A German Muslim visits 100 mosques around the world to understand Islam Billal Higo, a young Muslim and German traveler, went to many differ...
A German Muslim visits 100 mosques around the world to understand Islam
Billal Higo, a young Muslim and German traveler, went to many different countries and cultures because he had a big goal: to visit as many churches as possible on every trip he took.
In December 2020, when there was a corona epidemic, Billal Higo was on a trip from Munich to Istanbul when the idea came to him.
Billal wants to get something to drink and grow in his faith. The decision to go to the mosque had a big effect on his life. This shows how he changed his job in aviation to focus on his growing faith and love of religion.
Billal asked himself as he flew to Istanbul, "How many mosques can I pray in during this trip?"
"Then I saw that if I said one obligatory prayer in one mosque every day for 21 days, I would have prayed in 105 mosques in total," Billal told TRT World.
He was influenced by the Hadith of the Prophet of God (PBUH), who said, "Be in this world like a stranger or a traveller," Billal planned a holy trip around the world so he could find out what made Muslims different from each other.
At the beginning of a meeting on the Hajj, Billal's story gave people hope. The Hajj is a time when millions of Muslims go to Makkah to worship, ask for forgiveness, and show support for their fellow Muslims.
Saudi officials say that at least 2 million people will take part in this year's Hajj, which started on Monday.
One of the most important religious events, which a lot of people go to, was held this year as usual, after the corona epidemic cut down on the number of worshippers for three years.
Travel to Istanbul
Billal sent a message to his friend Karim, who was on a flight from Berlin to Istanbul, about how important his future was.
Billal is one of the many Muslims whose lives have been changed by the sudden closing of mosques.
Before the corona epidemic, he would go to mosques to pray with other people and learn.
He went to the London School of Economics to study culture and human behaviour. In 2021, he finished his study, which was called "Culture and the Challenges of Religious People's Identities in Germany."
He goes to the mosque to study the subject.
"Honour his faith."
Bilal's trip to Turkey for three weeks showed that he wanted to "fulfil his faith again."
"This is the first time I have decided to pray all or most of my prayers in the mosque," she said, emphasising how important it is to understand the places of worship and accept the differences between Muslims all over the world.
Billal, who now works as a human nature expert and researcher, said that the trip had a big effect on his life.
Billal went to 19 countries more than two years ago. He went from Turkey to South Africa.
On his way, he went to Egypt and Saudi Arabia and stopped in Bosnia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Billal wants to visit churches and learn about different cultures so he can learn about the differences between Muslims in different parts of the world.
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was the first place he set up camp.
Billal and his friend Karim took a path from Istanbul that started at the historic Blue Mosque, an Ottoman mosque with six towers that was finished by King Ahmed I in 1616.
From there, they went to parts of Turkey where people don't usually go, like the provinces of Bilecik, Afyon, Aksaray, and Zonguldak. Everywhere they stopped, they would go to a mosque.
They finished the great work they set out to do by praying in the Omer Ibn el-Khattab mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This is the 100th and last mosque they built as part of the work they set out to do.
When asked which building he liked best, he gave an unexpected answer. It is not Hagia Sophia or the Suleymaniye Mosque.
It is not a mosque built in the style of an Ottoman Empire tower with blue tiles, nor is it an Anatolian Seljuk mosque with wood decorations.
Bilal said that a small mosque in Aksaray was the one that spoke to him the most. The Kaya Camii Mosque was built with stones.
We were looking for a mosque in a forest so we could pray the afternoon prayer. We saw a nearby mosque on Google Map, and then he saw a sign on the rocks that told him where the mosque was.
"As far as Billal can remember, it is a small, simple mosque."It made me think of Suratul Rahman, which tells people how important God's creation is.
No one was there to call the prayer, so Karim, who was Billal's friend, stepped forward and did it.
These two people are assemble; this time the mountains, rocks, and trees are also in harmony.
"I will never forget this mosque," he declared.
First new difficulty
First, Billal set out for Bosnia from Turkey. From then, he began a new major effort and began going to mosques wherever he went.
Billal worshipped on Robben Island, which is close to Cafe Town and where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail following the end of apartheid, during his trip to South Africa. where he later won the presidential election.
Billal visited numerous Islamic sites on each trip, participated in five prayers in congregation at various mosques, met individuals, and observed Muslims at prayer.
"I observed that every time I made an effort to concentrate on the mosques and the locals. I now have a different perspective on the nation and its culture, said Billal.
A generous spot in Tajikistan
Every nation Billal travelled to welcomed him as a fellow Muslim and did so with open arms.
Because I am tall and have dark complexion, people can see me well when I am praying inside the mosque.
People don't view me as a wealthy individual or a tourist in the mosque. They are claiming that he is our brother and a fellow worshipper.
He recalled the numerous invites that various people had sent his way, but he claimed that there was just one invitation that he would never forget.
He met Jakha in a mosque in Tajikistan, and Jakha invited him to his house. Billal was unaware that accepting the offer would require him to travel 40 minutes to a village near the mosque.
The dialogue was described by Billal as follows: "When I visited the village, I realised that living in a small town is different from my life in the city. The same street is home to both Jakha families.
"When I arrived at Jakha's home, his neighbours joined us for the night. We shared meals, got to know one another, and spent the night at their home. He and his family are still on the phone with us.
The "100 Mosques in 100 Days Challenge"
To his brothers, Billal's mission to visit 100 mosques is a sign that he has forgotten about other nations, civilizations, and tongues.
You will notice numerous distinctions if you seek them, Billal stated in response to the question of what the most significant lesson he has learned from his travels is.
It is best for you to grasp their culture at this point because as you start to concentrate on things that are similar, you will start to build acceptance. The more acceptance you build, the more people will start welcoming you in. That, in my opinion, is what helps you gain access.
His country of origin or skin tone was never taken into account during his travels; instead, the attention was on the fact that he was a Muslim.
He claimed that the lessons he acquired from his travels came from the verse in the Qur'an (49:1) that reads, "O man of Adam, indeed We created you male and female and made you to different calibs for understand each other."
He claimed that his relationships with individuals from many cultures deepened his connection to his Creator and supported the verses of the Al-Qur'an that state that he does this by bringing people to know and understand one another.
"In 2024, he said he hopes to reach the peak of his career and he said he will publish his travel information on his Instagram page," as Billal added gleefully, he said that he is eager to continue travelling - travel and discover unforgettable places.
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