Talk:History of the Hajj

Article has Islamic POV
I think the Origin part should be shortened and inserted in an Islamic tradition section, and the pre-Islamic section should be secularized rather than told from an Islamic perspective as it is now. TahaGhassemi (talk) 06:24, 2 September 2017 (UTC)

Similar images
There are currently four black-and-white images from around 1910 near the historical section. I think by substituting one or two of these we can give a more colourful view of the Hajj and cover a wider range of history, so that is what I will do. MartinPoulter (talk) 16:50, 9 July 2021 (UTC)

Many additions needed
I would encourage other, more capable editors to look into the changes made during the rule of Ibn Saud, founder of Saudi Arabia. I suggest more open-minded, perhaps non-Muslim editors... since it appears there is a fairly considerable whitewash happening. Huge changes took place due to Ibn Saud's Wahhabist beliefs. One example is that the Egyptian practice of taking the mahmal on the hajj was deemed illegal, and many Egyptian pilgrims were actually beaten severely for attempting it. Over 98% of Islamic historical sites, like the homes of many figures in Islam, were destroyed so that no one could visit them, since it's deemed idolatrous to the Wahhabist Saudis. Many more changes than this occurred, and it's not found anywhere in this article, the main Hajj article, or even in the "mahmal" article. It really does seem like a concerted effort to erase that aspect of Saudi history. Perhaps a good start for anyone interested in compiling citations and information on this issue: https://www.ihrc.org.uk/whose-hajj-is-it-anyway/

Bzzzing (talk) 18:47, 26 March 2023 (UTC)

Darb el-Hajj needs own article + more info here
A must. Arminden (talk) 15:40, 4 February 2024 (UTC)


 * A starting point, with a much simplified, useful intro: Rawan Radwan (July 05, 2022). "Historic routes to Makkah symbolize Hajj pilgrims’ devotion to their faith" (short URL here) at Arab News, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With didactic map of 5 main routes.
 * Darb Zubaydah has a detailed presentation on UNESCO website. The others must be searched for piece by piece. Arminden (talk) 18:20, 4 February 2024 (UTC)
 * This list should be processed together with the Hejaz railway stations, as they largely overlap and present similar identification and linking issues (see Talk:Hejaz railway).
 * This list is from an Islamic Wiki (here) who mirrors Wikipedia, but on Wikipedia it's less visible and I cannot find it - is it under categories? Question: I found the full Syrian route, but where are the other ones?
 * Ottoman hajj routes
 * Syrian route

In Jordan, the Ottoman khans are fortified inns for pilgrims, which are called in different ways - khan, qal'a/qil'a, or manzil.
 * 1. Sulaymaniyya Takiyya
 * 2. Maydan
 * 3. Kiswa (Al-Kiswah)
 * 4. Khan Dannun
 * 5. Ghabaghib
 * 6. Sanamayn
 * 7. Muzayrib
 * 8. Mafraq: Khan or Qal'at el-Mafraq
 * (No No., not in initial list) Manzil al-Zarqa/Qasr Shabib
 * 9. Birkat Zizia: Manzil or Qal'at Zizya
 * 10. Dab'a(h): Manzil or Qal'at Dab'ah (see pin map at Theeb: Qasr Dab'ah about 40 km SSE of Amman; Amman Governorate)
 * 11. Qatrana: Khan Qatrana (Qasr al-Qatraneh)
 * 12. Hasa (Hasa, Jordan. See Wadi Hasa): Khan al-Hasa
 * 13. Uneiza ('Unayzah, in Husseiniyeh (Al-Ḥuseīniyah), Ma'an, Jordan; create 'Unayzah, Ma'an, as there are at least 2 more): Khan al-'Unayzah
 * 14. Ma'an: Manzilt or Qal'at Ma'an
 * 15. Fassu'a: Manzilt or Qal'at Fassu'a
 * 16. Mudawwara (see Qal'at Mudawwara): Manzilt al-Mudawwara/Qal'at
 * 17. Dhat al-Hajj
 * 18. Tabuk
 * 19. Qalandariyya (Qalandariyya, Tabuk)
 * 20. al-Ukhaydir (Al-Ukhaydir, Tabuk Province: Qal'at al-Akhdar)
 * 21. Mu'azzam (Mu'azzam, Saudi Arabia)
 * 22. Dar al-Hamra
 * 23. Mada'in Saleh
 * 24. Al-'Ula
 * 25. Bir al-Ghannam
 * 26. Zumurrud (Zumurrud, Saudi Arabia)
 * 27. Sawrah
 * 28. Hadiyya (Hadiyyah, Al Madinah)
 * 29. Nakhlatayn
 * 30. Wadi al-Qura
 * 31. Hafira (Al Hafirah, Al Madinah)
 * Not sure these are all; I used copy & paste. Medina might well be right after Hafira, then we have all.

Arminden (talk) 19:37, 26 March 2024 (UTC)


 * I've added to the article the chain of Ottoman khans from the Syrian route developed here-above. It is very useful as such, but too much for the format of the current article: it needs to be moved to a spin-off page, where all following work can be added. Summing up:
 * The Ottoman Syrian hajj route needs its own page.
 * I suggest working at it in parallel with the Hejaz railway page.
 * The other routes need similar work (Iraq, Egypt, plus Maghreb, Caucasus, Central Asia, India and SE Asia).
 * Arminden (talk) 09:08, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Started two related drafts in 2018, but never got back to them. See Hajj caravan route and Syrian caravan. Please feel free to use or take from these to start a new article. Very important aspect of Islamic history until the tail end of Ottoman rule. --Al Ameer (talk) 02:44, 30 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you! Yes it surely is. Let's see if I'll have the energy, I'm more into sites, writing about the phenomenon requires far more knowledge. Arminden (talk) 09:27, 30 March 2024 (UTC)