HYDERABAD, 8 August 2006 — Some climb mountains while others walk over burning coals to make their penance to the almighty.

But for seven poor and old Muslim men from Hyderabad, piety comes in the way of bicycling their way for the next three years to Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj.

The Hyderabadis may not be Lance Armstrong or the disgraced Floyd Landis for winning the grueling Tour de France cycling championships. But they too have determination like them.

The seven, who make a living by driving auto rickshaws, left this southern Indian city yesterday set out on an arduous over-two-year-long journey, which will take them through six countries including the trouble-torn parts of Afghanistan and Iraq before they reach their destination in late 2008.

They hope to perform Haj during the Haj season in early 2009 after traveling through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait.

Led by Mohammed Haneef, 60, this group, aged between 41 and 68 years, left on a day which is considered auspicious and comes only once during a century. The group knows how difficult the journey ahead will be, and is carrying “kafan” (cloth for burial) with them.

“We don’t know whether we will be able to reach our destination or not. Even if we die on our way we will consider ourselves lucky because we are going to perform a key obligation as ordered by the Almighty Allah,” said Haneef. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is a must for every Muslim, who can afford the travel, to perform Haj.

More than 130,000 Indian Muslims performed Haj in January this year. Dozens of pilgrims die during pilgrimage due to old age, disease and other causes and Muslims consider themselves fortunate to get a burial in the holy cities.

Additional Commissioner of Police A.K. Khan flagged off the group at Haj House, where a large number of relatives and well-wishers had gathered to see them off.

Haneef said since all of them come from poor families, many rich Muslims had come forward to help them in fulfilling their ambition.

“Some of us are friends while others have joined us after coming to know about our determination to pedal our way to Saudi Arabia,” said Haneef.

“We will have the pleasure of undertaking strenuous journey and even if we die on our way we will consider ourselves fortunate,’ said Sheikh Burhan, the oldest among the group. “If any of us die, others will bury him and continue the journey till we reach our destination,” he said.

They are carrying the minimum necessary luggage and plan to travel for 50 km every day and stay in mosques. Though they have no visa for Pakistan or any other country, they hope to get the permission after reaching Delhi. They are also hopeful that they would get all the necessary support from Muslims on their way to Saudi Arabia.

A similar group of cyclists from Bombay will join them in Delhi and they together plan to undertake the journey.