HIBAPRESS – Mohammed Zeriyouh
In a scene that encapsulates the meanings of faith and renews the covenant of loyalty, the city of Melilla experienced an exceptional spiritual atmosphere this Monday morning, as the first steps of the "Journey of a Lifetime" for the pilgrims of the Sacred House of God began.
It was not just an ordinary departure, but a solemn religious demonstration, in which tears of joy mingled with hopes of acceptance, to paint a faithful picture that the city is accustomed to adorning itself with every year, bidding farewell to its delegation heading towards Mecca. At seven-thirty in the morning, the clock in the "Tissorio" mosque witnessed pivotal moments; as the pilgrims gathered in the presence of prayer, surrounded by family and loved ones in a moving farewell. From the mosque, the procession moved to the home of the community icon, Omar Dodo Al-Fonti, where the doors open with authentic traditions, and the guests of Al-Rahman are received with milk and dates, in rituals that reflect the generosity of "Melilla" hospitality, which refuses to disappear in the face of the vicissitudes of time. This year is unlike its predecessors, as the journey carries the fragrance of history with the passage of 38 years of continuous giving; Thirty-eight years in which the name Omar Dodo was associated with the Hajj trips for the people of Melilla and Ceuta, and the man turned from a mere organizer to a companion on the journey for thousands of pilgrims who crossed under his supervision towards the holy lands. It is a memory that embodies a journey of dedication in serving the fifth pillar, and confirms the depth of the roots that connect the Muslims of the two ports to their sanctities. With the start of the spark of the journey, Omar Dodo leads the convoy accompanying the pilgrims in the details of their journey, where the city of Nador will be the next station for this faith procession. There, the streets are expected to turn into celebration squares, and the crowds will mingle in unprecedented cohesion, to continue the farewell ceremonies with their popular and religious momentum, confirming that the road to Mecca always begins with hearts in harmony and souls embracing each other. This annual appointment remains the true pulse of the Muslim community in the region, as it is not just travel procedures, but a "religious holiday" that consolidates the values of solidarity and kinship. It is a moment of spiritual mobilization in which social ties are strengthened, and identity is renewed, so that the pilgrims announce from the heart of Melilla that the call of "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk" is the voice that unites hearts and unites paths, no matter how far the distances.
