Egyptian Christian Gifts Muslim Neighbour Umrah Ticket
Mina Yusuf entered the Egyptian competition after learning that his Muslim neighbour had long wished to visit Makkah and Madinah
By Abdullahi Yusuf
A Christian man in Egypt has won an Umrah trip in a Qur’an-based religious competition and handed the prize to his Muslim neighbour after learning that visiting the holy cities was her long-held dream.
Mina Yusuf, a 31-year-old accountant, entered the competition after discovering that his neighbour, Mona Mokhtar, popularly known as “Um Ali”, was taking part and hoping to win the Umrah prize. Rather than competing for himself, Yusuf decided to try to win the opportunity for her.
The story has attracted attention in Egypt because of what happened after the competition: Yusuf, who is Christian, secured the prize and chose to give it to the Muslim woman whose family had lived next door to his for about two decades.
According to Egyptian media reports, Yusuf first came across the competition while browsing Facebook and noticed Um Ali answering one of its religious questions. When he asked about it, she told him that the prize was an Umrah trip and that visiting the holy sites was a dream she had long hoped to fulfil.
Yusuf then began answering the competition’s questions himself, reportedly submitting entries repeatedly to increase his chances of winning. One account said he also searched for answers online before submitting them.
The competition’s organiser, Islamic scholar Dr Ayman Abu Omar, reportedly noticed Yusuf’s unusually frequent participation and contacted him. Yusuf explained that he was trying to win the Umrah opportunity for his neighbour.
Although Yusuf did not initially win, reports said the organiser later obtained a special exception that allowed him to receive the Umrah prize so he could fulfil the purpose behind his participation.
Um Ali was following the competition live when she learned that Yusuf had won the Umrah for her. Reports said she was overwhelmed with emotion, with one account describing her crying from the balcony after hearing the news.
Yusuf later explained that his motivation was simply the happiness of being able to help someone fulfil a long-held wish.
The relationship between the two families predates the competition by many years. Um Ali said she and Yusuf’s family had lived as neighbours for around 20 years, sharing family occasions, celebrations and difficult moments despite their different religious backgrounds.
The story has since drawn attention across Egyptian media and social platforms, particularly because Yusuf participated in a Qur’an-focused competition despite being Christian and then gave the prize to his Muslim neighbour. Their two-decade relationship has also placed the gesture in a wider context of everyday ties between Muslim and Christian families in Egypt.
A competition prize that began as a neighbour’s dream has now become an unexpected journey to Makkah and Madinah made possible by the person who entered the contest for her.
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