The Way Back

The Way Back is the sequel to The Difficult Journey, which contains the author's account of his journey to Makka and his description of the Hajj, the pilgrimage. The Way Back begins where The Difficult Journey ends.

Every year thousands and thousands and thousands of Muslims from all parts of the world make their way to the city of Makka in order to do the Hajj, which every Muslim is obliged to do at least once in their lifetime if they are able to do so. The pilgrims travel to Makka by every means available - by jet, by boat, by train, by coach, by car, by motor bike and scooter, by bicycle, and even sometimes by camel, on horseback, and on foot.

After the rites of the Hajj have been completed, the time comes, sooner or later, for all the pilgrims to continue on their way, and to return from where they have come. Many of these pilgrims take the opportunity to visit the city of Madina al-Munawarra on their way back, the Illuminated City, where the Prophet Muhammad and many of his companions and followers are buried, may the blessings and peace of Allah be on him and his family and his companions and all who follow him and them with sincerity in what they are able until the Last Day.

This is what the author himself did, and The Way Back begins with his description of the journey from Makka to Madina and his stay in this blessed city. The book then continues with an account of his experiences on the journey back to England, tracing his route up through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, and then across to Greece and over to Italy, up to France and finally across the Channel, describing many of the places that he visited and many of the people that he met along the way, and ending where The Difficult Journey first began.