In 1866 Sir Richard Burton entered the Forbidden City disguised as an Afghan pilgrim. He reported with awe the sight of several thousands circumambulating the "House of our Lord" in the severe heat of the desert with their heads and feet uncovered. He told of the many men he saw fall off and die during the trip because of the extreme heat of the desert.
The Forbidden City was, of course, Mecca. Burton's account was the first reported portrayal of the yearly Hajj event written by a non-Muslim.
Today through Thursday, Muslims celebrate The Hajj, commemorating the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims must make once in each person's lifetime. The celebration peaks Wednesday with the Eid Ul Adha (Day of Sacrifice), acknowledging the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.
In his report, Sir Burton could not help but melt within the amalgamation of people of all races who converged from all over the world during the designated days with the sole intention of performing the rituals of pilgrimage at the first house ever built for the worship of the one God.
In 1996 an American freelance reporter, Michael Wolffe, gave an account of his own Hajj journey as a convert Muslim from a Christian mother and Jewish father. In his video documentary Wolffe interviewed pilgrims from different parts of the world, including American Gulf War veterans who converted to Islam during the war. One of the veterans commented, "This is something that our country could learn from."
The African American ex-soldier was talking about the diversity and equality of all people before God that was ubiquitously displayed there. Certainly, one thing that could not escape one's attention was the spectacle of all the men dressed in uniform white cloth, making it impossible to tell the difference between a rich man and a pauper.
This display of unity-regardless-of-race was behind Malcolm X's denunciation of his original Nation of Islam racism and adoption of mainstream Islam after he made his Hajj trip to Mecca. After performing Hajj, Malcolm X said, "Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races" He further noted that his experience caused him to "toss aside some of [his] previous conclusions."
Today, Muslims around the world, including the pilgrims during Hajj, sacrifice animals during these days in what is called the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid Ul Adha). "Eat from it and feed the poor and the destitute," commands the Koran.
In the older days, the pilgrims would bid their families farewell before departure, as many of them would never make it back home due to the many perils, including armed robbers, outbreaks of epidemics and the extreme heat of the desert. Yet the faithful were not deterred by the danger, for they believed death during the sacred trip was tantamount to martyrdom.
Those who made it back home became celebrated heroes and were given the prestigious title of Hajji. Today, the title Hajji has unsurprisingly lost its luster, as modern pilgrims take luxurious commercial jets and reach Mecca within a day, perform the rituals in air-conditioned comfort, then visit the Prophet's grave in Medina while residing in five star hotels.
Despite the changing times, one thing did not change throughout the ages: Muslims continue to celebrate Eid Ul Adha at the end of the Hajj, an occasion full of joy and jubilation, in which they all feast, rich and poor alike.
Hassan Alrefae is a computer systems engineering senior. Reach him at hassanalrefae@yahoo.com.
