The Ultimate Destination
Lots of people use the word "Mecca" even when they're talking about a place that has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia or Islam. You've probably heard expressions like, "The Champagne region of France is a wine lover's Mecca" or "The north shore of Oahu is a Mecca for surfers". It's like the ultimate location; it simply has more to offer than anywhere else. People come from all around the world to experience the best of what they love.
Islam has given birth to this expression because no place is more important or more holy than the city of Mecca, which contains the Kaaba. If a Muslim always faces toward this site when praying, everyday, no matter where or when, imagine what a visit to this place would mean to him or her!
"What is Hajj?"
"A visit to the Holy Kaaba"
Hajj is one of the Pillars of Islam. It is an annual event and is required of every Muslim at least once in their life. People can go more than once, but everyone who is physically and financially able must make the trip at least a single time.
Even though the annual Hajj is held in the twelfth lunar month, Mecca is always filled with visitors, receiving some two million people in a single year.
What do they do when they get there? There is a terribly gigantic mosque in Mecca and it contains that huge black cube, the Kaaba. The faithful pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times. They also go seven times between two hills called Safa and Marwa, re-enacting the wanderings of Hagar in her search for water. Then everyone stands together and asks Allah for forgiveness and for the fulfilment of their wishes.
Some people think of this event as a preview of the Day of Judgement. From the pictures I have seen, it is quite a sight to behold: everyone dressed in pure white, standing or kneeling together in perfect straight lines and curves, all facing a singular black object in the centre of the immense crowd.
So when am I going? Well, it is almost certain that I will never see that place. Ever since the very beginnings of Islam, the city of Mecca, along with its sister city, Medina, has been strictly off-limits to all who are not devoted to Islam. There are roadblocks along the way, with signs that say something like "Muslims only beyond this point". So, unless you've already been facing toward the Kaaba when you kneel to pray, you can scratch Mecca off your travel itinerary!
So then, I have no snapshots of Mecca in my album. What can I offer you instead? Well, if the Louvre museum in Paris can be thought of as a kind of Mecca for art aficionados, then there is one very famous smile that is its Kaaba.
Islam has given birth to this expression because no place is more important or more holy than the city of Mecca, which contains the Kaaba. If a Muslim always faces toward this site when praying, everyday, no matter where or when, imagine what a visit to this place would mean to him or her!
"What is Hajj?"
"A visit to the Holy Kaaba"
Hajj is one of the Pillars of Islam. It is an annual event and is required of every Muslim at least once in their life. People can go more than once, but everyone who is physically and financially able must make the trip at least a single time.
Even though the annual Hajj is held in the twelfth lunar month, Mecca is always filled with visitors, receiving some two million people in a single year.
What do they do when they get there? There is a terribly gigantic mosque in Mecca and it contains that huge black cube, the Kaaba. The faithful pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times. They also go seven times between two hills called Safa and Marwa, re-enacting the wanderings of Hagar in her search for water. Then everyone stands together and asks Allah for forgiveness and for the fulfilment of their wishes.
Some people think of this event as a preview of the Day of Judgement. From the pictures I have seen, it is quite a sight to behold: everyone dressed in pure white, standing or kneeling together in perfect straight lines and curves, all facing a singular black object in the centre of the immense crowd.
So when am I going? Well, it is almost certain that I will never see that place. Ever since the very beginnings of Islam, the city of Mecca, along with its sister city, Medina, has been strictly off-limits to all who are not devoted to Islam. There are roadblocks along the way, with signs that say something like "Muslims only beyond this point". So, unless you've already been facing toward the Kaaba when you kneel to pray, you can scratch Mecca off your travel itinerary!
So then, I have no snapshots of Mecca in my album. What can I offer you instead? Well, if the Louvre museum in Paris can be thought of as a kind of Mecca for art aficionados, then there is one very famous smile that is its Kaaba.
posted by Trevor at 12:16 p.m.
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