The twelve hundred million Muslims scattered over the planet have a shared, single belief. They also have a single journey to make at least once in their lives: the Hajj. The pilgrimage to Makkah, in western Saudi Arabia, is one of the most sacred duties Muslims will perform in their lives.

For the authorities in Saudi Arabia, the responsibility for supporting and helping the two million pilgrims that make their way to Makkah each year is a privilege and a responsibility proudly borne. It is part of their heritage. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, more than a thousand years since the Prophet Mohammed trod its sands — and despite the faith's global spread — Saudi Arabia remains the heartland of Islam. And at the heart of the Kingdom lie the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the focal points for its myriad worshippers. "We do not think of Hajj as just ritual or service," says Dr Iyad al-Madani, Minister of Hajj. "We also think of it as a wonderful service."

In the years since its birth, the influence of Islam on the history and development of the Arabian Peninsula has been profound. Central to the history and ideology of the Muslim faith, Saudi Arabia continues to be instrumental in the promotion of Islam and the preservation of Islamic tradition in all areas of government and society. For Muslims, Islam is an integral part of daily life: no distinction is drawn between the sacred and the secular, or between morality, law and politics. Consequently, the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the Kingdom, and Shari'ah (Islamic law), the basis of the Saudi legal system. King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Perhaps Saudi Arabia's most significant role is the one of host to the numerous Muslim pilgrims who travel to the Kingdom every year to perform Hajj at the two Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah. "As far as the Kingdom is concerned, Hajjis are an absolute priority," says Dr Al-Madani. "For us as individuals, when we are in a place where we can serve a Hajji, we believe that this will be ideal and a blessing. It is a total commitment at a social level, politically and for the leadership."

Of the five pillars of the Islamic faith — the outward declarations of adherence to a Muslim way of life that every believer must fulfill so as to live a good and responsible life — the fifth, Hajj, is the most public expression of devotion. The series of rituals, performed over five days during the twelfth month of the Islamic year (the Dhul-Hijjah), renew the Muslim's sense of purpose in the world. From the time of God's commandment that Abrahim construct the Ka'bah — the black square structure that stands now in the middle of the Holy Mosque — in the desert of the Arabian peninsula, Makkah has drawn followers of Islam from across the globe to pray that they be cleansed of their sins and reborn as better Muslims. Each Hajji circles the Ka'bah seven times and passes seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwah in a ceremony commemorating the actions of Hagar, of the Old Testament, who ran seven times between Safa and Marwah seeking a spring for her thirsty son, Ishmael.

Today Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in increasing number before the Ka'bah praising Allah together. To support the idea that all are equal before Allah, the Hajjis enter the holy precinct of Makkah wearing a special, seamless garment known as an ihram, which symbolically removes all distinctions of class and culture and renders all men equal before Allah on the day of Resurrection. At the close of the Hajj a festival, the Eid al-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated and once the pilgrims have cut or shaved their hair, the ihram is discarded and secular dress (ihlal) resumed.

For most Muslims, Hajj will occur only once during their lives and a lifetime may be spent planning the practicalities of making this epic pilgrimage with countless package tours, charter planes and hotels catering for the stream of visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia every year.

The Saudi authorities too are confronted by the practicalities of ensuring that the pilgrims are able to perform the Hajj unhindered by temporal obstacles. From controlling the flow of traffic and means of transport of their visitors, to safeguarding their health and welfare, meeting their accommodation needs and arranging for the correct and hygienic practice of sacrifice required of each Muslim, Saudi Arabia's concern from the welfare and comfort of its numerous visitors is manifest.

The fast rising numbers of Hajjis have, predictably, put considerable strain on the infrastructure. One of the responses has been the recently completed expansion of the Al Hamra al Maki mosque in Makkah, and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The Saudi Binladin Group, a local conglomerate, has completed this project at the request of King Fahd (see box). The result is that many pilgrims are now better able to make the Hajj and Umrah (a 'little pilgrimage' in which the journey to Makkah and Madinah is made, but not during the proscribed time).

"The Two Holy Cities have developed enormously to an extent that far exceeds expectations... socially, economically and architecturally. In its essence, it is considered as an integrated project that includes a number of extension projects, either buildings or surrounding spaces and major associated achievements, to improve the services provided to the two mosques and the surrounding areas," says Khalaf Ahmed Ashoor, of the Saudi Binladin Group.

The old hard journey by caravan through the desert to a remote, unforgiving site has been transformed. All visitors to Makkah and Madinah undertaking Hajj may now enjoy fully air-conditioned buildings complete with lifts, escalators, car parks and toilet facilities.

But the modernization programme does not stop here. A new railway project linking Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah is planned, in preparation for a sharp expected increase in the number of Muslims wanting to perform Umrah. "We expect the numbers of Umrah performers to increase from the current 1.6 to almost 20 million," says Dr Al-Madani. "Making it financially and economically feasible to build those railways between the Hajj cities."

The internet and e-commerce have also been introduced, allowing those planning their Hajj to explore virtual Makkahs and Madinahs and review their options with regard to making reservations and applying for visas. "This has been done for Hajj but our focus is now for Umrah," says Al-Madani.

While Islam is an ancient faith, the authorities are happy to take advantage of what modernity has to offer.

back to the top