By Abdullahi Yusuf
In a remarkable display of determination and faith, two friends have embarked on a 10,000-kilometre journey on foot, travelling from Malaysia to Saudi Arabia in pursuit of their dream to perform Umrah.
Mohammad Farhan Khadid, 34, from Pendang, and Shamsul Azrin Man, 43, from Kota Sarang Semut in Kedah, began their extraordinary journey with their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation.
Self-employed Mohammad Farhan explained that they chose to begin their journey at Masjid Abdullah Fahim in Kepala Batas, where he works, seeking a smooth and blessed passage as they make their way to the Holy Land.
The two friends began preparing both physically and mentally last December in order to be ready for the walk to Mecca.
“We walked from Alor Setar to Hatyai, Thailand, in December. That was when we decided to walk to Mecca ourselves. Since then, we’ve been saving for this journey,” Farhan shared.
“Alhamdulillah, today we begin our journey to the Holy Land with the support of Al Bukhari and Azizul, and with prayers from everyone, especially our families, for our safe journey to perform Umrah,” Farhan told reporters on Sunday, 2 February, 2025, before starting their journey.
Farhan, who is still single, revealed that they are not receiving sponsorship for the trip. Instead, they are funding the entire journey through their own savings.
“We performed Istikhara prayers before finally deciding on this journey. We have also stayed committed to our training including jogging and running and sought advice from experienced travellers who have walked or cycled to Mecca,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shamsul Azrin, a businessman and father to a seven-year-old, explained that they do not have a set timeline for reaching Mecca, but plan to walk 25 to 30 km daily.
“We will follow the same route taken by Al Bukhari and Azizul, starting with a walk to Hatyai. From there, we’ll take a train to Bangkok, then fly to New Delhi, India.
“Afterward, we’ll walk to Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, head to Bandar Abbas in Iran, take a ferry to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and eventually make our way to Riyadh and Madinah in Saudi Arabia,” he said
Mohammad Farhan and Shamsul Azrin are hopeful that Malaysians will pray for their safety and success as they make their way to Mecca and return to Malaysia.
