A Post by Imogen Reed.
As participants in the hajj, Muslims are able to join in a journey to Mecca where they can practise one of the five pillars of their faith. It is both a spiritual and a physical journey, which is something that the British Museum, in London, has tried to capture in a much-acclaimed exhibition called Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam that has just celebrated a month since its opening and is open to visitors until mid April.
Audience
As non-Muslims are not permitted to undertake the Hajj, the Western world has always been fascinated by the mystery of this great Muslim tradition. The museum’s director, Neil MacGregor, says: ‘In
particular, the exhibition will allow non-Muslims to explore the one aspect of Islamic practice and faith which they are not able to witness.’ Improving understanding in a continent where many speak of Islamophobia is welcome indeed. Rather than sitting back and thinking about your need to order Propecia, renew your library books or send that birthday card, consider visiting the exhibit and immersing yourself in an aspect of another culture that has previously been closely guarded.
Yet it is not just intended for Westerners and MacGregor says that the exhibition intends to reach to a ‘global audience’. Muslims are indeed among those visiting the exhibition and are invited to give their views on the experience of the Hajj on the museum’s website. Muslim visitors to the exhibition have praised the wealth of artefacts on show of the exhibition, which claims to be the first such exhibition about the Hajj on this scale.
Exhibits
The exhibition juxtaposes old and new. An eighth-century Koran which is thought to be one of the oldest surviving copies, on loan from the British Library, is on display. Yet the exhibition also hosts works by artist and Saudi national Ahmed Mater, who saw a resemblance between the gravitation of iron filings towards a magnet and the draw of many devoted Muslims to the Kabah and has illustrated this in his work – last year the pilgrimage is said to have numbered three million.
Centuries-old accounts of journeys to Mecca are displayed alongside Hajj certificates and tickets for pilgrims issued by Thomas Cook. Another highlight is a striking red silk tent that would have been the centrepiece in a camel caravan carrying pilgrims from Cairo to Mecca. These exhibits focus on the journey itself, reflecting the first of the three aspects of the exhibition, the actual journey that pilgrims had to make to reach Mecca. Other aspects comprising the exhibition are the rituals, experience and meaning of the Hajj to Muslims around the world and, finally, the importance of Mecca itself.
Backing
The British Museum worked in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to set up the exhibition and Saudi Arabia is among thirteen countries that have loaned artefacts. For example, a seetanah that covers the door to the Kabah was carefully transported to London for the event. The library’s General Supervisor, Faysal Muammar, said he hoped the exhibition would be a source of ‘inspiration and enlightenment’ to all those who visit and attended its opening alongside Saudi officials.
The curator’s exhibition was Pakistan-born British-Muslim Qasira Khan, who actually undertook the Hajj last year as part of her preparation and has included some of her souvenirs in the cabinets. She said that the experience changed her view of the exhibition. She added: “They say that when you go on Hajj it is due to an invitation by God and my invitation must have been due that year.”
Groans
Visitors have complained about delays to the time they were allocated for their visit and that once inside the exhibition it was very crowded. Though entrance to the museum itself is free, tickets for this exhibition must be booked and paid for. At 12 British pounds (around 1,730 Pakistani rupees or almost 20 US dollars) the tickets are not cheap. Although this reflects the enormous expense that must have been involved in mounting such a display, it is also likely to put off many of the visitors it seeks to attract and teach about Islam.
Many of us are far from London and are more likely to participate in the Hajj than to travel to London. But the exhibition should be praised for its efforts to educate through various talks and school programmes and for shining a spotlight onto the enormously rich culture associated with this noble and holy experience of Islam.
As participants in the hajj, Muslims are able to join in a journey to Mecca where they can practise one of the five pillars of their faith. It is both a spiritual and a physical journey, which is something that the British Museum, in London, has tried to capture in a much-acclaimed exhibition called Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam that has just celebrated a month since its opening and is open to visitors until mid April.
Audience
As non-Muslims are not permitted to undertake the Hajj, the Western world has always been fascinated by the mystery of this great Muslim tradition. The museum’s director, Neil MacGregor, says: ‘In
particular, the exhibition will allow non-Muslims to explore the one aspect of Islamic practice and faith which they are not able to witness.’ Improving understanding in a continent where many speak of Islamophobia is welcome indeed. Rather than sitting back and thinking about your need to order Propecia, renew your library books or send that birthday card, consider visiting the exhibit and immersing yourself in an aspect of another culture that has previously been closely guarded.
Yet it is not just intended for Westerners and MacGregor says that the exhibition intends to reach to a ‘global audience’. Muslims are indeed among those visiting the exhibition and are invited to give their views on the experience of the Hajj on the museum’s website. Muslim visitors to the exhibition have praised the wealth of artefacts on show of the exhibition, which claims to be the first such exhibition about the Hajj on this scale.
Exhibits
The exhibition juxtaposes old and new. An eighth-century Koran which is thought to be one of the oldest surviving copies, on loan from the British Library, is on display. Yet the exhibition also hosts works by artist and Saudi national Ahmed Mater, who saw a resemblance between the gravitation of iron filings towards a magnet and the draw of many devoted Muslims to the Kabah and has illustrated this in his work – last year the pilgrimage is said to have numbered three million.
Centuries-old accounts of journeys to Mecca are displayed alongside Hajj certificates and tickets for pilgrims issued by Thomas Cook. Another highlight is a striking red silk tent that would have been the centrepiece in a camel caravan carrying pilgrims from Cairo to Mecca. These exhibits focus on the journey itself, reflecting the first of the three aspects of the exhibition, the actual journey that pilgrims had to make to reach Mecca. Other aspects comprising the exhibition are the rituals, experience and meaning of the Hajj to Muslims around the world and, finally, the importance of Mecca itself.
Backing
The British Museum worked in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to set up the exhibition and Saudi Arabia is among thirteen countries that have loaned artefacts. For example, a seetanah that covers the door to the Kabah was carefully transported to London for the event. The library’s General Supervisor, Faysal Muammar, said he hoped the exhibition would be a source of ‘inspiration and enlightenment’ to all those who visit and attended its opening alongside Saudi officials.
The curator’s exhibition was Pakistan-born British-Muslim Qasira Khan, who actually undertook the Hajj last year as part of her preparation and has included some of her souvenirs in the cabinets. She said that the experience changed her view of the exhibition. She added: “They say that when you go on Hajj it is due to an invitation by God and my invitation must have been due that year.”
Groans
Visitors have complained about delays to the time they were allocated for their visit and that once inside the exhibition it was very crowded. Though entrance to the museum itself is free, tickets for this exhibition must be booked and paid for. At 12 British pounds (around 1,730 Pakistani rupees or almost 20 US dollars) the tickets are not cheap. Although this reflects the enormous expense that must have been involved in mounting such a display, it is also likely to put off many of the visitors it seeks to attract and teach about Islam.
Many of us are far from London and are more likely to participate in the Hajj than to travel to London. But the exhibition should be praised for its efforts to educate through various talks and school programmes and for shining a spotlight onto the enormously rich culture associated with this noble and holy experience of Islam.
There is a 'Journey to Mecca: Hajj Exhibition' planned for Autumn Half Term Week (30Oct to 04 Nov 2012) by www.globalpindd.org in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
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