3 friends travel on horseback from Spain for Hajj, reach Sarajevo

Three friends who set out from Spain to perform the Hajj pilgrimage have reached Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo after three months of traveling on horseback.

Abdelkader Harkassi, Abdallah Hernandez, and Tariq Rodriguez embarked on their journey from southern Spain with the goal of retracing the pilgrimage route taken by Andalusian Muslims 500 years ago.

Riding on horseback, they are traveling over 8,000 kilometers, passing through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Türkiye before reaching Saudi Arabia.

During their stop in Sarajevo, the pilgrims explored the historic Bascarsija district on horseback, drawing significant attention from tourists and locals.

They also visited Ottoman-era landmarks and posed for photographs with those eager to learn more about their journey.

The group visited the Hajji Mosque in Sarajevo, where Bosniaks traditionally stop before departing for Hajj.

They also shared their experiences on social media, documenting their travels and encounters along the way.

Harkassi described their arrival in Sarajevo as a highlight of their journey.

"We have traveled across most of Europe, and now we are in Sarajevo. This is the peak of our journey, Alhamdulillah," he said, thanking the Bosnian people for their hospitality.

The group has faced logistical challenges, particularly at border crossings.

Harkassi noted that they were unable to obtain permission to enter Serbia: "We couldn’t get approval for Serbia. Their government collapsed last week, so we couldn’t process our documents."

Despite the challenges, the travelers expressed their excitement as they continued their journey, acquiring new horses along the way.

Their next destinations will bring them closer to their ultimate goal — reaching Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.

AA