Spanish Pilgrims Ride Horses 8,000km to Mecca, Retrace Forgotten Haj Route

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Image & Source: scmp

Spanish pilgrims Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez, and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha rode horses 8,000km from Spain to Mecca, reviving a haj route last used in 1491. Through storms, snow, and relentless saddle chafing, they declared, ā€œThat 8,000km became nothingā€ when finally reaching the Kaaba.

No living soul had hoofed this route to the Great Mosque since 1491, but the trio’s seven-month equestrian odyssey spanned 10 countries and countless cups of tea. ā€œWe had crossed so many kilometres to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,ā€ said Harkassi, as horses eyed the nearest patch of shade.

The last recorded horseback haj from Spain to Mecca took place in 1491—making this trio’s 8,000km, 7-month journey the first of its kind in over five centuries, with only their saddles for company.

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