International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Volume 3 Issue 1 Article 6 2015 Pilgrimage Experience and Consumption of Travel to the City of Makkah for Hajj Ritual Razaq Raj Dr. Leeds Beckett University, [email protected] Dino Bozonelos California State University, San Marcos, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp Part of the Tourism and Travel Commons Recommended Citation Raj, Razaq Dr. and Bozonelos, Dino (2015) "Pilgrimage Experience and Consumption of Travel to the City of Makkah for Hajj Ritual," International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 6. doi:https://doi.org/10.21427/D7FX5F Available at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol3/iss1/6 Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. © International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage ISSN : 2009-7379 Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/ijrtp/ Volume 3(i) 2015 Pilgrimage Experience and Consumption of Travel to the City of Makkah for Hajj Ritual Dr Razaq Raj Principal Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Business School 520 The Rose Bowl, Portland Gate, Leeds LS1 3HB Dino Bozonelos, Ph.D. Lecturer, Dept. of Political Science, California State University, San Marcos 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078 [email protected] In modern society which, by definition is increasingly secular and culturally motivated, the Hajj is considered the culmination of each Muslim's religious duty and aspiration. It is stated in the Holy Qur'an, that every physically and financially able Muslim should make the Hajj to the Holy City of Makkah once in his or her lifetime. This paper explores what people do during their pilgrimage, providing a brief description of the principle rites and experiences and their meaning to an individual participants travelling from the USA. The paper will draw upon previously published literature as well as an analysis of findings from a quantitative study in which steps within the pilgrimage process were explored. These findings include participants’ descriptions of the significance and value of the experience which individual pilgrims face during travel to the holy city of Makkah. The results from the quantitative study indicated that the main motivations to attend the annual pilgrimage of Hajj were to fulfil religious obligation, spiritual enhancement and to follow teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad. Key words: Hajj, worship, experience, pilgrimage Introduction that religion is a fundamental part of our life and culture in various different ways in the modern world The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam: At least (Hinnells, 1984; Raj, 2007; Raj; 2011; Usmani, 2001; once in a lifetime, any Muslim who is able financially Wolfe, 2000). and physically to complete this journey must do so. Hajj takes place during the first days of the lunar The Hajj is an obligatory once in a lifetime experience month of Dhul-Hajjah, the 12th month of the Islamic for those Muslims who can afford it, provided there is year, and lasts for five days. Muslims from every part safety and security for travel and it leaves provision of the world assemble in Saudi Arabia to perform this behind for dependent family, while away from home unique form of worship. Leading authors (Nolan and performing the Hajj. The Hajj constitutes a form of Nolan, 1992; Smith, 1992; Raj, 2007) note how worship with the whole of the Muslim's being: with pilgrimage routes and experiences are increasingly their body, mind and soul, with their time, possessions becoming secularised, with their explicit promotion for and the temporary sacrifice of all ordinary comforts tourism, leisure and cultural engagement. Despite this, and conveniences which a person normally enjoys. The in today’s secular world the relationship between an person should assume for few days the condition of a individual and their belief can still play a major part in pilgrim entirely at God's service and disposal. influencing an individual to visit religious sites. The visitation patterns depends on internal factors such as This paper will explore what people do during their the individual’s strength of religious belief. In the pilgrimage, what the Hajj is actually like for an current literature, very limited research is available that individual participant travelling from the USA. The explores the motivation and visitation patterns of paper will provide a brief description of the principle individuals who are travelling mainly for religious rites and experiences of Hajj and their meaning to an purposes. The literature which is available does suggest individual. Finally, the paper will present the findings ~ 38 ~ Raj & Bozonelos Pilgrimage to Makkah for the Hajj of primary research which was undertaken to analyse millions of ‘religious tourists’ who fly in from all over the experience of individual pilgrims during their travel the world, but also large numbers who converge upon to the holy city of Makkah. Makkah from within Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries. Islam and its Acknowledgement by the Event Industry Leading authors such as Nolan and Nolan (1992) and Lefeuvre (1980) reflect on and question what Muslims People have traditionally accepted the celebration of do during their pilgrimage. Coming for Hajj from all special religious holy days, for example, in the Western parts of the globe (the Middle East, Southeast Asia, world, Christmas and Easter are important. In addition, Africa, Europe, America and Australia etc.), as the people participate in other festivities organised by their pilgrims reach Makkah, they enter into a state of rulers. Kings and leaders for example, have often consecration known as Ihram. One takes on Ihram by organised events as a way of controlling the public. expressing his or her intention to enter into that state, and putting on the pilgrim's dress (which is also called The Islamic religion represents about 22% of the world Ihram). The dress for male pilgrims is a garment population, having approximately 1.5 billion adherents. unique to Hajj, which consists of two pieces of white, Islam, therefore, is the second largest religion un-sewn cloth which cover the lower and upper parts (Christianity is the most prominent with an estimated of the body. Although no specific garment is 2.1 billion followers) (Adherents, 2007), its adherents prescribed for women, they also enter into Ihram being called Muslims. They believe in their holy book wearing plain garments. The most important places to the ‘Qur´an’ dictated by ‘Allah’ their God, through the visit during the Hajj are Makkah where the first shrine Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was built and the Ka´aba stands, and Mina. (Collinson, Miller, 1985; Brown 1986). Resulting from these beliefs, there are a number of religious festivals The Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah takes place during the in the Islamic world which are celebrated annually. 12th month of the Muslim calendar Dhul-Hijjah. It is The main one, the holy month of Ramadan is the ninth the last of the five pillars of Islam, mentioned in the month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Because the lunar Qur´an. As outlined by Raj (2007), pilgrims perform calendar is shorter than the solar calendar, Islamic different duties during the six days of Hajj. An holidays are on a different date each year. In 2015, important element for the acceptance of the Hajj by Ramadan begins at sundown on June 18th. Muslims God is to take part in the assembly at Arafat, which is celebrate two other annual holidays, ‘Eid ul-Fitr’ and known as the ‘Wuqoof of Arafat’ - the stay in Arafat. ‘Eid ul-Adha’. The end of Ramadan is celebrated as the Pilgrims stay at the plain of Arafat and then travel to Eid ul-Fitr, whereas Eid ul-Adha is celebrated when Muzdalifah in order to collect pebbles - which should the ‘Hajj’ (pilgrimage) ends (Zaheer, 2007). These number forty-nine. These pebbles are important in festivals are holy for Muslims and should be kept in order to stone the three pillars in Madinah. Stoning the mind when scheduling a major event involving pillars allows one to withstand evil and instead, to do adherents of the faith. Allah’s will. On the last three days of the Hajj, pilgrims perform another ritual, the sacrifice of an In relation to Islam, the event industry has to take animal in Mina. This ritual takes place in memory of cognisance of this established fact, particularly the Prophet Abraham who should have sacrificed his considering that the Islamic population is growing son Ishmael. (Barrett and Johnson, 2002). This matter has implications not only for worship related time Raj (2003) mention that the final part of Hajj is held in schedules but also food and drink which have to match Makkah. The pilgrims circle around the Ka´aba to religious beliefs, behaviour and exposure to culture. praying. This ritual is known as ‘tawaf’ and symbolises While this advice relates in particular to the annual the unity of believers, God and humans. Pilgrims circle celebration of Ramadan, it also has implications for the around the Ka´aba seven times in counter clockwise other Islamic traditions. rotation. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj) The Ka'aba The largest Islamic event in the world in terms of When pilgrims first arrive at Makka, after they have actual attendance is the Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. found accommodation and taken care of physical This annual event is a pilgrimage, which is sacred to necessities, their first obligation is to visit the Ka’aba the Muslim faith; it is the fifth and final pillar of Islam and perform certain prescribed acts of worship and is undertaken by approximately 3.4 million people following the example of the prophet Mohammed each year (as verified by the Saudi Arabia Information (peace be on him).