In a time where the world is up in arms and stories about violence are making headlines every other day, a story like this is sure to warm your hearts.
A group of British Muslims chose to shed a positive light on Islam, by doing something incredibly unique to prove what they stood for. Similar to ‘Tour de France’, ‘Tour De Hajj’ decided to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia’s Medina by cycling all the way from England to Saudi Arabia. These men want their religion to be seen “as a religion of peace and tolerance among the countries they passed through.”
After a journey of 6500 km, “Tour de Hajj” were greeted by the chairman of the Society of Culture and Arts in Medina, Mishaal Al-Touhami, with a traditional welcome that included Arabian coffee, dates and Zamzam water.
The men paid homage to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Medina and then continued to visit Mecca to complete the pilgrimage rites. Speaking to Al Arabiya, Taher Hasan Akhtar who is the group’s captain said, “The trip was amazing, we came through 17 countries. It’s spiritual, beautiful journey.”
However this was not the first time for Akhtar in the holy city; back in 2017 him and seven other British Muslims had arrived in Mecca after a 5-week cycling journey.
These “Hajj Riders” biked through France, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Italy, to name a few, before reaching Saudi Arabia.
Previously, A Muslim Chinese cyclist also rode his bike all the way to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj all the way from Xinjiang, China, on a journey that was 8150 kilometres and took three months to complete.
