As this edition of AMUST goes to press, Dr Tarek Sari and a multinational team of Muslim cyclists are riding the 503km between the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, having departed Sydney on Wednesday 26 November.
The group of 11 from Sydney Muslim Cyclists (seven of whom appear in our feature image: Ahmad Ageez, Harunur Rashid, Dr Tarek Sari, Firaz Osman, Dr Osman Darwiche, Yusuf Islam Schellen and Imraan Ebrahim), alongside riders from the UK, Scotland and South Africa, is believed to be the first collective from Australia to undertake this ride.
Their purpose is deeply humanitarian.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help mothers in Gaza give birth with everything they need, ensuring mum and bub are healthy before birth, during birth and up to two years after birth,” SMC co-founder and spokesman Dr Sari told AMUST.
Dr Tarek Sari (centre) at this year’s Tumut Cycle Classic.
Much respected in the Sydney Muslim community, Dr Sari is the founder of The Back Specialist Health Clinic in Greenacre, delivers khutbahs at Brotherhood Boxn Club and other local venues when requested and has been a long-time member and supporter of Australia’s oldest non-profit Islamic organisation, the Lebanese Muslim Association.
As the driving force behind SMC since its inception, he has consistently linked healthy living with service to others.
That commitment is exemplified by the Tumut Cycle Classic, which Dr Sari established in 2015 with SMC.
The 2025 event drew almost 400 participants from across Australia and raised funds for cystoscopy scopes for Tumut Hospital.
Whilst in 2021, Dr Sari won the Australia Day award in the Snowy Valley Council for Service to the Community for the fundraising towards the same hospital, providing vital funds which enabled the purchase of the latest medical equipment which in turn opened the door for medical specialists to visit Tumut and perform important procedures.
Across a decade, the Tumut Cycle Classic has contributed around $300,000 to Tumut Hospital, $20,000 to CareFlight and $10,000 to the Tumut Rural Fire Brigade – equipping regional services with vital, life-saving tools.
Dr Sari’s SMC team-mate Harunur Rashid is also looking forward to the ride with great enthusiasm and gratitude.
“We thank Allah SWT for giving us the opportunity to do this ride across the Saudi desert – it will no doubt be a test of patience but we are doing it in the spirit of gratefulness after Umrah and what better cause than for Gazan mothers and babies?”
Spectacular shot of a 42-strong peloton of English cyclists who made the Makkah – Madinah bike ride in early 2024 (Photo courtesy of siasat.com)
As the peloton moves between the two holy cities, supporters at home are making dua for the riders’ safety, their successful fundraising and their return on Sunday 7 December.
AMUST will share further highlights of this mission in our January 2026 edition.
To support the cause, look for the donation link in the team’s online posts and please keep the cyclists in your prayers.
May Allah accept their intentions and grant ease and benefit to the mothers and babies of Gaza.
This is a truly inspiring mission — may Allah protect these dedicated cyclists and reward them for supporting mothers and babies in Gaza. Acts like these show the real spirit of service and compassion in our Ummah.
If you want to donate or deliver water directly to Masjid al-Haram or any mosque in Makkah, we can handle everything for you. Through توصيل ماء لمساجد مكة, you can provide water to Hujjaj and worshippers from anywhere in the world with ease and reliability.