A group of Andalusian Muslims who set out on a pilgrimage journey from Spain on horseback, aiming to reach Mecca by following an 8,000-kilometer route, have arrived in Istanbul.
The Hajj pilgrims—Abdellah Hernandez Mancha, Abdelqader Harkassi Aidi, Bouchaib Jadil, and Tarek Rodriguez Fernandez—shared their journey experiences with students at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, where they were hosted.
Abdellah Hernandez Mancha, a geography professor in Spain, said: “After traveling 4,000 kilometers and passing through several European countries, we have arrived in Istanbul. We embarked on this journey with faith. I made this promise in 1984, and now I am fulfilling it. With God’s help, we have made it this far.”
“We Realized That the Hajj Journey Is Also a Journey of Preaching”
Speaking at the conference, Hernandez expressed his gratitude to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University for their hospitality and said they were happy to have reached Istanbul after traveling nearly 4,000 kilometers.
Hernandez shared that he was introduced to Islam at the age of 24 while studying geography, during which he also examined the Bible and the Quran. He found the verses in the Quran particularly striking.
Before taking an important geography exam, Hernandez made a promise to himself that if he passed, he would become a Muslim. After passing the exam, he fulfilled his promise, embraced Islam, and wished to go on Hajj on horseback, just like his ancestors.
Hernandez explained that his companions, Harkassi and Rodriguez, joined him on horseback, while Bouchaib Jadil, a construction worker living in Spain, provided logistical support by traveling ahead of them by car.
Throughout their journey, they encountered many events they considered miracles. Hernandez emphasized that they came to realize that “the Hajj journey is also a journey of preaching.”
Reviving a Lost Tradition
One of the Hajj travelers, Harkassi, expressed his happiness at reviving a lost tradition.
He stated that they had saved money and trained for several years in preparation for this journey.
Despite the challenges, Harkassi highlighted the many adventures they experienced along the way: “We had funny moments and great adventures. We could see that God was with us. We embarked on this journey with pure intentions, simply to reach Hajj, and we are honored to be part of it. We are now halfway through, and hopefully, the rest of the journey will be easier.”
The group expressed their desire to spend the month of Ramadan in Istanbul and planned to visit significant religious and historical landmarks such as the Sultanahmet Mosque and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.