Explore Shihab Chottur’s inspiring story: Kerala man’s foot journey across six countries to Hajj, overcoming borders and challenges.

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Shihab Chottur

Hey there, folks!

If you have ever dreamed of chasing something big, something that tests your limits and fills your soul, then buckle up.

We are diving into the incredible tale of Shihab Chottur, aka Shahabuddin, that guy from Kerala who turned a childhood wish into an unforgettable adventure.

You know, the one who walked, yes, walked over 8,640 kilometers to perform Hajj in Mecca.

It is not just a story of blisters and borders; it is about grit, kindness from strangers, and a little help from unexpected individuals like politician Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Lok Sabha.

As someone who is always fascinated by real-life heroes, we cannot resist sharing this.

Let us walk through it together, step by step.

Who Is Shihab Chottur?

Picture this: a quiet, forested village in Malappuram district, Kerala, right on the edge where it meets Tamil Nadu.

That is where Shahabuddin, better known as Shihab Chottur, was born in the early 1990s.

Growing up in a devout Muslim family, he was surrounded by tales of faith and pilgrimage.

His folks emphasized Islamic values, and young Shihab soaked it all in.

Fun Fact: He went by Saddam Hussein as a kid, a nickname that got swapped for Shahabuddin when school started.

Little things like that make him feel so relatable, right?

Shihab’s family was not rolling in wealth; they lived close to nature, with the sounds of the forest as their backdrop.

He finished basic schooling and jumped into the real world, opening a supermarket to support his loved ones.

He is married, though he keeps family details pretty private.

His mom played a huge role in his dream; once he reached Mecca, she joined him for the Hajj.

That bond shines through in his stories.

What sets Shihab apart early on?

His deep connection to the Chishtiya Sufi order.

His spiritual guide, Sheikh Umar Musaliyar, linked him to a lineage of devotion.

This was not just religion for him but a way of life.

And languages?

The man picked up seven languages: Malayalam (his native tongue), Tamil, English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic (which he honed while working in Saudi Arabia), and even basic Farsi.

Imagine chatting with folks across borders without missing a beat; that skill saved him countless times on the road.

Shihab’s bio screams everyday hero: a supermarket owner turned pilgrim turned social worker.

In his own words from interviews, he grew up hearing about Mecca and Medina, sparking a dream to walk there one day.

It was not about fame; it was personal.

By his late 20s, he was ready to make it real.

The Dream Takes Shape

Dreams do not just happen; they are built.

Shihab’s Hajj walk was not a whim; it brewed from childhood stories of ancient pilgrims like Haji Waris Ali Shah, who supposedly trekked for Hajj seven times.

“Islam does not say you have to walk for Hajj or Umrah,” Shihab has said, “but my heart is calling.”

He wanted to foot it to Medina first, honoring the Prophet’s city.

He prepped like a pro athlete meets a strategist for four solid years.

Physically, he trained to hike 25 to 60 kilometers daily, building endurance for deserts and mountains.

Mentally, he mapped routes: the main one through India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, 8,640 km total.

He had a backup via China, adding Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which meant extra visas and 4,300 more km. No thanks if he could avoid it.

Logistics?

A nightmare turned puzzle.

He secured family finances first, built a home, and stabilized his business, so there are no worries back home.

The paperwork included visas, permissions, and no-objection certificates (NOCs).

He studied borders, weather patterns (think -13°C in Iran), and cultures. Spiritually, his Sufi path guided him.

The route echoed historical ones, hitting holy sites like Ajmer Sharif, Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf, and Medina.

To organize this, let us break down his prep in a table, making it easier to see how thorough he was:

Preparation	Details	Time
Physical Training	Daily walks, stamina building for 25-60 km/day; tested gear like shoes (he wore through six pairs in India alone)	Ongoing, ramped up in the last two years
Route Planning	Primary: 6 countries, 8,640 km; Alternate: Via China, +4,300 km and more visas	2-3 years of mapping and research
Financial Setup	Built a home, started a supermarket for family security	First-year focus
Language Skills	Learned Arabic in Saudi jobs; added Farsi basics	Pre-journey work stints
Paperwork	Visas, NOCs, permissions from governments	1-2 years, multiple Delhi trips
Spiritual Alignment	Chishtiya order guidance; route via Sufi shrines	Lifelong, intensified pre-trip

This table shows he left nothing to chance.

By June 2022, at age 29, he was set.

His intention?

Pure tawakkul trust in God and sabr, patience.

Setting Off

June 2, 2022: Shihab steps out from Athavanad, Malappuram, with local cheers ringing in his ears.

The first 3,300 km?

Through seven Indian states.

This was not a solo slog; it was a parade of humanity.

“Hindus, Sikhs, Christians—all gave me shelter,” he recalls.

He crashed in Hindu homes, Sikh gurudwaras, churches, and mosques.

Police escorted him, and officials fed him.

India’s diversity shone: one video shows him eating at a Hindu brother’s place, bonding over shared meals.

Challenges popped up early.

At Ajmer Sharif, the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a small scuffle during prayers went viral.

Folks got upset, but Shihab brushed it off: “I was there for dua (prayer), not drama.”

The shrine folks apologized, and he moved on, emphasizing forgiveness.

Sufi’s stopping was key; he felt Medina was out of reach without blessing Ajmer.

By September 2022, the Wagah border loomed.

But a visa hitch.

Pakistan wanted a transit visa, not his tourist one.

He was stuck at an Amritsar, Punjab school for over four months.

Here is where patience kicked in: “Sabr is half of faith,” he says.

Support poured in.

Punjab’s Shahi Imam criticized the delay, adding pressure.

Communities rallied with food and encouragement.

Shihab averaged downtime with reflection and shared updates online.

Shashi Tharoor Steps In

Borders do not budge easily, especially Indo-Pak.

Shihab headed to Delhi for paperwork and needed permission to approach Pakistan’s High Commission.

Enter Shashi Tharoor, the Kerala MP and diplomat extraordinaire.

“Through Dr. Shashi Tharoor, I went to S. Jaishankar’s office,” Shihab shares. Tharoor, known for his global savvy, hooked him up with the External Affairs Minister’s team for an NOC.

It was not smooth, with multiple visits and rejections.

One staffer noted: “First post-independence app like this walking Hajj via Pakistan.”

They guided on visas but could not sway Pakistan.

Shihab visited Tharoor’s home during Ramzan, fasting and pleading his case.

Tharoor’s nudge opened doors; without it, the commission was a no-go.

On the Pakistani side, lawyer Sarwar Taj filed court petitions, securing the visa in February 2023.

Security fears nixed walking through Pakistan.

Shihab flew to Iran after a protected stay.

Tharoor’s role?

It is a crucial bridge between dreamer and bureaucracy.

It highlights how leaders can champion ordinary folks’ extraordinary quests.

Trials On The Trail

From Iran onward, the real grind began.

Resuming walks, Shihab faced it all: wild animals, exhaustion, solitude.

In Iran, -13°C froze him, but locals offered warmth, shelter, and tea.

“The Media paints Iran one way; I walked it and saw kindness,” he says.

Iraq brought shrines: Karbala, Najaf, spiritual fuel.

Kuwait was a breeze to Saudi Arabia.

But Saudi Arabia’s deserts?

He traveled barefoot for up to 64 km, days after shoes gifted by a friend (from a Kerala shrine) wore out.

He started with one pair post-Pakistan, framing the remnants at home as mementos.

Visa woes lingered, but community aid shone.

In every country, Muslims and non-Muslims alike helped.

He carried “salams,” greetings to the Prophet from diverse folks: Hindus sending peace messages.

“There are no man-made borders when heading to God’s house,” he quips.

Let us table the key challenges and triumphs for clarity:

Country	Challenges	Support
India (3,300 km)	Heat, state borders, Ajmer incident	Interfaith hospitality; police escorts; reached Wagah in 3 months
Pakistan Delay	4+ months wait, visa denial	Court advocacy; flew to Iran
Iran	Extreme cold (-13°C), language barriers	Local shelters resumed walking
Iraq	Security concerns, desert terrain	Shrine visits for motivation; safe passage
Kuwait	Short transit, heat	Quick border cross; community meals
Saudi Arabia (final stretch)	Deserts, no food/water days, barefoot walks	Reached Medina; emotional arrival at the green dome

This leg tested everything.

Shihab’s multilingual edge helped negotiate, bargain, and bond.

Wildlife?

Dodged animals in forests.

Loneliness?

Countered with prayers and phone updates to family.

The Emotional Peak

June 7, 2023: After 370 days, Shihab hits Mecca.

However, first, Medina is the dream’s heart.

Crossing from Kuwait, he walked old roads, spotting ancient villages.

At Uhud (7 km from the Prophet’s Mosque), he ditched his shoes, walking barefoot to the green dome.

Tears flowed: “Assalato assalam alaika ya Rasul Allah,” reciting naats like “Mere Maulana, meri aankhein waapas kar de… taaki Madinah dekhun.”

In Mecca, the Kaaba overwhelmed him.

He had done Umrah seven times before (from Saudi jobs), but this?

Profound.

His mom flew in for Hajj proper.

“Pure niyyat (intention) makes impossible possible,” he reflects, quoting Sufi wisdom.

Trivia Time: Did you know Ibn Battuta, the 14th-century explorer, walked even farther, over 120,000 km, in his lifetime, including the Hajj? Shihab’s trek echoes that nomadic spirit in modern times.