Latest news with #SpanishMuslims
Vogue
23-07-2025
- General
- Vogue
‘Inshallah' by Nicolas Brunetti
Inshallah, an Arabic word meaning " if God wills it" expresses a believer's hope for a future event. This word captures the spirit of the project, which reflects the expectations, desires, and dreams of several Muslim youths living in the Príncipe Alfonso neighbourhood of Ceuta. Passport of Hadil Ahmed Hossain (22). The worn and almost illegible country inscription conveys the marginalised condition of the inhabitants of the barrio Príncipe Alfonso: they are Spanish but of Muslim culture, European but on Moroccan soil. Their identity and their sense of belonging to a specific nation fade, like the writing on their passports. Despite its Spanish-sounding name, El Príncipe is a predominantly Arab neighbourhood, geographically isolated on the hillside bordering Morocco, far from the city's port, commercial areas, and tourist zones. The barrio has a complex and troubled history, often associated over the past two decades with violent drug trafficking and episodes of radicalisation, including jihadism. Today, youth distress and crime reflect a deep social fracture, one that can only be healed by addressing the root causes of social exclusion, school dropout, and chronic unemployment.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Bound for Mecca, these pilgrims rode from Spain on horses
More than 1.5 million people travelled to Saudi Arabia this year for the haj. Only three of them rode on horseback all the way from Spain, recreating the pilgrimage of Andalusian Muslims centuries ago and sharing their travels in the most modern way with big followings on social media. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Bosnia, they lost days looking for borrowed horses that broke free after a scare and ended up wandering into a minefield. In France, the horses panicked in a tunnel filled with mud, and one nearly drowned before one pilgrim, on foot and chest-deep in the muck, helped pull the animal out. "We were really scared... There were too many horses jumping," said Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, one rider. 'Hajj on Horseback', as they called the project, took four years of preparation and about seven months of travel over 4,000 miles across about a dozen countries with sometimes treacherous terrain. The journey was, in a sense, a test of their faith in God, humanity and the internet. The project drew over 345,000 followers on Instagram and over 250,000 on TikTok. Some of their posts - on camping, making meals, hosing down horses, and running into obstacles that added many miles to the trip - have been viewed over 550,000 times. It was not always clear the group would make it, but their fans helped with supplies and assistance on ground, and with offers of aid, like donations and a logo revamp. The pilgrims, Harkassi, Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha and Tarek Rodriguez, are Spanish Muslims. The seed of their project began germinating some 35 years ago when Hernandez converted to Islam and pledged to someday make the haj - and to do it on horseback. About six years ago, Harkassi and Hernandez met on a project when he revealed his dream and the latter immediately agreed to help him. They then made extended practice rides, building endurance and fostering the camaraderie that got them through the journey. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rodriguez joined them later. The trio set out from Spain last Oct with about $1,700 each. They ran out of funds early in the journey, but before they left, they began soliciting donations, including on a crowdfunding site where they raised about $56,000 for supplies, horse feeding, care and logistics. In a post upon their arrival, the group said they were grateful for the "extraordinary" journey that brought them to Mecca. For the riders, the lowest point came in Italy, when they had very little money, they were cold, and the roads were busy and difficult. From there they travelled through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to Saudi Arabia. They grew tense approaching each border, never sure what the rules would be for their unusual form of transport. Still, Harkassi said, his favourite parts often came right after clearing those hurdles, once they entered a country and were greeted enthusiastically. They hope to make a documentary about their journey.
CairoScene
30-05-2025
- CairoScene
This Group of Spanish Muslims Is Performing Hajj on Horseback
This Group of Spanish Muslims Is Performing Hajj on Horseback For eight months, they have guided their horses across continents along the ancient Andalusian route to Makkah, a path not trodden for centuries. The rhythmic clatter of hooves on ancient paths carries prayers and promises—echoes of a route long forgotten, now revived. It all started when three Spanish Muslims—Abdelkader Harkassi, Abdallah Hernández, and Tarek Rodríguez—set out to guide their horses across continents along the ancient Andalusian route to Makkah, a path not trodden for centuries. The journey began when Hernández, a Spanish convert, forged a bond with Harkassi during a 10-month academic project in London translating a 10th-century manuscript on falconry. By the end of their scholarly mission, a brotherhood had formed. Hernández, who was born Catholic, confided that he had once made a promise to Allah: that if he ever performed Hajj, it would be on horseback. 'Through pressure and challenges, we realised—we're a great team,' Harkassi shares with SceneTraveller. 'So, I told him I'm with you. Let's make it happen.' With that, a promise turned into purpose. Four years of grueling preparation tested their limits. Across Portugal's sweltering heatwaves and Spain's winter frost, they refined their endurance with Aseel mares—horses bred for long-distance resilience. 'Training was ten times harder than the journey,' Harkassi recalls. 'We tested everything: the horses, our gear, and our will.' Their route retraces the footsteps of Spanish Muslim Omar Patón, who travelled to Makkah by land over 500 years ago, passing through Alexandria, Damascus, and Jerusalem. Inspired by his journey, the modern-day group originally planned to follow a similar path through North Africa—but political borders and regional conflicts redirected them through Europe. And so, they started their journey from Almonaster Mosque in the south of Spain and continued through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia. The road has not spared them its trials. In Bosnia, their horses went missing for three days after wandering into a minefield—haunting remnants of the Balkan War. 'It felt surreal—like a scene from a movie.' Bureaucratic barriers, like those faced at the Serbian border, added to their challenges. Yet, generosity lit their path—equestrian communities, mosques, and strangers of all faiths opened their doors. 'We've met atheists, fascists, people with misconceptions about Islam—but when they saw we rode for faith, not fame or money, it changed their perspective.' The heart of their expedition lies in their team. Tarek Rodríguez, who joined at the last minute, became their steadfast companion in the saddle. Bouchaib Jadil, their vital support driver, carries their supplies and ensures the horses' well-being. Documenting it all is influencer Abdelrahman Al Mutiri, who's making sure their story reaches thousands around the world. With Saudi Arabia now on the horizon, the dream of seeing the Kaaba grows stronger. Eight months of riding through hardship, hunger, and cold, leading to this final stretch. For Harkassi, the essence of Hajj isn't just about reaching Makkah but in every mile, every soul, and every trial that brought them there. 'The path is the pilgrimage,' he reflects. 'The land, the faces, the stories—these are the blessings you miss when you fly.' The journey has already reshaped him. 'We left with خوف و رجاء—hope and fear,' he says. 'The journey has shown us that everything is possible for Allah. We all say it, we try to believe it—but now we've lived it. We know it.' Arriving in Makkah means the world to them, after all the challenges that the road threw at them, it'll make this journey worth it all. 'After eight months of riding, seeing the Kaaba for the first time will definitely be overwhelming. It'll be a dream made real—after all the hardship, it'll be worth every step.'
