•The distance is about 3,500km and their target was to do 100km per day
• It sounded like a crazy idea and mission impossible to Mecca.
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA
Why would anyone bicycle for 45 days from Nairobi to Mecca to perform the Hajj?
Four Nairobi men decided they would do it — 'Pedal to Hajj' — to help needy children at the Al Furaqan Training Institute in Namanga, Kajiado.
And to fulfil one of their five pillars of Islam.
And it hadn't been done before, at least not for charity, they say.
They aimed to raise Sh5 million through pledges. They only managed to raise 77 per cent of the target, Sh3.85 million, but are confident the balance will be raised by well-wishers.
“The needs of society are becoming too numerous, so we came up with this Pedal to Hajj both to help the needy and fulfil one of our five pillars of Islam," Mohammed Salim said.
They started as a group of 15 bicycling around Nairobi. Then there were eight, then were four who made the journey and recently returned by Land Cruiser.
On June 9 they started out — team leader Mohammed Nazir, Osman Idrissa, Anwar Mansoor and Mohammed Salim.
The needs of society are becoming too numerous, so we came up with this Pedal to Hajj both as a way of helping the needy and to fulfil one of our five pillars of Islam.Mohammed Salim
The distance is about 3,500km, their target was 100km per day.
For their trip back, the team left Jeddah for Port Suakin, Sudan, on August 23, and the Ethiopian border into Moyale in Kenya.
They were accompanied by two support crew members: Zahir Taj Jakub, and Zakir Khilan who accompanied the cyclists in a Land cruiser.
“It sounded like a crazy idea and unattainable but we managed to convince our families to support us. We would give our updates to the media team in Nairobi who would in turn brief and update our families,” Salim told the Star yesterday.
It took a year to plan.
He said there was a network issue when they crossed into Ethiopia due to political unrest.
Salim said there was no problem crossing borders because of their preparations and the branding of their bicycles, car and T-shirts.
They trained for almost a year and did practice runs, including to Arusha and Malindi.
“We had writings in Arabic and Amharic so whenever we would approach any border, they would definitely know that we were on our way to Mecca, plus the Saudi Embassy was very helpful,” Salim said.
Salim, who sounded jovial on the phone, thanked God saying that none of them got really sick, though the Ethiopian terrain was tiring
Team leader Nazir The team leader, Nazir, however, had an injury and foot infection, which prevented him from cycling part of the journey.
Salim said that their cost for the entire trip was far less than that of a flight to Mecca.
They slept in mosques. Part of the journey was funded by the Maahad Daawah organisation while they themselves paid fo the rest. they said it wasn't much.
“God knew we were cycling for a good course, that’s why he protected us through the journey. It was also a learning experience and a good chance to appreciate our own country," Salim said.
Salim noted that getting water for bathing could take as long as three days. And petrol is cheaper in Sudan than water.
The funds raised will help construct the Al Furqan Towners and revenue from that would support the school for needy boys through primary and secondary education in Namanga, Maili Tisa.
the school has about 160 students. It is an integrated boarding school with both secular and religious education.
The aim of the institute is to provide Islamic guidance and counselling, quality education and training, social welfare services, heritage awareness and conservation through partnerships.
(Edited by V. Graham)