RAMALLAH: A Muslim man who walked from his native France to Jerusalem has spoken of the warm welcome he received from Palestinians when he joined them for prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Neil Dauxois, 26, the son of an Algerian mother and French father, walked 3,900 kilometers from his home in the city of Lyon. His grueling journey took 10 months, during which he passed through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkiye, Cyprus and Jordan.

After reaching Jerusalem he prayed with thousands of Palestinians at Al-Aqsa, Islam鈥檚 third-holiest site, last weekend on the last Friday of Ramadan, and again on Monday which was Lailat Al-Qadr. Also known as the 鈥淣ight of Power,鈥� this is the holiest evening of the year for Muslims, on which they celebrate the night on which the Qur鈥檃n was sent from Heaven to the world.

鈥淪ometimes it was overwhelmingly good and sometimes challenging,鈥� Dauxois told Turkey鈥檚 Anadolu news agency shortly after arriving at Al-Aqsa, as he described his journey.

He was welcomed at the mosque by hundreds of Palestinians who enthusiastically greeted him and took photographs with him that they shared on social media.

鈥淚 was astonished when I got here,鈥� Dauxois said. 鈥淧eople were hugging me and kissing me. They welcomed me with sincere hospitality. I am delighted to be here and I cannot describe my feelings.鈥�

He said his aim had been to reach the mosque and perform itikaf there during Ramadan. Itikaf is the Islamic practice of remaining in relative seclusion in a mosque or other place during the last 10 days of Ramadan with the intention of solely focusing on worship.

When he arrived at Al-Aqsa, Dauxois was carrying a large black backpack with the words 鈥淔rance to Jerusalem on foot鈥� written on it in Arabic and English.

鈥淚t is amazing to see how this young man came from France to Al-Aqsa on foot,鈥� said a worshipper at the mosque as he stood alongside the Frenchman.

Dauxois admitted that cold weather had made it difficult to continue walking through some regions, but said his journey had been 鈥渁n extraordinary adventure full of humanity and hope.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚 could not express one-tenth of all I felt, and on my way I met many people of different religions who opened their doors to me. Without the help of these people, my journey would have been impossible.

鈥淲hen I was in Turkiye, people were very kind and hospitable. If it weren鈥檛 for their help, I would have given up.鈥�

Many of the Palestinians who greeted him invited him to stay with them in their homes in Jerusalem or the West Bank.

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the former grand mufti of Jerusalem, told Arab News that the Frenchman鈥檚 journey to Al-Aqsa should inspire Muslims worldwide to visit the mosque and pray there throughout the year.

鈥淎l-Aqsa is not for the people of Palestine alone but for all the people of the world, just like the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet鈥檚 Mosque in Madinah,鈥� said Sabri.

鈥淲e encourage Muslims from all over the world to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque at all times of the year, especially during the month of Ramadan.鈥�

Dauxois acknowledged that his freedom to attend the mosque was a privilege denied to many Palestinians, as a result of Israeli restrictions, and offered them his support.

鈥淚 know the situation here (in Jerusalem and Palestine),鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have many Palestinian friends who cannot visit this place.鈥�

His next goal, he added, is 鈥渢o go for Hajj to Makkah in a month and a half.鈥� He said that people in 萝莉视频 鈥渁re also following me; I would love to receive their help on my next journey.鈥�