Fulfilling a Vow, Hajj Pilgrim from Semarang Returns Home on Foot

Mustofa Ismail chose an unusual way to return home to Dukuh Krajan, Kedung Ringin Village, Suruh District, Semarang Regency after completing the hajj pilgrimage. The 67-year-old decided to walk 34 kilometres to reach his house from the Donohudan Hajj Dormitory in Solo on Thursday, 11 June 2026. This method was not chosen because no one came to pick him up. Mustofa wanted to walk as part of a vow he had made long before departing for the hajj. Officials from the Solo Embarkation Hajj Organising Committee had advised him to use a bus for safety reasons, considering his age and the distance. However, Mustofa was unmoved. “This is my vow. I want to increase my worship,” he said. Along the journey, Mustofa planned to fill his steps with istighfar and shalawat. For him, the journey home is an extension of the hajj pilgrimage itself—a quiet space to give thanks for the long wait that was finally answered. He waited fourteen years. Since registering as a prospective hajj pilgrim in 2012, Mustofa had kept this wish to himself: if one day he really went to the Holy Land, he would return home on foot. He is now fulfilling that vow. From within the dormitory complex, Mustofa boarded a bus. But as soon as he left the area, he got off and continued the journey on his own feet. On his head, a caping inscribed with the words Allah and Muhammad served as shelter and a sign of faith. His steps were not alone. His family faithfully escorted him throughout the journey. “The most important thing is that he is happy. We are ready to accompany him,” said Ahmad Muntaha, his son. This is not the first time Mustofa has walked a long distance for worship. When departing for the hajj, he also walked from his home to the Suruh District Office before continuing his journey to the embarkation point. His son, Ahmad Muntaha, said the family supports Mustofa’s decision to walk home. “The most important thing is that he is happy. We are ready to escort him during the journey,” Ahmad said. It is known that Mustofa registered as a prospective hajj pilgrim in 2012 and only obtained the opportunity to depart in the 2026 hajj season. The walking vow he fulfilled upon returning from the hajj is a form of gratitude for the opportunity that finally materialised after waiting for 14 years.