Faith fuels flight: How Al Gaddafi made it to Haj

Libyan pilgrim's name led to near-miss

- BY HUDA ATA

What began as a routine journey to the holy city of Makkah became an extraordinary tale of faith, persistence, and destiny for one Libyan pilgrim who refused to be left behind.

Amer Al Mahdi Mansour Al Gaddafi, a young man from Libya, had set his heart on performing Haj this year — a deeply spiritual commitment that Muslims around the world aspire to fulfil at least once in their lifetime.