Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Two British Muslims crossed more than 5,000 km and 14 countries on cycle to perform Haj this year. The idea was the brainchild of Rashid Ali, 43, who set off with Abdul Hannan, 26, on the journey of a lifetime cycling from London to Makkah in a record 56 days.

Rashid Ali is a well-known charity worker and is engaged in relief and humanitarian activities among the Muslim community in the UK. “This idea was live in my mind after we conducted a charity run from Cambridge to London,” he said while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

Abdul Hannan, Ali’s co-cyclist, has been working as a teacher and wrestler. “We set off on this spiritual journey to collect £100,000 to save world’s children including Syrian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani children living in the streets of Britain,” Ali said.

They started on July 1 with more than 40 riders from London Olympic Stadium to Paris but at the end only two bike riders managed to complete the distance. “Traveling such a long distance on bicycle was a big challenge. It has taught me a lot about myself and other people,” Ali said.

The two cyclists had faced torrential rain, fierce heat of the sun, dry desert and painfully steep inclines. “After all this hardship, I believe that even if we can save a single child, the whole journey would be worthwhile,” he pointed out.

“We have collected £65,000 from Muslims as well as non-Muslims. We are optimistic that we would be able to amass the remaining amount shortly,” he said and called upon Saudis to donate generously to their fund for saving the world’s poor and stranded children.

Rashid Ali refused to take part of the money collected from the UK to meet the expenses of their journey. “We have received financial support from Muslim Charity,” he added. Although the two have crossed the longest distance on bikes they are yet to find a place on the Guinness Book of Records.

Both riders are thinking of selling their bicycles through a public auction after reaching Britain. “Hopefully, we’ll get at least £5,000 for each bicycle,” Ali said. Ali had refused a fabulous offer from Zaki Kamal Hussein, a mutawif of the Tawafa Organization for Pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, America and Australia to purchase his bicycle.

“We wanted to sell them at a higher price to collect more money for children,” he said.

The two riders had received big reception at the countries they visited on their way to Makkah. They also met with media organizations throughout their journey. British newspapers described the ride as the longest and the most peculiar in the world.

The two friends spent 56 days to reach Makkah with 42 days on bicycle. They crossed 120 km every day. They were forced to travel by plane due to the security situation in Syria and Iraq. They took a flight from Antakya, in southern Turkey, to Cairo and then from Hurghada to Jeddah.

Shubo Hussain, a friend of Ali and Abdul Hannan, was traveling with them in a car to provide the two riders with logistic support. They crossed Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

“We are extremely happy at having gotten an opportunity to perform Haj this year after traveling 5,000 km on bicycles to reach Makkah,” Abdul Hannan said. The two cheekily said, that they are afraid that their wives and children would not wait for two months if they cycle back to London.

Ali and his team thanked everyone who supported the cause by donations and other means. “To be honest this was the most nerve-wrecking challenge and an inspirational activity I have ever embarked upon in my life,” the team leader said.