JEDDAH: Embarking on a spiritual journey, a group of women retraced the sacred steps of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah.

The 22 women — adventurists, managers, doctors, nurses, teachers, mothers ranging in age from their 30s to their 50s — are believed to be the first known women-only group to have performed the journey closest to the exact original route.

The women walked on foot, nearly 500 km from Makkah to Madinah, to experience what the Prophet Muhammad and his companions might have gone through more than 1400 years ago.

“Yes, it is the first ever women-only Hijrah walk and they all came from all over the world to walk together on an unforgettable journey. They completed a week-long journey, experiencing the route’s historical and spiritual significance,” Salma Abdulrahman, the director of Soul Al-Hijrah, told Arab News.

The 22 participants from around the world visited key locations along the route in an immersive experience of the historical and spiritual significance of the Hijrah.

Abdulrahman was among the first to embark on the path.

“I found my soul on this path, and felt as if I were born a new. This journey revived my heart and changed the course of my life. It was (also) the beginning of my tourism company Soul Al-Hijrah.”

She accompanied the participants from the beginning of the trip and said: “It was an honor to serve them and the guests of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, ensuring their comfort throughout the journey. 

“It is an honor I cherish deeply, and my joy in it and in them is indescribable.”

She said that they have undertaken more than 20 journeys on the Hijrah route to date, all of which were carried out for groups from various countries around the world, reflecting the growing global interest in this type of spiritual and historical tourism.

“It must be said that this type of initiative would not have been possible without the supportive environment provided by the beloved Kingdom for Saudi women. It has granted them complete confidence to be at the forefront of the tourism sector,” Abdulrahman added.

Dr. Dina Altayeb, a periodontist and implantologist, and one of the members of the women-only Hijrah walk, described the journey as the most intense and profound of the walks or adventures she had completed.

“I wish more people could have this opportunity because it offers countless benefits for the soul, body and mind,” she added.

Altayeb, who is the first Saudi woman to qualify and compete in the Ironman World Championship,  told Arab News that this is a totally different experience. “For me it was not as difficult as my usual adventures but spiritually was a great experience because it was an indescribable emotional experience … (and) it was also a learning experience.”

She was overjoyed to enter Madinah. “We walked through mountains, valleys and deserts just as the Prophet did. It was a great feeling when we reached Madinah after eight days.”

Ghadeer Sultan, a human resources manager, joined the group with no prior planning. “To be honest, I did not plan to join the Prophet’s migration journey; it was just a coincidence, an invitation that came my way, and a little curiosity to have the experience,” she said.

“When we entered the shaded garden in Madinah, I felt as if peace and light had penetrated the depths of my soul. I sensed the joy of the Ansar upon the arrival of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and my heart felt all those historic moments. I was experiencing the true great values that the city of the Prophet embodies: values of love and tolerance.”

Upon reaching Madinah after the challenging journey which started on Dec. 22 and ended on Dec. 29, the participants were warmly welcomed with roses and prayers.

Their first stop in Madinah was the Quba Mosque, where the Prophet stayed during his migration. 

As the first mosque in Islamic history and partially built by the Prophet himself, it holds profound spiritual significance.