2: The journey

“O My servants who believe, truly My earth is spacious, so worship Me alone.” (Quran 29:56)

The mums wake in the dark, pray Fajr, eat band set out. The day’s journey begins on foot, through city streets as the sky lightens. This part asks them to leave a warm, sheltered place and move, carrying everything they need.

Rising

The mums wake at about 4:45am, 15 minutes before Fajr. Allow time for wudu, the toilets and a quiet moment. Lights are low.

Tell the mums beforehand what to expect. They will be stiff, cold and tired. Nobody should be rushed.

Fajr prayer

At about 5:00am, the group prays Fajr together. After the prayer, leave a few moments for quiet recitation and a short dua. The hush of a dark morning is a gift in itself.

The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said that the two rak’ahs before Fajr are better than the world and all it contains (Sahih Muslim). Remind the mums of this blessing if you can.

Breakfast

At about 5:30am, serve a plain, hearty breakfast. The mums are not fasting, and they need real energy for a hard day. It does the job a pre-dawn meal would do, and nobody sets out hungry.

Slow-burning foods work best: porridge, boiled eggs, bread, dates, fruit and tea. Keep it simple. It is not a feast, and the plainness is part of the experience.

Check every dietary need and allergy with the caterer. Ask the mums to clear away and leave the hall tidy.

Setting out

At about 6:00am, gather everyone for a short send-off.

The lead organiser closes with a few words. Something like this works:

“From this moment, we set out in solidarity with those who walk like this, not by choice but by necessity. We do not know exactly what the day holds. We walk together, we look after one another, and we carry with us the names and faces of those who have no choice. Bismillah.”

The dawn walk

The group sets out on foot as the sky begins to lighten. The walk is about two miles, or around 40 minutes at a steady pace, through city streets and parks to the minibus pickup point.

Choose and walk the route in advance. Use well-lit pavements, quiet streets and open parks, and avoid isolated stretches. The pickup point could be a park car park or a similar open space with room for the minibuses.

Each group walks with its guide, a few minutes apart. A lead walker sets the pace at the front, and a back marker stays at the rear. Both carry a phone and know the route.

The walk is a time for quiet. Guides can invite the mums to notice the city waking up, and to think about those who set out at dawn with no destination.

Collection

At about 6:45am, the groups board the minibuses, which have been on site since the evening, so nobody is waiting on a late vehicle.

The journey to the countryside takes an hour or two, depending on where you are. Keep it relaxed. Guides count their groups on board, and a leader sits in each vehicle.

Before the vehicles move, check that:

• everyone is belted in and rucksacks are stowed;
• nobody is standing or moving about once the vehicle is going;
• each vehicle carries travel-sickness bags and wipes;
• a first-aid kit and the emergency numbers are within reach.

Use the journey well. Guides can talk through the day, answer questions and let nerves settle. Say the travel dua together:

“Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us, for we could never have subdued it ourselves.” (Quran 43:13)

Let those who need to rest do so.

Reflection questions

You might offer these on the walk or the bus:

• What was it like to leave the hall before the sun was up?
• What are you carrying, and what would you leave behind?
• Who is walking with you?

The countryside is next, and with it the first long walk.