In an inspiring story of perseverance and devotion, Libyan pilgrim Amer Al Mahdi Mansour Al Gaddafi’s pilgrimage to undertake Hajj was thwarted by unexpected obstacles because of his last name. Amer was refused boarding his flight to Saudi Arabia at Sabha Airport when his last name set off security alarms, a residual consequence of being associated with the deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Even after his group left, Amer did not budge, saying, “I will not leave this place unless it’s for Hajj.” Fate had other things in store, as the plane had a technical problem just after taking off and had to be turned back to the airport. On a second attempt as well, the flight failed owing to another malfunction.
After the second return, the captain of the flight is said to have declared, “I swear I won’t fly again unless Amer is with us on this plane.” Later, the authorities gave Amer a clearance for travel, and the third departure was uneventful.
Amer’s unshakeable faith and a chain of events have touched a lot of people, representing the faith that destiny, if divinely predetermined, cannot be denied. His tale has since gone viral, motivating millions of people around the world.
