of over 8,000 kilometers, Khaleej Times reported.
Boulabiar, born in France to a Tunisian father and a Moroccan mother, told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), “I did not encounter any problems on the road, but the biggest challenge was the weather.”
“I departed in the summer and arrived in the spring, passing through autumn and winter, enduring storms and thunder. At one stage of the journey, a snowstorm at the Greek border delayed my trip by a week.
He added, “I walked in temperatures of around 40°C, but thankfully, everything went smoothly. I am overjoyed to be here. It has been my dream since childhood to visit Madinah after Makkah. Upon arriving here yesterday, my eyes filled with tears. I am elated to meet the Saudi people. This is my first visit to the Gulf.
“I received a warm welcome here. People stopped me on the road to offer food and drink, and some even invited me to stay with them. I am immensely grateful to be here and to have completed the journey.”
In conclusion, Boulabiar emphasized the fulfillment of a childhood dream and the significance of walking as a means of spiritual and physical enrichment.
His journey, inspired by a desire to emulate the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, underscores the profound impact of perseverance and dedication in achieving one’s goals.
“I have always harbored a desire to undertake this journey. It has been a dream since childhood. I yearned to arrive in Makkah on foot, emulating the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his companions,” Boulabiar said.
There have been other similar adventures, especially with regard to performing hajj.
British man Farid Feyadi also set off on a similar journey from London in 2020 to debunk misconceptions in the Western media about Islam.
Also in June 2022, young Indonesian Muhammad Fauzan’s journey to Makkah took more than seven and a half months, riding his bike for nearly 5000 kilometers.
SOURCE: https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/from-paris-to-makkah-pilgrim-walks-for-over-8000km-for-umrah/
