Islamic Customs and Culture Book

Travel Literature is one of my favorite genres for many reasons. An observant travel writer doesn't simply recount their trip. They give an intimate look into the history, culture, and religion of a place that can only come from traveling there. This book is a very interesting compilation of observant accounts of the Hajj Pilgrimage. The chapters are arranged chronologically and grouped into categories such as Pre/Post-Colonial Hajj, "Jet Age Hajj", etc. It includes accounts from the time of Ibn Batuta all the way to present-day. The authors are from diverse cultural, socio-economic, and even sectarian backgrounds. They include well known travelers, statesmen, famous authors, normal citizens of every age, Sunnis and Shias, and modern day personalities. It is truly amazing to see how such a life changing journey can be experienced in so many different ways, yet at the same time remain so consistent. While the means of transportation may have changed (commercial jets have replaced the robbery-prone camel caravans), the underlying rituals and even many of the challenges have remained the same. An interesting aspect of this book is the inclusion of so many "imposter accounts". These were penned by non-Muslims who snuck their way into the pilgrimage and in many cases misrepresented (intentionally or not) the Hajj. Although blameworthy from an ethical perspective, one has to admire the doggedness of of these imposters. Some spent decades living in Muslim lands as pseudo-Muslims in order to learn the customs and culture before slipping their way into Mecca. As mentioned earlier, the constancy of the Hajj throughout history is unlike any other pilgrimage in the world. The administration of the pilgrimage has been undertaken by various empires/states and the accounts in this book show first hand just how much the Hajj experience differed according to the ruling party. For example, although most accounts denounce the Wahabbis as overly puritan and out of touch with the spiritual essence of Hajj, even the most sectarian authors admit that the organization brought to the pilgrimage by this group facilitated an orderly and easier Hajj. The accounts during Ottoman times talk of the reverence the rulers had for this sacred pilgrimage but lament the lack of organization and order during the late Ottoman era. The editor of this book, Micheal Wolfe has included his account from his own book "The Hadj". This chapter can only be described as transportive. His description of his daily schedule in Mecca and Medina truly makes the reader feel that they are with him in this other-worldly place. However, my favorite chapter has to be Muhammad Asad's from "Road to Mecca". "Road to Mecca" is my favorite book of all time and his Hajj/Umrah descriptions are the most beautiful and meaningful writing I've ever read. Whether writing about theology or history, Asad has a unique ability to bring out the most beautiful aspects of the English language and use them to leave an imprint on the reader's mind and heart despite English being his third language after German and Arabic. Overall this book was an excellent compilation and will enrich the reader's understanding of both the rituals and the sentiment behind the transformative experience that is the Hajj Pilgrimage.