Pakistani businessman Javed Afridi has offered to bear the expense of the frail Pakistan shepherd from Balochistan from the viral video.
An old shepherd, 82, from Hub Balochistan gained traction on media following his viral video in which he was seen walking in the courtyard of Holy Prophet’s mosque. Dressed in simple, plain shalwar kameez, with a muslin cloth draped around his turban, he grabbed attention for on social media for his dressing style. Several social media users likened his humility and simplicity with famous Islamic personalities.
Wonderful & will be glad if he accepts our offer to sponsor him for his Hajj Travels. https://t.co/JUEL3dfIAp
— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) April 25, 2023
The video created a buzz on social media and even reached the Turki Alalshikh, adviser to the Saudi Crown Prince, prompting him to tweet asking his whereabouts to meet him.
82-year-old Abdul Qadir Baksh reached his home Saturday after performing Umrah pilgrimage for which he had seen saving for 15 years. According to media reports, Baksh belongs to a very humble background.
He does not even own a smartphone, hence, he did not watch his viral video. In an interview with an international news outlet, Baksh said he feels content after performing Umrah.
“I feel like all my worries have vanished. My heart is content. I am not even short of sustenance, I am happy. My wish to visit the shrine of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and Makkah have been granted,” Bakhsh told the media outlet.
هذا صاحب المقطع الشهير اسمه الحاج عبدالقادر بكستاني الجنسية : pic.twitter.com/AhUuXZb9di
— محمد الفيصل (@Mooh32a) April 20, 2023
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He said he was overjoyed when he reached Makkah. Abdul Qadir Bakhsh said that he knew only Balochi and this made communication difficult for him. He reached the city without any guidance.
At the Prophet’s mosque, he wept: “I said, God, you have showed me the way and brought me here.” It was there that a still unknown person made and shared the video that immediately went viral.
Baksh is now saving to perform Hajj. On the other hand, Javed Afridi has offered to sponsor the pilgrimage of the Pakistani shepherd.