During the holy month of Ramadan, a 26-year-old man began an extraordinary bicycle journey—not to a nearby grocery store or another Belgian city—but all the way to Makkah to perform Hajj.
While many already find the pilgrimage to be physically demanding, with millions of Muslims arriving in Saudi Arabia each year and enduring the scorching heat in white garments to complete the sacred rituals, Anas Al Rezky took on an even greater challenge: biking the entire way.
“It’s a dream, a blessing,” said Anas after crossing into Saudi Arabia from Jordan through the Halat Ammar Port on the kingdom’s northern border. Upon entering Saudi Arabia, he was warmly received with Arabian coffee and flowers. A video shows him wearing his Hajj permit badge while completing formalities with border officials.
Anas covered a distance of 4,500 km, traveling through 13 countries across Europe and the Middle East. In a video shared by Saudi broadcaster Al Ekhbariya, Anas is seen cycling through green fields in a jacket to protect against the European cold. As he moved into the desert regions, the scenery changed, and he continued his journey wearing a white T-shirt.
In an interview, Anas said he cycled approximately 100 km each day. “The route was very tough. I began the journey during Ramadan while fasting,” he explained. “I used to sleep in mosques, like in Germany and Bosnia, which is a Muslim country.”
Pilgrims have already begun arriving in Makkah for this year’s Hajj. The peak of the pilgrimage, the Day of Arafah, will occur on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah—falling either on June 6 or 7, depending on the moon sighting.
