- Traveling through at least five countries, Usman Arshad plans to cover 5,400 kilometers to participate in the Hajj next year.
- The idea of walking to Mecca came to him last year when he completed a 34-day trek from his hometown of Okara to the border with China.
Having set off on his journey at the beginning of this month, Pakistani student Usman Arshad has already covered the 10th kilometer of the 5,400-kilometer route to reach his dream destination, Mecca, in time to participate in the Hajj next year.
Pakistani student Usman Arshad is interacting with people in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, on his way to Makkah on foot, Oct. 17, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Usman Arshad)
The 25-year-old Arshad began his pilgrimage in his hometown of Okara in Pakistan's Punjab province, and carrying only a small backpack and an umbrella, as well as a pair of trekking shoes, he plans to travel through five countries before arriving in Islam's holiest city.
«From Pakistan to Iran, from Iran to Iraq, from Iraq to Kuwait, and from Kuwait I will reach Saudi Arabia,» he told Arab News from Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
Pakistani student Usman Arshad, who started his journey to Makkah on foot at the beginning of the month, is passing through Multan, Pakistan, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Usman Arshad)
Arshad plans to visit neighboring Iran at the end of this week.
He said the journey «will take about eight months, which means I will reach Mecca in May.».
Arshad first thought about traveling to the holy city on foot last year when he covered 1,270 kilometers during a 34-day walk from Okara to the Khunjerab Pass on the border with China «to promote peace in Pakistan.».
He continued: «The idea for this journey (the Hajj) came to me after completing my last trip, and I thought that if I could travel so much on foot across Pakistan, then I should also walk to a place that is everyone's desire.".
«I have undertaken this journey of my dream and started working on it.».
It took Arshad nine months to prepare and, with the help of his family, to save about $6,800 to cover the costs of the trip. Support with documents and visas was provided by the Pakistani government.
«In addition to that, they will also support me wherever security is needed,» Arshad said, adding that he hopes to cover up to 45 kilometers a day, staying overnight along the way in mosques, seminaries, and people's homes.
So far, wherever he has stopped, he has been welcomed and embraced by hosts who were interested in learning about his pilgrimage plan.
«People's reaction has been very good,« Arshad said. »All our people in Pakistan are very loving.".
As he walks, the journey is also changing Arshad and shaping his future plans. He completed his education in media and communication at the University of Okara, but now plans to travel constantly.
«I used to want to join the media,» he said, "but now I have plans to continue traveling in the future, telling people about different places and countries by visiting them on foot or otherwise.".