Pakistani youth walks across 4 countries to Mekkah for Hajj

ISTANBUL (AA): On a sunny October day last year, Usman Arshad set out from his hometown in northeastern Pakistan to do what he had wished for a long time.

Over the next six months, undeterred by freezing winds or scorching heat, he walked some 5,400 kilometers (3,350 miles) across four countries to fulfill his dream of performing Hajj, the annual pilgrimage that is the fifth and final pillar of Islam.

“I am very happy. It was my dream to walk all the way to the Ka’aba,” said Arshad, 26, referring to what Muslims consider the house of God built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) and his son Ismail (Peace Be Upon Him).

“I chose to walk because I believe this path brought me closer to God,” he said in a phone call from Mekkaha, recalling the breathtaking natural beauty – from stunning mountains to rolling plains of sand – that he encountered on the way.

The university student documented his entire excursion on his social media accounts.

As Arshad left his home in Okara in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Oct. 1 last year, friends, family members and well-wishers showered him with rose petals, while local news crews lined up for interviews.

His father was initially against the idea, pushing him to take the more convenient and safer option of air travel.

Arshad was adamant and eventually convinced his father, who also helped cover the costs of the journey, around 2 million Pakistani rupees (approximately $7,000).

The journey

Arshad spent about 10 months planning his trip, researching routes and meeting government and embassy officials to discuss his plans.

Starting from Okara, he went through 15 cities in Pakistan to reach the Taftan border with Iran in the southwestern Balochistan province.

He headed to the UAE from Iran. The journey was not without its share of hardship, from the searing heat that made walking a challenge to frigid winds that made it all but impossible.

“There was a place in Iran that was freezing. The wind was so chilly it drained the color from my face,” Arshad recalled.

There were also stretches of hundreds of kilometers devoid of any humans.

“In Iran, there would be no one in sight for 200-250 kilometers (125-155 miles). It was a real problem finding food or a place to stay,” he said.

He entered Saudi Arabia on March 13 from the Batha border and crossed seven cities to finally reach Mekkah.

Recounting his journey, Arshad said he will always remember the kindness extended by fellow Muslims he met on the way.

In a cold and largely deserted area in Iran, he set up his tent and was just settling down for the night when a man came up and invited him to his home.

“He lit a fire for me and brought me food. He was so kind. I have many, many stories like these to share,” said Arshad.