Mafaz Najmuddeen releases memoir on Middle East journey

Sri Lankan author and public speaker Mafaz Najmuddeen has released a memoir titled ‘Makkah to FIFA: Faith, Friendship, Discovery,’ documenting an unplanned nine-month journey through the Middle East.

Najmuddeen originally departed Colombo in September 2022 for a nine-day Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah. However, after his companions departed from Jeddah, he chose to cancel his return ticket and continue traveling. His odyssey spanned Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, including visits to Madina, Riyadh, and the Asir mountains.

The journey included attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he witnessed the France-Morocco semifinal and the final between Argentina and France. After his travels through the UAE, he returned to Makkah to spend Ramadan and Eid in Madina before finally returning to Sri Lanka in June 2023.

The book was launched at the Lotus Tower in Colombo and is currently featured at the Colombo International Book Fair.