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| Religion for them is a binding factor | | Seven Hyderabadi Muslims on cycles to perform Haj | | EARLY TIMES DELHI BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUG. 8: Age and physical weakness do not fail them when it comes to iron-like determination to achieve their goal — to go on Haj pilgrimage on bycycle to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The is what a group of seven Hyderabadis have proved as they set out on a thousands of miles long journey on bicycles to perform Haj.
A report received from Hyderabad sxaid that the group led by 60-year-old Mohammed Haneef, has elderly members, youngest of them being 42- year- old Mohammed Rafeeq. All of them are auto rickshaw drivers, who gathered their meagre resources and received some help from well wishers to embark upon a journey, which will take them through several countries, including the war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq and several unfriendly terrains.
With the group covering 50km every day, it will take two-and-half years journey to set their foot on the soil of the holy city of Makkah. “Our dream is to perform Haj in the year 2009. We are confident that God will help us in fulfilling this dream”, an emotional and frail Mohammed Haneef was quoted as saying before the group was formally flagged off by the Additional Commissioner of Traffic, A.K. Khan, from Haj House in Hyderabad.
The initiative was taken by Haneef, who said he was inspired by similar efforts by others. According to him, in 1982, Mohammed Habeeb of Bihar had travelled on foot for 12 years to perform Haj. Second time in 1984, Mohammed Fazal of Cuttack in Orissa also travelled at the age of 60 years. It encouraged Haneef too to travel in a similar manner.
Each member of the group is carrying couple of dresses, some other essential items covered in plastic sheets to protect them from rain water. However, the most extraordinary thing they are carrying is a piece of ‘Kafan’ for each member. If something goes wrong with any member and he dies, others will bury him and continue their journey at any cost, the report said.
Though the team might not have a very clear idea of the entire route map, the immediate destination will be the Wagah border near Amritsar where they intend to cross over to Pakistan and then into Afghanistan, a clear trouble spot. They hope to perform Haj either in 2008 or 2009.
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