DDHK. ORG – Pakistani youth named Usman Arshad has embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime 'dream journey' to the Holy City Makkah to implement the hadj 2023.
Reporting from Republika.co.id, he walked from Okara in Pakistan's Punjab district, carrying a small backpack and black umbrella.
With a Pakistani flag pin on his shirt, Arshad embarked on a spiritual journey from his hometown on 1 October. He wants to achieve his dream goal in about eight months.
Arshad's journey will go through Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait to reach the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The trip will cover a distance of about 5.400 Km, with him walking an average of 30 to 40 Km each day.
Arshad said he decided to start the Hajj pilgrimage after last year walking 1.270 kilometers from Okara to the Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border. In 34 days he was able to reach the location known as the highest border crossing in the world.
“When I returned from Khunjerab, I decided to walk to Makkah for Hajj. This is the journey every Muslim wants. So I decided to start this dream journey on foot because I love walking,” said the 25-year-old young man quoted in Gulf News, Wednesday (2/11/2022).
Message of Peace from Pakistani Youth
The young man, who is very focused on walking exercises, said he also plans to visit religious sites in Iran and Iraq on his way to Makkah.
Walking through different countries opened up opportunities for him to meet different people and spread the true message of Islam, namely peace and respect.
The young man said he didn't care about fame. He just wanted to complete his religious duty by walking towards the holy city and also spreading the message of peace and goodwill.
Arshad said the trip would cost him around 1,5 million Pakistani rupees to be covered by him and his family. He has been working on this plan for the past year and asked the Foreign Ministry to speed up the visa process and hopes to get a visa on time before reaching Iran.
Regarding the details of the items in his bag, he said it contained several clothes, a cellphone, charger and power bank, an umbrella, a flashlight, a water bottle and a medicine box.
“If I need something else, I will buy it. But I don't want to carry heavy things that slow me down," he said.
Arshad is a media communications student and content creator. He also documented the entire trip on his social media accounts. He will share about his daily journey with his more than 50 thousand followers.
The videos he has shared so far detail the natural and cultural landscapes of the cities in Pakistan that he has visited so far, the people he meets, and the food he eats on the way.
Although the focus is on the pilgrimage, the videos shared also provide an opportunity for Arshad to showcase the culture, beauty and hospitality of the areas he has explored.
He also met and inspired dozens of people during his travels. Drivers and pedestrians often stop to say hello, shake hands and give their love and respect after seeing a poster on his backpack that reads 'From Okara to Makkah for Hajj on foot'.
“Many people came just to pay their respects and ask me to convey their greetings to the holy city of Makkah. They cheer me on and some say my journey is an inspiration for them to pursue their dreams. I feel very happy and proud to receive greetings and prayers from people,” he said.
Arshad mostly lives in the homes of friends and family in the cities he passes through. But if he is not in town, then he will go to the mosque or hotel to spend the night.
Because they regularly share their activities on social media, many people contact and offer accommodation or home-cooked meals. As soon as he left Pakistan, he said he would stay in a hotel and maybe even go camping. Even though he was walking towards Makkah, he said his return would be by air.
Not Pakistan's First Youth
Arshad was not the first to walk to Makkah from Pakistan. A Pakistani man known for his peaceful path, Kharlzada Kasrat Rai, also walked from Karachi to Makkah in 2013.
He received a hero's welcome in Makkah after traveling for three months. [DDHK News]
