A journey of walking into change

Some journeys in life are not measured in miles but in meaning. Such is the nature of pilgrimage; it is not merely a trip, but a calling. It invites you to step into the unfamiliar and walk a path paved with questions. A pilgrimage begins when a place stirs something deep within your soul, and before you know it, your feet are already moving towards it.

Pilgrimage is often seen as the art of walking with intention. As a concept, it usually involves a journey or search for moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a physical journey to a shrine or sacred site that holds religious importance. But sometimes, pilgrimage can also be a metaphorical journey, an inward exploration of one’s own beliefs.

In fact, many religions attach deep spiritual value to specific locations and places where founders or saints were born or died, where they experienced spiritual awakenings, or where miracles occurred. These sacred sites are often commemorated with shrines or temples that followers are encouraged to visit. Hence, pilgrimage as a ritual is deeply rooted in faith.

Pilgrims may go in search of healing, answers, or other spiritual rewards when performing pilgrimage. They perform pilgrimage to reclaim a part of themselves they feel they have lost, to experience forgiveness, or to renew their spirit. Some walk barefoot. Some carry stones. Some travel alone. Others are carried along in the stories, prayers, or dreams of those who love them.

However, in Islam, pilgrimage — known as Haj — marks one of the Five Pillars of the faith. These pillars form the foundation of a Muslim’s beliefs. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able is obligated to perform Haj at least once in their lifetime. Haj involves a series of sacred rituals and practices, some of which must be performed in a specific order. These rituals are spiritually, emotionally, and physically demanding, but they offer profound rewards.

Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to perform Haj. It takes place during the same time each year, in the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Haj begins on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and lasts approximately five to six days. Its rituals are being performed in different locations and at different times of the day.

Muslims are commanded by Allah to fulfil this sacred pilgrimage, as mentioned in the Qur’an: “You will enter the Sacred Masjid, God willing, perfectly secure, and you will cut your hair or shorten it (as you fulfil the pilgrimage rituals) there. You will not have any fear. Since He knew what you did not know, He has coupled this with an immediate victory.”

Pilgrimage in Islam dates back to 628 CE when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions performed the first Islamic pilgrimage. He was instructed by Allah to revive the traditions established by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), centuries earlier. Under divine guidance, the Prophet Ibrahim travelled to the empty desert of Makkah, where he built the Kaaba and performed acts of worship.

Ultimately, pilgrimage is more than a journey to a sacred place; it is an opportunity to detach from everyday distractions, reflect on life, and reconnect with one’s faith and values. It is both an outward and inward experience for Muslims, offering them moments of solitude, silence and often, unexpected companionship.

A pilgrimage may begin with a map, but it quickly becomes something more. You start to notice how the earth feels beneath your feet, how the sky shifts in response to your intentions, and how silence speaks in its own way. The road doesn't just lead to a destination, it listens, it responds, and it changes you. As the saying goes, “A journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul.”