MINA: Indian academic Kamaluddin Al-Hamidi recalled his university days in Saudi Arabia five decades ago while performing Hajj this year under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit.
Al-Hamidi, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Islamic University of Madinah, said his time in the Kingdom shaped his scholarly path and enabled him to co-found a university, expand Qur’anic schools and build mosques in India.
He praised the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for the program’s organization and hospitality, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s continued global role in serving Muslims and the Two Holy Mosques.
In a separate emotional moment in Makkah, Mohammed Sheikh reunited with his former professor, Kenny Mohammed, vice president of a university in Kerala, India, after years of an academic relationship that began in the classroom.
Sheikh said meeting his professor among the king’s guests brought back memories of his education and mentorship. He added that the encounter reflected the humanitarian spirit of the program, which goes beyond hosting pilgrims to creating lasting human connections.
