Darussalam Publishers & Distributors
Noor Mohammed, a 105-year-old Pakistani pilgrim, has finally been able to make it to Makkah after several failed attempts. "My repeated failures to perform Hajdid not deter me. I continued my struggle to save money and embark on the journey of the life-time," he told Al-Hayat newspaper on Thursday. He said he has been saving money for 15 years.
"The Haj costs were increasing year after year. Every time I tried to collect enough money, I would fail because of the difficult financial conditions of my family," he said.
Mohammed said he was only able to save the Haj money at this old age. "When I crossed 100, I was able to save the required amount of money to accomplish my life-long dream," he said.
He said when he arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first time, he discovered that the Haj was not as difficult as he used to think.
He said his friends, who are all dead now, used to speak to him about hardships and difficulties during the Haj.
"The facilities I have seen have obliterated the old distorted picture I used to have about the Haj," he added.
Mohammed said the Haj has now become very easy especially for the old people like him thanks to the integrated facilities and services being provided by the relevant Saudi agencies.
"It is now easy to move between the holy sites. It is also easy to perform the rites. This is contrary to the picture I have conjured about the Haj for many years," he said.
Mohammed, using a thick stick to walk on, was in tears all the time he was talking to the newspaper. "These are tears of joy," he explained. —SG
