The Hajj

Learning about the Hajj was very interesting. Prior to watching the documentary, I knew a little bit about the pilgrimage to the Ka Ba but I didn’t know much about what actually happened. The Hajj really teaches the importance of faith and life while stripping away all of the human values of wealth, pride, and social status. During the pilgrimage, Muslims have the time and mind to reflect on what is really important in life. I did not know that many people die on this pilgrimage. It was very hard watching people escape the fire. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to witness that in person. I think that the Hajj fulfills the faith of Muslims just like any pilgrimage or retreat fulfills the faith of Christians or any other believers. The description of the city of Mecca as “the entire world around one block” was very eye-opening and emphasized that Islam is a worldly religion and cannot be stereotyped as only in the Middle East.