Latest news with #Harkassi
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Bound for Mecca, these pilgrims rode from Spain on horses
More than 1.5 million people travelled to Saudi Arabia this year for the haj. Only three of them rode on horseback all the way from Spain, recreating the pilgrimage of Andalusian Muslims centuries ago and sharing their travels in the most modern way with big followings on social media. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Bosnia, they lost days looking for borrowed horses that broke free after a scare and ended up wandering into a minefield. In France, the horses panicked in a tunnel filled with mud, and one nearly drowned before one pilgrim, on foot and chest-deep in the muck, helped pull the animal out. "We were really scared... There were too many horses jumping," said Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, one rider. 'Hajj on Horseback', as they called the project, took four years of preparation and about seven months of travel over 4,000 miles across about a dozen countries with sometimes treacherous terrain. The journey was, in a sense, a test of their faith in God, humanity and the internet. The project drew over 345,000 followers on Instagram and over 250,000 on TikTok. Some of their posts - on camping, making meals, hosing down horses, and running into obstacles that added many miles to the trip - have been viewed over 550,000 times. It was not always clear the group would make it, but their fans helped with supplies and assistance on ground, and with offers of aid, like donations and a logo revamp. The pilgrims, Harkassi, Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha and Tarek Rodriguez, are Spanish Muslims. The seed of their project began germinating some 35 years ago when Hernandez converted to Islam and pledged to someday make the haj - and to do it on horseback. About six years ago, Harkassi and Hernandez met on a project when he revealed his dream and the latter immediately agreed to help him. They then made extended practice rides, building endurance and fostering the camaraderie that got them through the journey. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rodriguez joined them later. The trio set out from Spain last Oct with about $1,700 each. They ran out of funds early in the journey, but before they left, they began soliciting donations, including on a crowdfunding site where they raised about $56,000 for supplies, horse feeding, care and logistics. In a post upon their arrival, the group said they were grateful for the "extraordinary" journey that brought them to Mecca. For the riders, the lowest point came in Italy, when they had very little money, they were cold, and the roads were busy and difficult. From there they travelled through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to Saudi Arabia. They grew tense approaching each border, never sure what the rules would be for their unusual form of transport. Still, Harkassi said, his favourite parts often came right after clearing those hurdles, once they entered a country and were greeted enthusiastically. They hope to make a documentary about their journey.
Arab Times
09-06-2025
- Arab Times
Spanish Muslims retrace ancient Hajj route on horseback from Andalusia to Makkah
CAIRO, June 9, (AP): Three Spanish pilgrims performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia rode on horseback to Makkah, traveling thousands of kilometers in snow and rain and along a path they said had not been trekked for more than 500 years. Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez, and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha set out from southern Spain in October, riding through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan to arrive in Saudi Arabia in May. It was an emotional moment for the trio when they reached Makkah. No pilgrim had traveled this way since 1491, they said. Harkassi said the group's path from Spain took them across about 8,000 kilometers (nearly 5,000 miles) before they reached the Kaaba, the black cube structure in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. "We had crossed so many kilometers to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,' he told The Associated Press on Thursday from Arafat, southeast of Makkah. "We were in front of the Kaaba and had the opportunity to touch it. So, that 8,000 kilometers became nothing.' During their monthslong journey they came across scenic stretches of nature and historical landmarks in Syria, including the Aleppo Citadel and the Umayyad Mosque. They also found an old railway track built during the time of the Ottoman Empire that connected Istanbul to Saudi Arabia. They followed it for days to help guide them to the desert kingdom. But there were challenges, too. They lost their horses in Bosnia, only to find them later in a landmine zone. Nobody could fetch the horses because of the explosives, but the animals eventually made it out of the area unharmed, Harkassi said. The human element of the trip was the most valuable for the team, he added. "When we didn't have anything, people helped us with our horses, with our food, they gave us money. When our assistance car got broken, they fixed it for us," Harkassi said. "People have been incredible. I think it's proof that Muslims are united, that the one ummah (nation) that every Muslim longs for is a reality."
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Haj pilgrimage on horseback by 3 Muslims from Spain to Mecca retraces a 15th century route
Three Spanish pilgrims performing the haj in Saudi Arabia rode on horseback to Mecca, travelling thousands of kilometres in snow and rain along a route they said had not been taken for more than 500 years. Advertisement Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha set out from southern Spain in October, riding through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to arrive in Saudi Arabia in May. It was an emotional moment for the trio when they reached Mecca. No pilgrim had travelled this way since 1491, they said. Harkassi said the group's path from Spain took them across about 8,000km (nearly 5,000 miles) before they reached the Kaaba, the black cube structure in the Great Mosque of Mecca. 'We had crossed so many kilometres to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,' he said from Mount Arafat, southeast of Mecca. 'We were in front of the Kaaba and had the opportunity to touch it. So, that 8,000km became nothing.' Advertisement
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Spanish Muslims retrace ancient Hajj route on horseback from Andalusia to Mecca
CAIRO — Three Spanish pilgrims performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia rode on horseback to Mecca, traveling thousands of kilometers in snow and rain and along a path they said had not been trekked for more than 500 years. Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha set out from southern Spain in October, riding through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to arrive in Saudi Arabia in May. It was an emotional moment for the trio when they reached Mecca. No pilgrim had traveled this way since 1491, they said. Harkassi said the group's path from Spain took them across about 8,000 kilometers before they reached the Kaaba, the black cube structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. 'We had crossed so many kilometers to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,' he told The Associated Press on Thursday from Arafat, southeast of Mecca. "We were in front of the Kaaba and had the opportunity to touch it. So, that 8,000 kilometers became nothing.' During their monthslong journey they came across scenic stretches of nature and historical landmarks in Syria, including the Aleppo Citadel and the Umayyad Mosque. They also found an old railway track built during the time of the Ottoman Empire that connected Istanbul to Saudi Arabia. They followed it for days to help guide them to the desert kingdom. But there were challenges, too. They lost their horses in Bosnia, only to find them later in a landmine zone. Nobody could fetch the horses because of the explosives, but the animals eventually made it out of the area unharmed, Harkassi said. The human element of the trip was the most valuable for the team, he added. 'When we didn't have anything, people helped us with our horses, with our food, they gave us money. When our assistance car got broken, they fixed it for us," Harkassi said. "People have been incredible. I think it's proof that Muslims are united, that the one ummah that every Muslim longs for is a reality."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Spanish Muslims retrace ancient Hajj travel route on horseback from Andalusia to Saudi Arabia
CAIRO (AP) — Three Spanish pilgrims performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia rode on horseback to Mecca, traveling thousands of kilometers in snow and rain and along a path they said had not been trekked for more than 500 years. Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha set out from southern Spain in October, riding through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to arrive in Saudi Arabia in May. It was an emotional moment for the trio when they reached Mecca. No pilgrim had traveled this way since 1491, they said. Harkassi said the group's path from Spain took them across about 8,000 kilometers (nearly 5,000 miles) before they reached the Kaaba, the black cube structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. 'We had crossed so many kilometers to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,' he told The Associated Press on Thursday from Arafat, southeast of Mecca. "We were in front of the Kaaba and had the opportunity to touch it. So, that 8,000 kilometers became nothing.' During their monthslong journey they came across scenic stretches of nature and historical landmarks in Syria, including the Aleppo Citadel and the Umayyad Mosque. They also found an old railway track built during the time of the Ottoman Empire that connected Istanbul to Saudi Arabia. They followed it for days to help guide them to the desert kingdom. But there were challenges, too. They lost their horses in Bosnia, only to find them later in a landmine zone. Nobody could fetch the horses because of the explosives, but the animals eventually made it out of the area unharmed, Harkassi said. The human element of the trip was the most valuable for the team, he added. 'When we didn't have anything, people helped us with our horses, with our food, they gave us money. When our assistance car got broken, they fixed it for us," Harkassi said. "People have been incredible. I think it's proof that Muslims are united, that the one ummah (nation) that every Muslim longs for is a reality."
