'This may be my last journey': Vaikaradhoo Mohamed Hassan dies after completing Umrah in Mecca

Mohamed Hassan, an 86-year-old man from H.Dh. Vaikaradhoo, who passed away while performing Umrah with Qibla Hajj and Umrah Group, had expressed that this pilgrimage might be his final journey.

Mohamed died on Saturday while undergoing treatment at Al Noor Hospital in Mecca, where he had been admitted since the 17th of this month, according to Qibla Group officials.

Ibrahim Rafu, who accompanied Mohamed on the pilgrimage, shared on Facebook that Mohamed had completed two Umrahs with remarkable courage and resilience. He quoted Mohamed’s family in Mecca, saying the elderly pilgrim had told them, “This trip may be the last of my life.”

Rafu also praised Mohamed’s son Shuja, who travelled with him, for his strength and dedication throughout the journey.

Another tribute came from Ibrahim Shameem, who said Mohamed Hassan was his father’s first cousin and a close family friend. Shameem recalled Mohamed’s kindness and presence in the community:

“Mohamed could always be seen in the mosque. If he didn’t see my father around, he would come home to check on us. He was a kind relative and a caring neighbour, not just to my father, but to all of us and our children.”

Earlier this month, another pilgrim from Vaikaradhoo, Ibrahim Rasheed, a long-serving state official, also passed away while on Umrah.

Deaths among elderly pilgrims have occurred in the past, often during periods of physical strain or illness while abroad.