Cairo: A Christian man in Egypt has won an Umrah trip after taking part in an Islamic religious competition, with the sole aim of securing the prize for his Muslim neighbour, who had long wished to perform the pilgrimage.
The man, identified as Mina, explained in statements reported by Sky News Arabia that he came across a Facebook livestream by Islamic preacher Dr Ayman Abu Omar and noticed his neighbour, Professor Mona, also known as Umm Ali, taking part in the competition.
Mina said he asked her why she was posting so many comments during the livestream. She told him that she wanted to perform Umrah and was taking part in the competition for a chance to win the pilgrimage.
After learning about her wish, Mina decided to participate alongside her.
“I’m going to join and answer with you too, and if luck doesn’t favour you, maybe it’ll favour me,” he recalled telling her.
Christian man enters Quran competition
Mina said he participated in the competition by submitting the same correct answer in more than 50 or 60 comments to increase his chances of winning.
His strategy succeeded and he won the Umrah prize. He said his intention from the beginning was to give the opportunity to his neighbour and bring her happiness.
“When God blessed us and the win happened, I couldn’t have imagined that Umrah could make her this happy,” Mina said.
After receiving news of the win, he shared it with Umm Ali. Mina said he then looked from his balcony towards her home and saw her wiping away tears of joy.
Watch the video here
Mina said he and Umm Ali have been neighbours for almost 20 years, living next to each other and developing a relationship that he considers similar to that of family members.
“She’s like a sister to me,” he said, adding that he deeply respects her family.
Mina said he regards Umm Ali’s father with the same respect as his own father and her mother in the same way he regards his own mother.
The gesture has attracted attention on social media in Egypt, with the story highlighting the close bonds that can develop between Muslim and Christian neighbours.
