‘ There were so many people there that the earth seemed to move like the
sea . With this caravan there were many camels carrying food and water
for the poor , and medicine and sugar for those who fell . Whenever the
caravan stopped , food was cooked in great brass pots , and from these
the poorer pilgrims were fed ’
- It strengthens individual faith and identity .
- It is a focus of spirituality .
- It symbolises their equality - they all wear the same simple clothes and perform the same rituals . As the American Black Muslim Malcolm X said :
‘ We were all participating in the same ritual , displaying
a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in
America had led me to believe never could exist ’
Why did Mecca & Medina become be a centre for pilgrimage ?
Mecca
Mecca came to be a centre for pilgrimage because it contains the Ka’bah , a cube shaped holy building in Mecca . Its importance lies in the fact that according to the Qur’an it was first built by Abraham and his son Ishmael , who received it from Gabriel . After a period of religious dispute , the Ka’bah came under the control of Muslims led by Muhammad . Since then the Ka’bah has been the focus of Muslim worship and devotion .
Medina
Medina is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca . Its early history is closely linked to the prophet Muhammad , because it was to Medina that he made his Hijra ( flight ) in 622 and where he also built a mosque . Pilgrims may visit the city once they have completed their Hajj in Mecca . The flight to Medina is of such significance that the Islamic calendar was started from that day.
Describe what can be seen there today
Mecca
In Mecca there are a number of attractions worth seeing . One of the most important buildings is the Ka’bah . It is a plain , cube shaped building made from blocks . Inside it is beautifully decorated with texts from the Qu’ran . At Mecca one can also see the black stone which is an oval rock about 18 cm in diameter , set in the south – east corner of the Ka’bah . The two small hills Marwah and Safa , which since have been enclosed under domes and united by a walkway . Zamzam , this is a famous well , which is situated in the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Mecca . Pilgrims collect water from it to drink and to take home .
Medina
Medina has a number of famous buildings . There is a Mosque , containing the tombs of Muhammad , his daughter Fatima and the Caliph Omar ( See Appendix B ) It also has a printing press which prints the Qur’an in any language . There is also a famous library in Medina .
What religious rituals do people do there ?
Mecca
There are a number of rituals that take place at Mecca , the most important are related to the Hajj . These include :
- Walking around the Ka’bah seven times and kiss or touch the Black Stone and saying ‘ Here I am present before you ’. In this way they make contact with the roots of Islam.
- They visit Mount Arafat on the eighth day of the Hajj where they worship God .
- Pilgrims sacrifice an animal .
Medina
At Medina there are no rituals as such . However when one visits the prophets tomb at Medina there are a series of steps that are recommended to Muslims . The steps are as follows :
Step 1
Enter the Prophet’s Mosque from the As-Salam gate .
Step 2
Pray to rak’at as a greeting to the mosque .
Step 3
Go to the Prophet’s grave quietly and respectfully .
Step 4
Make Salam ( greeting ) to the Prophet then his two companions, Abu-Bakr and Umar .
Leave the place and behave as if you are in other mosques .
What is the importance of this place for believers today ?
Mecca
Mecca is important to Muslims because it was in Mecca that Abraham rebuilt the Ka’bah ( the Muslim house of worship ) on the site where Adam had originally built it . The stone is believed to be right under the throne of God in heaven . Mecca is also the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad .
Medina
Medina is important to Muslims since the prophet fled to Medina to escape religious persecution in Mecca . It was also from Medina that the prophet launched three wars against Mecca . Perhaps the most important reason is that Medina contains the second most important mosque the Quba .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hammudah Abdalati ( 1975 ) ; ISLAM IN FOCUS
American Trust Publications
Celia Collinson & Campbell Miller ( 1990 ) ; PILGRIMAGES
Hodder & Stoughton
Anne Geldart ( 1999 ) ; ISLAM
Heinemann
J Glyn Harris ( 1995 ) ; GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Longman
Michael Keene (1993 ) ; BELIEVERS IN ONE GOD
Cambridge University Press
Peter Mantin & Ruth Mantin ( 1993 ); THE ISLAMIC WORLD
Cambridge University Press
N . I . Matar ( 1992 ); ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS
Writers and Readers Publishing , Incorporated
