A 15-year dream fulfilled: Sudanese pilgrim Ashmana Al-Sayed Suleiman arrives in Makkah as a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
- May 23
- 1 min read
MAKKAH, May 23 - For Ashmana Al-Sayed Suleiman, 63, a Sudanese woman whose son fell as a martyr during Saudi Arabia's Operations Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope, the journey to Makkah this Hajj season carries fifteen years of longing, patience and answered prayer.
Selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Programme for Hajj, Umrah and Visit, Ashmana described learning of her selection on the 15th of Ramadan as one of the happiest moments of her life — the culmination of years spent watching images of Makkah's rituals from afar and dreaming of standing there herself.
The news, she recalled, quickly spread to her neighbourhood. Neighbours and relatives gathered to celebrate, entrusting her with their prayers and heartfelt wishes — as if, through her, a whole community would make the journey to the House of God.
Reflecting on the experience, Ashmana praised the exceptional services, organisation and personalised care she received through the guest programme, as well as the comprehensive development she witnessed across the Kingdom. She expressed profound gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous hospitality.
She concluded by praying for the continued security, stability and prosperity of the Kingdom, its leadership and its people.
