For two pilgrims, one from Turkey and the other from Bangladesh, the dream of their lives took a century to come true.
For Leyla Ozlahlan, the dream of performing Haj came true as she found herself in the holy sites at the age of 110.
The old woman had long wished to perform the pilgrimage, but it was in the past five years that her eagerness intensified.
Ozlahlan, who came to perform Haj with her 80-year-old son, was fortunate enough as her name appeared on the list of people who could perform Haj from Turkey. Arab News came across her in Mina after the Stoning of the Satan ritual, which she performed with the help of her son.
“When first I was told that I had been selected to embark on the holy journey, I could not believe it. I was unable to express my joy. Sometimes I would cry, and the next moment laugh. After all, it was a long-cherished dream that came true,” Ozlahlan said. “Once I was got confirmation about it, I started my preparations and my son helped me a lot.”
Talking about her physical strength at this age, she said: “Being raised in the countryside made me a strong woman with firm determination in my abilities.”
Asked whether there was any other wish that she would like to be fulfilled, she got nostalgic and said: “Just like the Almighty fulfilled my wish to perform Haj, now I wish to die and be buried in Makkah.”
She said it was her will and determination that kept her going until she performed Haj.
Arab News also talked with centenarian pilgrim Mukhtarul Rahman who came from Bangladesh. He said: “This is the dream of my life that took a century to come true.”
“As you can see I can’t stand properly because of the huge crowds flooding the area,” the elderly Bangladeshi said panting as he looked for a chair to sit in.
Rahman was suffering from cold, which was not allowing him to speak properly but had the determination to complete all Haj rituals on his own. “Now I will die in peace,” Rahman said.
