Centuries of Hajj documented in travelers' chronicles
For centuries, the Hajj pilgrimage has stood as Islam's most profound convergence of spiritual devotion and physical endurance.
This sacred journey, where the trials of travel merge with the sanctity of worship, has been meticulously documented by countless travelers, scholars and rulers whose written accounts have become invaluable chronicles of the history of Islamic civilization.
From barefoot pilgrims to seafaring voyagers and desert caravans, the Hajj experience has been preserved across generations through detailed testimonies, books and manuscripts that illuminate both the ritualistic and human dimensions of this transformative journey.
According to researcher and historian Saad Al-Joudi, the Hajj transcended its purely ceremonial function to become a comprehensive documentation project that captured the essence of Islamic society across different historical periods.
The Andalusian explorer Ibn Jubayr was one of the most meticulous chroniclers, providing exhaustive accounts of his maritime route from Andalusia through Alexandria to the Hejaz from 1183-1185.
His writings detail every stage of the pilgrimage sequence: The ritual consecration at designated boundaries (Ihram), the circumambulation of the Kaaba (Tawaf), the Sa'I (running between Safa and Marwa), the overnight vigil in Mina, the standing at Mount Arafat, the symbolic stone-throwing ceremony, and the final farewell circumambulation.
• This sacred Hajj journey has been meticulously documented by countless travelers, scholars and rulers.
• Their written accounts have become invaluable chronicles of the history of Islamic civilization.
• The Andalusian explorer Ibn Jubayr was one of the most meticulous chroniclers, detailing every stage of the pilgrimage sequence.
• Ibn Battuta, who set off on his pilgrimage in 1325, focused extensively on the logistical infrastructure supporting the routes to Makkah.
The renowned traveler Ibn Battuta, who set off on his pilgrimage in 1325, focused extensively on the logistical infrastructure supporting the routes to Makkah.
His accounts express wonder at the remarkable unity displayed by Muslims of diverse languages, ethnicities and cultures as they performed identical rituals in perfect synchronization.
He documented the overland passages from the Levant to Madinah, describing rest stations, temporary pilgrim markets and mobile medical facilities.
Majed Al-Yazidi, of Umm Al-Qura University, said that Hajj documentation extended beyond travel writers to include sultans and kings.
Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid is said to have performed the pilgrimage several times, notably traveling on foot as an expression of humility.
The 13th-century Mamluk ruler, Baibars, established comprehensive supply networks and security installations for pilgrim caravans throughout the Levant and Arabian Peninsula, transforming the Hajj into an integrated socio-political undertaking.
The geographic scope of the pilgrimage routes reflects the civilizational breadth of the Islamic world.
Al-Yazidi said that pilgrims from Andalusia and Morocco predominantly traveled by sea, while those from Yemen and the Indian subcontinent used both sea and land routes.
Pilgrims from the Levant, Iraq and Egypt followed established paths, including the famous Darb Zubaidah, Darb Al-Kufa and Egyptian corridor.
These pilgrimage highways catalyzed the development and prosperity of numerous cities along their paths.
Al-Joudi highlighted how these travel accounts provided systematic documentation of Hajj rites.
These chronicles also captured behavioral patterns, regional clothing styles, commercial activities and accompanying cultural practices with remarkable precision.
Humanitarian and social dimensions of the pilgrimage are exemplified in the works of Abdul Ghani Al-Nabulsi, the scholar who began his journey in 1693.
Al-Nabulsi documented the extensive cultural exchanges occurring between pilgrims from East Asia to North Africa, recording gift exchanges, manuscript trading and intellectual discussions.
Al-Joudi emphasized that Hajj journeys were cultural, spiritual and humanitarian occasions that motivated numerous writers and travelers to document their rich details.
He said that among the most prominent was Ibn Battuta, who dedicated extensive passages in his book the Rihla to describing Hajj rituals, sanctuary conditions and caravan movements.
Al-Yazidi also highlighted scholar Mohammed Al-Amin Al-Shanqiti, who authored 'The Hajj Journey to God's Sacred House.'
His writings combine precise descriptions with jurisprudential insights and religious rulings, alongside personal observations and interactions with pilgrims from across the globe.
Modern Arabic literature has been enriched by numerous Hajj memoirs. Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad's 'The Hejazi Journey' captures the spiritual atmosphere through a literary lens, while Ibrahim Abdul Qadir Al-Mazini's 'Journey to Hejaz' employs contemplative prose to explore both humorous incidents and profound spiritual experiences.
Mohammed Hussein Haikal's 'In the House of Revelation' offers intellectual and spiritual analysis of his Arabian journey.
Shakib Arslan's 'Pleasant Impressions in the Pilgrim's Mind' and Ali Al-Tantawi's 'To the Land of Prophecy' combine travel narrative with reformist and educational perspectives.
The documentation tradition extends beyond Arab authors to include remarkable accounts by converts to Islam.
Leopold Weiss (Muhammad Asad) in 'The Road to Makkah' and Takeshi Suzuki (Muhammad Saleh) in 'A Japanese in Makkah' provide insights into the pilgrimage experience from the perspective of recent converts, demonstrating Islam's universal appeal across cultural boundaries.
Al-Yazidi said that these diverse travel accounts, despite variations in language and approach, constituted a living historical archive of the Hajj across centuries.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
False bomb threat forces diversion of Saudia flight to Indonesia, second incident in a week
RIYADH: A Saudia Airlines flight carrying hundreds of Hajj pilgrims back to Indonesia from the Middle East was diverted on Saturday following a bomb threat, according to reports. It is the second such incident in a week involving a Saudia flight. Flight SV5688 was en route from Jeddah to Indonesia, with a scheduled stop in Muscat, and was due to land in Surabaya on the island of Java. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said air traffic controllers in the Indonesian capital Jakarta received a call alerting them to a bomb threat onboard the flight, prompting its diversion to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday morning. The head of the regional airport authority, Asri Santosa, said in a statement that officers were inspecting the aircraft upon arrival, though the airport remained fully operational. All 376 passengers, Hajj pilgrims from Java, and 13 crew members were reported safe, according to a North Sumatra police spokesperson. The passengers are expected to resume their journey on Sunday. On request for comment by Arab News, Saudia confirmed the security threat was ultimately deemed false. 'In strict accordance with safety protocols, Saudia diverted flight SV5688 operating to Surabaya to Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia as a precautionary measure,' the airline said. 'The aircraft landed, and all guests and crew have deplaned safely. Local authorities conducted the required checks shortly after landing and have cleared the aircraft for continued operation. 'The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remain Saudia's highest priority no matter the cost. Full care and support have been provided, and onward travel arrangements to Surabaya are being made,' it added. On Tuesday, another Saudia flight carrying 442 Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Jakarta was also diverted to Medan after authorities received an email containing a bomb threat.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Bomb threat diverts Saudia plane of Hajj pilgrims in Indonesia for a second time in days
A plane carrying hundreds of Hajj pilgrims back to Indonesia from the Middle East was diverted Saturday after a bomb threat, the transport ministry and police said, the second such incident in a week. Saudia Airlines flight SV5688 had flown from the Saudi city of Jeddah to the Omani capital Muscat before travelling on to Indonesia where it was due to land in Surabaya, a city on the main island Java. But air traffic control officers in the Indonesian capital Jakarta received a call about a bomb threat for the flight, prompting its diversion to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan city Saturday morning, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. Regional airport authority head Asri Santosa said in a statement officers were checking the plane after its arrival but the airport on Sumatra island remained operational. All 376 passengers, Hajj pilgrims from Java, and 13 crew members were safe at the airport, North Sumatra police spokesman Ferry Walintukan told AFP. He said a bomb squad was deployed to sweep the aircraft. The passengers are due to resume their journey on Sunday, said Asri. On Tuesday a plane carrying 442 Hajj pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia to Jakarta was also diverted to Medan after an email bomb threat was sent to authorities.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
4 exhibitions at the Prophet's Mosque courtyards that bring Islamic heritage to life
Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — Several exhibitions and knowledge centers within the courtyards and halls of the Prophet's Mosque are offering enriching cultural and educational experiences to pilgrims and visitors during the Hajj season, showcasing the depth of Islamic heritage and the warm hospitality of Madinah. Among the key attractions is the Exhibition on the Architecture of the Prophet's Mosque, located in the southern square opposite exits 308 and 309. Open daily from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the exhibition highlights the architectural evolution of the mosque through interactive displays and modern presentation techniques. Nearby, the International Exhibition of the Prophet's Biography, situated in front of exits 306 and 307, operates from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The exhibition offers visitors a contemporary, immersive experience into the life and character of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), presenting his values and message through multimedia Facility 204 in the southern square, the Rare Manuscripts Exhibition welcomes guests from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 features a remarkable collection of historical manuscripts, documents, and inscriptions that chronicle the development of Islamic calligraphy and literature across the Prophet's Mosque Library, located near Gate 10 on the western side, provides around-the-clock services to comprises several specialized sections, including rare books, manuscripts, an audio library, and various technical Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, situated inside the mosque near the Uthman Gate, is a key destination for scholars and houses more than 4,000 original manuscripts, around 60,000 digital manuscripts, 4,600 imaged manuscripts, as well as 250 handwritten Qur'ans and 200 printed Qur' section operates in two shifts: from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
