عيون الرحالة

•• For some time, I have come across several writings about the pilgrimage to the holy sites over the past thousand years. I was inspired by the writings of those chroniclers, who seemed to be illuminated by the light of journeys that brightened their path to the Sacred House. Thus, I decided to write several episodes about "The Literature of Pilgrimage." This literature has historically enjoyed a significant amount of documentation by writers, scholars, and intellectuals who performed the pilgrimage, with journeys painted through passionate reflections that they entrusted to our memories.

•• The writings, both ancient and contemporary, about the pilgrimage varied between documenting the journey and writing about historical landmarks. They became a cultural record serving literature, history, and heritage. Those travelers documented the scenes of pilgrimage and its rituals, along with the intricate details surrounding their journeys. They recorded their descriptions of Mecca, the Sacred Mosque, the Kaaba, and the monuments with exquisite illustrations and comprehensive depictions. Among them are: Ibn Jubayr from Andalusia (who performed Hajj in 578 AH) and Ibn Battuta (who performed Hajj for the first time in 726 AH).

•• It is natural for writers and scholars from Arab and Islamic countries to write about their pilgrimage journeys; however, writing about the pilgrimage through Western and Orientalist eyes has an intriguing character. These Western journeys of pilgrimage had a profound impact on deepening their faith within themselves, as their writings reflected a different perspective that combined emotional faith and rational vision. They documented their journeys with enlightening moments that transformed their lives into broader religious horizons, creating beautiful impressionistic literary paintings.

•• As for the people of Mecca and Medina, who welcome pilgrims with the philosophy of "the convergence of civilizations," they celebrated the newcomers to their holy city with joy, feeling, and beautiful meaning. They welcomed those coming to them with a love they practiced as a human and spiritual duty. In this regard, the traveler Ibn Battuta said in his book "The Gift of the Observer in the Wonders of the Cities and the Marvels of the Lands": "The people of Mecca have beautiful actions, complete virtues, good morals, and generosity towards the weak and the needy, as well as good neighborliness towards strangers."

Ancient writings between documentation and detail:

A cultural record serving literature, history, and heritage

Documenting the pilgrimage journey with exquisite illustrations and comprehensive depictions

They created beautiful impressionistic literary paintings

Western travelers wrote their journeys with an intriguing character