RIYADH – The world witnessed another beautiful incident in which three friends from Spain arrived in Mecca on horseback to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. It carries historical and cultural significance that dates back to the time of the Prophet(PBUH), when pilgrims used to travel on horseback to perform Hajj and Umrah. It revived centuries-old Andalusian Muslim tradition. The three friends who took the bold step are Abdullah Hernández, Abdul Qadir Harkasi, and Tariq Rodriguez. They embarked together on a historic journey covering approximately 8,000 kilometers in the span of three months.
Their route took them through ten different countries. They embarked on this journey from Spain through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey before entering Saudi Arabia via Syria. The reason behind this long and tiring journey was a strong pledge made by Hernández, who embraced Islam at the age of 24. He was inspired by the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet(PBUH) during his geography studies, he therefore promised that if he passed a pivotal exam, he would convert to Islam. He passed and fulfilled his vow and took yet another, which was to perform Hajj on horseback, just as some of his Muslim ancestors did 500 years ago.
He was joined in this spiritual journey by his companions, Harkasi and Rodriguez. Throughout their journey, they were supported logistically by a friend, Boucheb Jadil, who followed them in a vehicle from Spain. Ramadan came, during which the group spent time in Istanbul. During their time in Istanbul, they visited sacred landmarks such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and Hagia Sophia, before continuing their pilgrimage. These religious acts brought the group closer to Islam. Their story has once again brought back the traditions of their Muslim ancestors.
