TIMES SINGAPORE, JAKARTA – On a sweltering Friday afternoon in Makkah (16/5/2025) the holy city shimmered under the fierce desert sun. Pilgrims for Hajj 2025from every corner of the globe made their way to the Grand Mosque, their white garments soaked in sweat, their hearts aflame with longing.

Among them was a frail figure—his steps unsteady, his breath short, but his resolve unshakable.

His name is Abdul Manaf Mad Yusuf, a 72-year-old retired schoolteacher from Lampung, Indonesia, and on that day, he was chasing a dream he had carried in his heart for decades: to offer Friday prayer at Masjidil Haram, the holiest mosque in Islam.

A Lifetime of Saving, A Journey of the Soul

It took him years to arrive here. After retiring in 2013, he saved his pension bit by bit not for luxury, not for comfort but for this sacred journey. Alongside his wife, Marwati, he registered for the Hajj and waited patiently for their turn.

Now, in the twilight of his years, his dream was finally within reach. But the path to holiness is not always paved with ease.

As he stepped down from the terminal bus, the weight of the desert heat bore down on his body. Still, he walked slowly, carefully, determined. Every step was a prayer. Every breath, a sacrifice. But halfway to the mosque, his legs gave way.

He collapsed on the roadside, weakened but still whispering the name of the One he came to worship. When help arrived, his voice trembled. “This is my first Friday prayer in the Grand Mosque… I just wanted to make it there," he said.

Tears welled up in his eyes—not from pain, but from the heartbreak of nearly falling short.

Angels in Uniform

As fate would have it, his plea was heard by the right people. The Hajj Media Center (MCH) team quickly coordinated with local support, and a kind-hearted staff member named Khoirul Anam arrived with a wheelchair.

“I’ll take him to Masjidil Haram. And after prayer, we’ll return him to the hotel," Anam said softly.

What followed was a quiet moment of grace. Abdul Manaf, humbled and grateful, wiped his tears and whispered a prayer for the young man who now pushed him forward not just toward the mosque, but toward the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

For the officials, this wasn’t just a story of one man it was a warning wrapped in wisdom. The Head of the Makkah Hajj Office, Ali Machzumi, reminded all pilgrims, especially the elderly, not to overexert themselves under the scorching sun.

“Preserve your energy for the essential rituals. Sometimes, worship also means knowing your limits," he said.

Indeed, for Abdul Manaf, prayer isn’t just found in standing at the Kaaba it is in the intention, the struggle, the patience, and the humility.

The Legacy of a Man Who Wouldn’t Give Up

Back home in Lampung, Abdul Manaf is more than a retiree. He’s a grandfather of six, a gardener who finds peace among Aglonema plants, and a man whose life is rooted in faith.

“I want my Hajj to be mabrur. I just want Allah to accept this journey," he said with hope.

In a world moving fast, his story reminds us that true devotion often walks slowly but it never stops. Even when the body fails, the soul continues its journey for Hajj 2025. And in that journey, we find stories that move hearts and inspire generations. (*)