We're here in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. It's home to 1. 4 million people in a diverse range of cultures and ethnicities.
It's the meeting point of Arabs, Africans and even Amazigh Berbers. We're on our way to meet with one of the most mysterious tribes we've ever heard of, an entire tribe of blind Muslims that live in the depths of the Sahara Desert. This is the story of the Blind Village in Mauritania.
Our journey to meet them begins here. Before we launch you into something incredible, quick question. How many doors are there to Jannah?
8. That's right. But the number of ways to enter Jannah, countless.
And This is why I can't recommend this campaign enough – LaunchGood. They've compiled hundreds of different causes for you to donate towards this Ramadan and maximise your opportunities to do good. They've verified all the campaigns for you to make it super easy.
You can give donations towards a school, a Masjid, an orphanage, all from the same place. You're even able to schedule your donations for 30 days across this Ramadan. So, but don't miss out on a single day of rewards.
You can give whatever you're capable of, whether that's $5. 10 dollars or even a single dollar a day to wherever you want it to go because you never know which donation could be your entry into Jannah. Sign up to join our 30 Day Challenge now at LaunchGood.
com/OnePath and be part of something incredible. Bismillah. Now enjoy the video.
After finding out about the blind village, I needed to go there for myself. The only problem was I was all the way down in Sydney, Australia and they were in the middle of the Sahara in a place called Dale Kombe This place was pretty much invisible on Google Maps. No directions, no pins, nothing.
I had no contacts, no leads and no clue where to even begin. I mean, it was already one of the least visited countries in Africa and the Australian government wasn't helping either. I mean, malaria, yellow fever, kidnapping, what?
I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I knew it would be worth it. This was a Muslim community that the world needed to know about. If anyone was going to teach me life's biggest lessons, it was them.
So I booked a flight to Mauritania and went. The only problem? I was landing in Nouakchott, which was still over 1000 kilometres away from where I needed to go.
But hey, it was a start. So Nouakchott literally means the place of the wind, and it's home to one of the most bustling and vibrant fish markets you'll probably ever see. Every morning in Nouakchott, hundreds of fishermen place their trust in Allah and make their way out into the vast Atlantic Ocean, braving the waves in hopes of a generous catch.
And by the end of the day, they return with 10s of thousands of fish to sell. Fish just so happens to be one of the biggest exports of this country, and you don't have to look too far to see why. While the coastline provided all the economic support for the land and offered some of the most picturesque sunsets you'd probably ever see, it was the inland desert of Mauritania that was the heart of my journey.
The Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world, spanning across 11 countries and dominating the majority of North Africa. Understanding the desert was going to be crucial for my journey and I couldn't think of a better place to start the famous Mauritanian camel market. So we've just arrived towards the southern part of Nouakchott and we're at a camel market.
This is a place where they sell camels in all shapes, all sizes. There's probably 1000 camels behind me. People from all across Mauritania come to this market to purchase a camel.
It's like a sea of camels. I asked him for a photo. He says anything for another Muslim.
What is the value of a camel to a Mauritanian person? V4, 1 The virtues of camels are many V4, 1 the camel fulfills many of our needs V4, 1 that suit the nature of life in Mauritania, V4, 1 It suits the nature of our environment here. V4, 1 It fulfills all the conditions associated with life here.
V4, 1 Our wealth here is based off of animals V4, 1 in particular the camel. V4, 1 In general terms, regarding the Arabs V4, 1 the camel is the wealth of the Arabs. V4, 1 I feel a great sense of pride and honour in camels.
The camel was a Bedouin's best friend. It was practically their lifeline in the desert, offering everything from food, drink to, of course, transport. But yeah, I wasn't going on a camel.
I was going to need a pretty good car. And in Mauritania there weren't many, until I met with this guy – Sedat our Mauritanian driver with a trusty Land Cruiser that will put Aussie drivers to shame. Being of Bedouin origins himself, he assured us he knew the way to at least get us close to Dali Kombe.
We placed our trust in him and made our way out early the next morning. Dali Kombi lies just South of the Sahara, and to get there would require crossing over 1000 kilometres of arid, unforgiving desert. So we've just made it to one of the last petrol stations on the outskirts of Nouakchott.
We've fuelled up the tanks over a 12 to a 14 hour journey. We're not going to get there tonight, but the plan is to get to a village nearby Dali Kombe, spend the night there and get there tomorrow morning. I don't know what to expect.
It's a 12 hour journey for today over 1000 kilometres. But our driver, I'm sure is more than capable of taking us there, OK. The dusty, arid plains of the Sahara engulfed us from all sides, making us feel incredibly small and alone, with no sounds apart from the howling wind, soaring crows and the occasional cow crossing the road.
There's cows crossing the Sahara desert, crossing the road. The nomadic lifestyle was something way out of my comfort zone. I couldn't imagine a life in the emptiness so cut off from life and the rest of the world.
It all felt so alien. But to the people that called this place home, they seemed completely at peace. We just made it to our first pit stop on our way to Dali Kombi.
We still have a long way to go, but one of the most beautiful things about Mauritanian culture is they have an endless supply of Mauritanian tea waiting for you wherever you go. Not only that, but also a Masjid. Literally, you have a Masjid decorating almost every village on the road all the way up.
There's a Masjid there and there's even another Masjid in front of me over there. Despite being deep in the desert, Islam was embedded right throughout Mauritania. Village after village we noticed minarets protrude from the roadside.
It was a testimony to the massive effort to preserve the faith in the land and also the beautiful harmony Islam shared with the nomadic life and the tribes that lived here. 99% of the country is Muslim, and I had a strong feeling our shared religion was going to be my bridge to the blind villagers. Anyways, back to the journey, which by now was getting incredibly tiresome and so much slower than I expected because of the tremendous amount of police checkpoints along the way.
There were like hundreds of them, but hey, at least we weren't getting kidnapped. And as I slowly grew impatient with the pace, it's really a different part of the world. It would soon prove to be the least of my worries.
See, desert life can be incredibly unpredictable, and we were soon to find out why. Sandstorms. They're a scary sight to behold, and it's not something we ever wanted to be caught in.
And while I braced myself for the worst, to our seasoned driver this was nothing out of the ordinary. Even to those stuck outside in the open, they were pretty fine. Mauritanians had accustomed themselves so seamlessly to the natural world.
They embody minimalism in all its meaning and make do with the most basic of living conditions. It was all so inspiring to me. So we've been driving for the whole day now.
It's almost nightfall. We've still got one day ahead of us on this journey. We don't know what to expect, but hopefully it will be something special.
I couldn't wait to see what I would learn from the blind nomads of Dali Kombi. I wondered what they would teach me about life, faith and contentment in the modern world. These were thoughts that would stay with me all the way through the night.
The next morning we rose at the crack of dawn to continue our day of travelling, driving along the same long desert Rd, the same crossing animals and the same gruelling checkpoints. After a few hours we finally reached the village of Timbedra, the last town before the road literally comes to an end and reception disappears. This place looked like a city out of Mad Max, no offence.
The only difference was it was blessed with the beauty of Islam and some really cool Muslims like this guy. But it was here that we realised our drivers expertise wasn't enough to take us through the rest of the journey. Because there is no road into Dali Kombe, it requires someone who has expertise and the know how to go through the sands and into Dali Kombe.
It's completely inaccessible. It's a remote village. The road was officially over and in order to make the last leg of the trip, we were going to need local help.
Will you take us to Dale Kombe? After waiting for over an hour, we finally made contact with the chief of a village neighbouring Dali Kombe. He assured us he could take us there and with no other option, we had to take his word for it.
We got caught up here for about two hours almost. It does get very difficult trying to make your way around, especially when you don't speak the language and you're going to such a remote village. But with the experience of our driver, we'll be on our way.
I thought the drive on the road was difficult. This was on another level. It was violent, bumpy and incredibly rugged.
To make matters worse, our guides were racing ahead, making it impossible to keep up. At times I genuinely thought they forgot we were following them, they were so fast. It's completely open, vast, empty space.
You get lost out here. Or if you don't have a guide like we have a guide right now, you won't survive. There was no GPS, no reception, nothing.
Just endless desert stretching into infinity. Taking the wrong turn out here could be disastrous. The road was undoubtedly difficult even to the most experienced of drivers, so there was a bit of an issue where our guide was trying to get over the hill but he couldn't because his 4WD kept getting stuck and he's finally made it out to the top.
It's a little bit of a scare, not going to lie. I was low key panicking, but we were so close now and we couldn't give up. So the drivers that we had at the front that were guiding us the whole way have just left us and they've told us that it's not too far from here.
We asked one of the nomads that we saw out in the desert which way and he led us down this road. It's not the safest of roads as you can tell. Finally, after two days of non stop travelling, we were closing in on the place we had been searching for.
There it was, Dali Kombe, the blind village. I had finally made it. We've just arrived into the village of Dali Kombe.
Our driver has spoken to one of the villagers. My heart was pacing with nervousness and anticipation. I was on the verge of meeting with one of the most mysterious Muslim tribes probably on the planet and it sure wasn't long until I was taken aback in awe.
One of the boys of the village noticed us and is currently leading us by walking, taking us to the village and he's actually blind himself. I couldn't believe what I was noticing. He's walking as though he can see perfectly.
As I waited inside the car, 1000 thoughts raced in my mind. How will they receive me? What will they think of me?
What if they aren't welcoming after all? But then I saw him and all my fears melted away. The chief of the village, What is your noble name?
Sheikhna A beautiful man by the name of Sheikhna. What is your name? My name is Kamal.
You have a beautiful name. We travelled from Australia. From Australia?
But as much as I was eager to visit the community, he insisted on first hosting me. This house is your house. My house is currently in?
No, this house is your house. Oh, this is our house? Yes.
Taking us out of the sun and into the coolness of his home What is your name? Sa’ad. introducing me to the village children while serving us camel's milk and a warm meal.
This was an immense level of hospitality, especially when you consider the impoverished state the village lives in. There were so many questions I was eager to find out, so I just got to it. How do you walk as though you can see everything?
We walk like this because this place is my home and I know it well. Even the children are walking as though they can see everything. Yes of course.
Even the children. Despite his condition, he carried himself with an incredible sense of normalcy and peace. He was walking with such ease as he led me around the village, gracefully holding my hand.
Sheikhna is taking us now to the scholar of the village who runs a small school. He's also blind, but he's a Hafidh of the Quran. He has completely memorised the Quran although he can't see.
He's taking us now to meet with you. But first he suggested I meet with the local village scholar, a wise, learned man by the name of Muhammad Mukhtar. This is a beautiful and illuminated village from your presence.
Thank you. Thank you. He's the the teacher, the scholar of this village here he's a Hafidh He memorised the entire Quran of the Quran and he teaches the children of Quran.
This man was a walking legend, like a character out of a movie, but he was real. If anyone was going to have answers about the village, it was going to be him. So I asked him about the rare condition affecting the community and how it all began.
The story of our blindness, it has an old story. We have about 7 or 8 blind grandfathers From 300 years or 400 years ago And the story is The mother of the first blind grandfather His name was ‘Id ‘Id His mother saw a man in her dream she saw with her eyes a person. She doesn’t know him He said to her “Do not fear You will soon have a child He will be blind And his children will be blind all of them or some of them He will be from the righteous and so on and so forth.
” And as such it came to be what she saw in the dream. And from this point onwards Blindness has continued, praise to God. However some blind people Allah grants them a child that can see.
It was a prophecy that endured across the generations, yet by the grace of Allah, there were always exceptions. At times, we see a father that is blind and he has a son that is seeing. A son that is seeing?
Yes. Glory be to Allah Allah is Generous. Powerful “He is the One who fashions you in the wombs” Judging by these first encounters, it was clear the Quran was central to their lives.
It was a relationship they upheld with much care and vigour, a relationship that was cemented on wooden tablets like these. This is made from the trees. However it is honoured because its name is derived from “The Preserved Tablet” It is honoured because the Quran is written on it.
And also Islamic knowledge is written on it. And Allah honours people through this. This tablet has a grand place in Islam.
Allah has given it a grand place in Islam. There is no limit for its status because the Quran is written on it and all knowledge of goodness is in it. It inspires good knowledge and much knowledge is written in it.
And much knowledge is memorised from it. And it therefore has a grand status. It was a heartwarming bond that provided comfort in the harshness of the desert, a comfort that was beautifully expressed by the women of the village.
We're here with Fatimadu, She's the sister of Sheikhna. How have you found living here in this village? Life is comfortable here This village is good.
We want to remain in this village we are thankful to our brothers and sisters and to the people that look after us we love this village I will not choose anywhere else except Madinah. She will not prefer anywhere apart from the pure places Meaning, Makkah and Madinah. This village or Makkah and Madinah?
Only? No other place impossible. Except Makkah and Madinah.
Dali Kombe had been home to them ever since their father first moved here over 45 years ago. A man, by the way, who also has a really cool story. Can you tell us more about the man who founded this village?
The founder of this village is my father. His name was Shaykh Muhammad Mahmoud. He was a scholar and memorised the entire Quran He performed various supernatural wonders Allah gave him various divine gifts.
He would travel to the ends of Mauritania and to the Western Saharah and to the farthest of places he would uncover the sites of water. He would reveal the locations of water. Who informed him where the water was?
Allah taught him. Allah taught him the Teacher of the Unseen. The Mighty One of the Heavens and Earth.
The experts in the field were unable to find water even though they held the tools of finding water They were surprised by his wondrous feat because they would give information and he would give his own information and his information would be correct. And your father was completely blind? Yes and he was from the people of the Quran.
This was a jaw dropping revelation and one that really caught me off guard. I had to see it for myself. I mean, a blind man in the middle of the desert was gifted with the ability to find water based on his own senses.
I was skeptical at first, but if I learnt anything from this tribe, it was with Allah, anything is possible. I had to see it for myself. We've been walking for a while now, and he's still leading me all the way through.
He's currently guiding me to the well, one of the wells that his father uncovered. And yeah, note to self, never look down a well. Oh my God, that's scary.
I get scared from wells. I remember the story of Yusuf. Because of this I get scared from wells.
I get scared of wells Fears aside, this is one of the wondrous wells his father uncovered by the will of Allah. I needed to find out the details. Some people were skeptical of this However if he was to reveal the location of a well and you were doubtful of this He will do like this on the sand He will make a mark like this on the ground and once you start digging for the well you will see the same mark that was there on the surface.
even if you kept digging for 100 metres. It was a discovery that would prove to be a means of survival amidst the most arid and inhospitable of conditions. It was a source of life for a people who had been deprived of one of the greatest joys of life.
If Allah was to return to you your eyesight, what would you love to see? I would love to see all kinds of things but the most important thing is to see books and be able to read. I want to read books.
I want to read books of Islamic knowledge If I was able to see, I would be able to do so much more. The most important thing to do is to read the Holy Books. Apart from reading, unfortunately we can’t do many things now But we will be rewarded in the Afterlife God willing.
If Allah returned my sight I would love to see the books and to see the sky as well. I would like to be a reciter of Quran I would like to be a reader of books Speaking Arabic “I do not know” I do not know. I don't know.
These were no doubt some of the most special people I had ever encountered. What is your name? My name?
Your name is. They were teaching me life's greatest lessons. When we can't see, we tend to feel fear, Whether we're in a dark space or a space where we can't see, we experience fear.
Do you ever get scared? Do you ever feel fear? Whenever we are in a dark place we do not feel fear rather the opposite.
We experience light. When the night falls upon us, and the moon is not present we walk as though we walk in the day. We do not have any problem.
Why don't you feel fear? It is rest and tranquility from Allah. You have tranquility from God, from Allah.
Tranquility and safety is from Allah. Allah is the One who grants steadfastness. Quran 14:27 V6, 2 “Allah makes the believers steadfast” Quran 14:27 V6, 2 “with the firm Word in this worldly life and the Hereafter” And of course, there was no way I was leaving until I had them answer one of the most important questions a city guy from the western world needed to know.
What is the meaning of contentment? Contentment This is the head of all richness. Whoever Allah grants contentment then he is better than 1000 rich men.
and it is better than all money combined. Because contentment is the key to happiness. This world cannot be wholly attained nor enumerated.
If he acquires a car he wishes for another car. If he acquires money he wishes for more money. So if he had contentment, it is better for him than all of this.
Are you content with your blindness? By Allah I am. I am content with what Allah decreed for me and I praise Him for this.
Because He has given me a great blessing. When He took my sight, He replaced it with many blessings. To Allah is praise.
And I have another joy to be happy for. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said “Whoever loses his two beloved possessions will enter Paradise. ” And the two beloved items are these.
The two eyes. If Allah enters you into Paradise, what would you love to see? I wish to see the Prophet ﷺ And to see the Most Merciful (Allah) This is the utmost goal of the Muslim To gaze at Allah This is the greatest thing.
This wasn't just a journey, this was a life lesson I was taking with me all the way back home to Sydney, surrounded once again by my gadgets, conveniences and all the modern comforts I was taught were essential to live a normal life. I find myself remembering them, the villagers who had nothing yet taught me everything. May Allah bless the Muslims of Dali Kombe and grant them peace in this life and the next.
Ameen.
