The Hajj : pilgrimage in Islam /

The hajj, Arabic for pilgrimage, refers to the religious obligation incumbent on all Muslims to visit Mecca once in their lifetime, provided their health and financial status allow them to undertake the journey. Today, about three million Muslims simultaneously gather in and around Mecca for the annual pilgrimage, which takes place during the last month of the Muslim religious calendar. This interdisciplinary collection of scholarly articles examines the hajj as a religious, cultural, economic, and sociopolitical phenomenon. The book's first two parts trace the evolution of the pilgrimage from its beginnings in pre-Islamic Arabia through today, and analyze the "nature and modalities of the journey" by land, sea, and air. Part 3 focuses on the infrastructure of the hajj, including its economic dimensions, health issues, and the role of the Saudi government in administering the huge undertaking. The last section is devoted to the ritual of the pilgrimage, its performance and representation. The volume makes a significant contribution to the theoretical and practical appreciation of the Muslim ritual of religious pilgrimage. Glossary and extensive bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries. --Amal Rassam, CUNY Queens College