
A major annual event in the Muslim world is the hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah. One cannot overstate how significant it is to the lives of individual Muslims and the Muslim community as a whole. The hajj is first and foremost the performance of the prescribed religious rituals in Makkah, but it can be seen as the pilgrimage itself, the journey to and from the holy places.
Islam spread to West Africa after Muslims conquered Northern Africa in the seventh century by crossing the vast Sahara desert. Early Arab records from the eleventh century mention several African chiefs converting to Islam. Surprisingly, the oldest records of pilgrimage that exist are from the same time frame. Following that, a consistent and ongoing culture of pilgrimage emerged throughout West Africa, especially in Nigeria.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the colonial authority of Nigeria made attempts to regulate the Hajj. The British wanted to stop the flow of pilgrims in order to safeguard their own interests in Nigeria. They were aware of the hajj’s potential to foster global Muslim unity. The number of pilgrims was strictly regulated, and ‘good conduct’ was monitored by escorts and at key locations along the land routes of the pilgrimage up to the Sudan. Contact between the various national Islamic communities was discouraged by colonial policy. Modern travel restrictions like passports, immigration controls, health laws, and some payment of deposits for services in the Holy Land were some of the measures implemented by the British colonial authorities. However, despite the fact that Muslims in British-colonized Nigeria continued to conduct their hajj rites, such was their perseverance.
Before the Covid-19 Pandemic, 2.1 million people performed the hajj annually on average during the past few years. These millions are vastly different from the number of people who visited Makkah merely fifty years ago. At least half of the 60,000 pilgrims who made the annual trip to Makkah throughout the first half of the 20th century up to 1946 were from the Arabian Peninsula. Approximately 25% of pilgrims today are nationals of Saudi Arabia. The rest were foreigners.
Five Nigerians who traveled by road to Saudi Arabia to attend the Hajj are the subject of the new book “Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime” by Mallam Hafiz Akinde. They chose the difficult and only choice that was available, trekking, to fulfill their lifelong goal of obeying the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrims traveled 8000 kilometers from their home till they arrived in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, passing through African cities and the desert.
Even though it is a work of fiction, the voyage taken by our ancestors to the holy land for the Hajj was a real one, and it involved traveling thousands of kilometers over uncharted territory. The majority of pilgrims had to travel by road to fulfill this religious obligation because there were no airplanes in those days.
This long-standing custom is still going strong. Even in the twenty-first century, a lot of Muslims still walk to Saudi Arabia. Those that continue to use this unusual kind of transportation (in this day and age) obviously view it as an adventure. Recently, Shihab Chottur, a young man from Athavanad, Kerala, India, has gone on a risky trek at a time when walking to Makkah for the annual Hajj pilgrimage is almost unthinkable. This and other lovely tales are plentiful. If we look closely, we will see a common factor. Every Muslim has an intense desire to perform the Hajj.
From India to Makkah: Man Walks on Foot to Perform 2023 Hajj
Given that Hajj is one of Islam’s pillars, the desire is understandable. Additionally, it stands for the lineage of Hajar as well as the prophets Ibrahim, Ismail, and Muhammad. It’s a journey that requires faith, giving, tenacity, and submission.
This hajj tale was first written by Mallam Hafiz Akinde in 2011. The story was part of an essay entry, and it was motivated by the Hajj ticket he had won earlier in the year.
“This is a whole new experience for me, as I have never published fiction,” he said in an interview with Muslim Voice. But there’s always a first time. So, here I am doing what I love to do once again. I hope you find it a worthy read.
There are ten chapters altogether, each with a different theme. You could read the entire thing in one sitting. According to him, the plot is relevant and will make a great addition to any library.
Before August 9th, 2022, you can pre-order the new book for a discounted price.
As many have requested, the book will be made available in both soft and hard copies.
– Pre-order price for softcopy: N750
– Pre-order price for hardcopy: N1,250 (excluding delivery).
The original pricing for soft and hard copies, respectively, return to N1,000 and N1,500 after the pre-order period expires.
Pay to:
Akinde Hafiz Akinyemi
1511396646
Access Bank
Send a WhatsApp message to Mallam Hafiz with your payment receipt as soon as you have completed the transaction.
This link will direct you to his WhatsApp contact [CLICK]:
He will start preparing your order as soon as your payment is confirmed.
Please note that preorder ends on August 9th.
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