When faith meets determination, no distance is too far. That is the only way to describe the extraordinary journey of Mohamed El-Masry, a 30-year-old Egyptian man who left everything behind and pedalled his bicycle all the way from Egypt to the Holy City of Makkah to perform Umrah. Not by plane, not by car, but by bicycle, through deserts, heat and long lonely roads.
Mohamed El-Masry began his remarkable journey from Basyoun, passing through Tanta, Banha, Ain Sokhna, Zaafarana, Hurghada, and Safaga. From there, he took a ship to Dhiba in Saudi Arabia and continued his journey on two wheels all the way toward Makkah. He carried with him clothes, bicycle maintenance tools, medicines for cold and heat, a tent, canned food, dates and water, everything he needed to survive on the road alone.
Mohamed first developed his love for cycling back in 2014 and founded a team called “Exploring Our Country by Bicycle” to organise cycling trips across various Egyptian regions. He sees this journey as a personal milestone and a dream come true, a record-setting feat beyond Egyptian borders, with the power to inspire many young enthusiasts across the Arab world.
The distance from Tanta in Egypt to Makkah in Saudi Arabia covers thousands of kilometres across different terrains, coastal roads, scorching desert highways and mountain paths. Most people would never even attempt such a journey. Mohamed El-Masry not only attempted it, he completed it in just 19 days.
What makes this story even more beautiful is the reason behind it. This was not a sports challenge or a publicity stunt. It was a deeply personal act of worship, a man choosing the hardest possible road to reach the House of Allah, because some dreams are worth every drop of sweat.
Mohamed’s journey is a powerful reminder that the love of Allah and the desire to stand at the Holy Kaaba can push a human being far beyond the limits of what seems possible. May Allah accept his Umrah and reward him in ways beyond imagination. Ameen.
