New book reveals Saudi explorer's impressions of Australia and South America

Published posthumously, 'Journey of Long Distances' by Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Aboudi adds to a rich canon of works chronicling Muslim communities around the world

New book reveals Saudi explorer's impressions of Australia and South America

Abdul Rahman Mazhar Halloush

last update on 16 Sep 2025

When Saudi sheikh, author, and traveller Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Aboudi died in 2022, he was in his mid-90s and had been garlanded extensively for his achievements. A new travel account, published posthumously, offers a notable addition to the rich legacy of Arabic travel literature.

Titled "Journey of Long Distances," published by Dar Al-Jadawel and written in al-Aboudi’s own hand, it covers his forays in South America and Australia in the 1970s, just two of the many places he visited, chronicling his experiences through firsthand encounters with diverse lands and societies.

Wherever he went, al-Aboudi was interested in the conditions of Muslims. From Poland to Patani, Bukhara to Brunei, he met with institutional leaders, documented their social and religious circumstances, and offered detailed accounts of daily life and human experiences that would engage readers interested in other cultures.

Born to travel

Schooled in the Qu’ran, al-Aboudi worked first as a teacher, then as director of the Scientific Institute in Buraidah, before becoming the director of the Islamic University of Medina, and Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim World League. In these positions, he travelled extensively, making observations as he went. Eventually, he published more than 160 books, most of which were on travel (his other passions were language and cultural heritage).

Ayman Dhu al-Ghani Wikipedia — Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Aboudi

Journey of Long Distances began in Riyadh and continued to Paris, then Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, São Paulo, Paraná, and several cities in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Departing from Porto Alegre, Brazil’s southernmost major city, he travelled to Buenos Aires in Argentina, then Caracas in Venezuela, before continuing to Mexico, documenting temples and ruins, festivals, customs, roads, and people. After that, he headed north to Los Angeles, before a 14-hour flight to Sydney. After touring Australia, he returned to Riyadh via Singapore and Bangkok.

Throughout this marathon journey, al-Aboudi was more like a field researcher, with a geographer’s perspective and an anthropologist’s insight. By documenting the lives of Arabs and Muslims and engaging with their institutions, he created a rich ethnographic record of daily life, rituals, and social practices, comparing these communities with their Arab Islamic counterparts and examining how they adapt to their cultural surroundings.

He paid particular attention to the construction of mosques, the establishment of local Islamic associations, and how diplomatic missions support these initiatives. In this way, al-Aboudi’s travel literature served as a cultural and ethnographic bridge, documenting customs, rituals, language, and social relations, comparing cultures to identify traits both shared and different.

Geography and identity

Journey of Long Distances follows a similar format, with al-Aboudi writing about cities, rituals, the roles of mosques and associations, the interaction between Muslim minorities and non-Muslim majorities, and the influence of geography on cultural identity, the landscapes and social practices of South America. His knowledge of the Spanish language allowed him to capture various aspects of daily life.

Al-Aboudi was interested in the conditions of Muslims. He met leaders, documented their social circumstances, and offered detailed accounts of their daily lives

During his visit to the São Bernardo neighbourhood, for instance, he returned to the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, which stood on uninhabited agricultural land. "The mosque sits on elevated ground, allowing its dome and two square-plan minarets (Sawma'a) to be seen from a great distance," al-Aboudi wrote.

"Here, As-Sawma'a means the minaret, but it is square-shaped rather than round, a style that developed in Andalusia and the Maghreb. In Morocco and parts of West Africa, such square-plan minarets are common and known by that name (Sawma'a). The dome, however, is neither large nor architecturally distinctive, unlike the one in the Santo Amaro Mosque. It is sturdy and built of reinforced concrete. The lower level houses the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Association. It is carpeted, fully equipped, and currently serves as a prayer hall."

In Mexico's Temple Region, al-Aboudi's initial observations focused on steep hill terraces shaped into temple-like structures, the remains of a native Mexican tribe called the Teca, who lived in the area before the arrival of European explorers. He describes them as "broad terraces carved into small rocky hills overlooking a vast open area designated for gatherings and religious ceremonies, capable of accommodating more than 100,000 people along with their horses and other animals".

He added: "These temples completely surround the open space. They were built for religious purposes and dedicated to the gods, or so it is said. The people reportedly revered the sun and the moon, almost to the point of worship. It is believed that the temples were constructed around 560 BC."

Comparing peoples

Among al-Aboudi's most notable books were In Green Africa (1966), Trip to the Maldives: One of the Wonders of the World (1981), and Inside the Walls of China (1992), but it was India that drew him back repeatedly, publishing 17 books on the Indian sub-continent in total. For al-Aboudi, travel writing was not the mere recollection of passing scenes; it is a fusion of history, anthropology, and literature.

For al-Aboudi, travel writing was not the mere recollection of passing scenes; it is a fusion of history, anthropology, and literature

He wrote in a smooth, engaging style that combined meticulous detail with thoughtful introspection, able to compare diverse settings and worldviews, including emotions, reflections, and interactions. By documenting everything he saw and heard, he offered readers valuable historical and social insights.

Visiting the Brazilian city of Dourados, near the Paraguay border, al-Aboudi went to the home of Zaki Ahmad Jbara, president of the local Islamic association. The area had once been on the outskirts of the city but was now part of its centre. After being offered fresh orange juice and warm homemade pastries, he rested briefly before heading to the mosque for prayers, then returned for lunch.

"We went to the Dourados Mosque, the city's only mosque, where the brothers had gathered for Friday prayers," he wrote. "Sheikh Nour Al-Din Al-Sayyid, who had arrived with me, delivered a brief but impactful khutbah (sermon), calling for mindfulness of God, awareness of His presence, and an understanding of the Muslim's duty to live in accordance with Islam."

Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Aboudi went beyond topographical description in his writing to deliver a rich human narrative that was also a chronicle of intellectual growth and evolving perspectives. His work invites readers to question their assumptions and inspires them to approach the journey with curiosity and passion.

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