REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Makkah - Two dozen states, takes nine months and traveled thousands of kilometers, have been taken by two South Africans to realize his dreams on the pilgrimage to Mecca. Two citizens of Cape Town, Nathim Cairncross (28) and Ahmad Haron (25) only use bicycles to cross the African continent that heat toward Saudi Arabia.

Both crossed the border of Saudi Arabia in late October, arriving nearly three weeks before the ritual pilgrimage began in Mecca. Hajj series begins Sunday, November 14, 2010.

The idea of pilgrimage using the bike it came from Haron December 2009. At that time, he expressed the idea to his friend Cairncross after reading about the pilgrimage attended by more than two million Muslims from around the world.

''In life, I have principles,''said Cairncross told Al Jazeera. ''If I work hard to get things done, in the end must be obtained. After nine months of pedaling a bicycle across Africa to the Middle East, of course, I get the value of strength were compared.''

Travel across the continent of Africa began on February 7, 2010, on a cold and rainy morning in a mosque in Cape Town. Around 500 people accompanied the departure of both of them while prayer of salvation. Armed with maps, they walked the countries in Africa are arid.

''We're not a professional cyclist,''Cairncross said. ''But we have physical training since two months before departure, such as mountain climbing, running on the beach, and swim.''

To realize the plan, both are not easy. There are also some people who try to block the departure on the grounds it is impossible can be done. However, without fear, their friends join the pilgrimage to design it, consult with the traffic department in South Africa to ensure they can ride safely, visa, and ask for medical advice from doctors. We got to say''crazy,''said both.

In the long journey, both through countries including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. Every day, they were cycling along the 80-100 kilometers, starting from after the Fajr Prayer and stopped at night. Sometimes, they spend the night on lodging, camping, or in the mosque.

At night it is, not infrequently both tell the story of journey and destination. Local people are many who are touched and then help provide lodging and meals for free. During the trip, they also used it to explain about Islam and the pilgrimage to residents who encountered.

''With cycling, you can talk to many people,''said Cairncross. ''But if you use a plane or car, you will not get a chance like that. During the trip, you can also learn more, identify yourself. This is a real experience.''

Language differences sometimes become obstacles during the trip. Then issue a flat tire, bicycle chain is broken, or saddle problems. But they bersyukud because during the trip never get a security problem. Although not having a lot of money, they never trouble getting a place to sleep or eat.

On the way, both had even stopped to visit Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque. Across the hills of Petra and the Dead Sea in Jordan. Both first stopover in Madinah before continuing the journey to Mecca. Just as when starting the journey, they arrived in Mecca with a canopy of dense clouds.

''It was great,''said Cairncross happy. ''Thunder and lightning greeted our arrival to see the Kaaba in Mecca the first time.''

Doing''tawaf with ihram clothes with rain which flushed, it looks like God gives a sense of his love to us. May Allah accept our efforts.''

Source:www.republika.co.id