The Concept of Hajj

“And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways,” Allah says in the Holy Quran.” (Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): 27)

Is Hajj a time of exclusive focus on the worship of the Creator or are there responsibilities that the Hajis have towards each other as part of the creation?

While there is the need for bonding between Muslims from different parts of the world, is there any space created for dialogue and proper interaction beyond the negotiation of the rituals?

The Hajj is a powerful tool of developing individual spirituality but often the sociopolitical dimension of this powerful event is neutralized by religious narratives that have been used by rulers (including a very powerful colonial narrative) to keep the population under control. The question is whether Muslims have the capacity to be creative in fusing the spiritual and political aspects together.