We need to reclaim the Hajj pilgrimage from the clutches of commercialisation | The Independent
Once every year, Muslims from all corners of the world set course for one of Islam’s holiest sites in the city of Mecca. The pilgrimage to the holy city in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia is a religious obligation that every adult Muslim with the ability and means must fulfill at least once before the end of their life.
What makes the journey so important is that it replicates the steps of the Prophet Muhammad from over 1,400 years ago. The Hajj journey takes in several locations around Mecca and lasts five days. Those days are determined every year based on the Islamic lunar calendar—Hajj should take place in its final month, Dhu al-Hijja.
Unfortunately, the growth of high rise complexes and luxury hotels have changed the experience of Hajj for rich pilgrims, while poorer pilgrims find it increasingly difficult to afford lodgings
Hajj is an epic human journey, a great assertion of faith, community and ordinary people’s courage. It is also an extremely challenging experience: walking in blazing heat, finding a “perfect spot” for prayer when hundreds of thousands are also doing the same, queuing up for food and amenities. I find the Hajj journey a real test of patience and self-control, humbleness, and brotherhood – a real school for applied social ethics! Despite physical and emotional challenges, every year, I see people weeping with joy and sorrow, praying through the night, emerging spiritually renewed and revitalised and achieving a sense of peace and harmony.
