Cycle of life: Chinese Muslim cycles 7,800 km in 4 months to perform Hajj

Tawasul has reported Muslim cyclist from China, Mapaotchen Muslim Muhammad has cycled 7,800 kilometres to Makkah, Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

Muhammad reportedly left his home in Xinjiang, in northwest China, and cycled arriving in the Saudi city of Taif, where he received a special welcome by the local cycling club.

Following a brief stay in the city, he was accompanied by members of the Taif cycling club to Makkah, Saudi news site Sabq reported.

“We were the first cycling club in Saudi Arabia to welcome the Chinese rider and we look forward to other clubs reaching out to him and introducing him to their cities,” Nayef Al Rawas, the head of the Taif club told Sabq.

He was welcomed wholeheartedly after the local people heard about his amazing journey.

He arrived on Friday night after being on the road for four months. The journey came with a number of obstacles for the cyclist. He was indeed very pleased to have reached his destination in time for the spiritual journey of Hajj.

Saturday, China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) said that 14,500 Chinese Muslims would perform Hajj this year.

China has by Friday sent 37 charter flights to carry Chinese Muslims for Hajj, and a total of 11,000 Chinese pilgrims have already arrived in Makkah, Xinhua News Agency said.

This is not the first time somebody has taken such a journey rather than to be on the plane, vehicle or boat. In 2013, Kharlzada Kasrat Rai, 37, of Pakistan began his trip from Karachi on June 7, travelling 6,387 kilometers (3,968 miles) through Iran, Iraq and Jordan on foot.

Source: Gulf News