Every year, 2 million people travel to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam. The pilgrimage, called Hajj, is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a trip that many Muslims often wait their whole lives to experience.
As Hajj begins, Muslim students at the University want to spread knowledge and understanding of their culture to other students on campus.
The University’s Muslim Student Association will host an event called The Road to Mecca today during the International Coffee Hour in the International Lounge from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Timothy Gianotti, assistant professor of religious studies, will speak about his personal experiences traveling to Mecca for Hajj. The event is informal and there will be time for people to ask questions.
Last year the group hosted a similar event that was attended by 60 people.
“We want to enhance understanding and tolerance among students and people outside the campus,” Ozgur Pala, director of the MSA, said.
Pala said the MSA hosts the events to educate people’s awareness about Islam and to show that Christianity and Islam are very similar.
“They aren’t that different,” Pala said. “We are all from Abraham, and they are both Abrahamic
religions.”
In addition to Hajj, the other four pillars of the Islamic faith are: the proclamation that there is one God, praying five times each day, fasting during Ramadan and giving alms or charity. Hajj is only obligatory for those who are both physically and financially capable of making
the pilgrimage.
“People will save their whole lives so that they can one day go to Hajj,” Pala said.
Most of the pilgrims at Hajj wear simple, white clothes that both strip away distinctions of class and culture and also resemble the traditional burial garments for Muslims. The white is to symbolize humility, equality and submission. Miles of white tents surround the area, and so many people make the pilgrimage that governments have to enforce quotas of the number allowed to go.
“There is a huge demand to go to Mecca for Hajj,” Pala said.
Before leaving for Hajj, all debts must be paid, arguments and disagreements must be settled and a will must be drawn.
“All of these gestures are an exercise in the preparations for death,” according to The American Muslim magazine. “These acts guarantee your personal and financial clearance.”
Pala said pilgrims come from around the world, and Hajj is a chance for Muslims to gather together and talk about economic and political situations.
When people return from Hajj, they are given the title of Hajje, a title of respect that either is placed in front of their names or can be used in place of their names, Pala said.
“We think that if you really want it, then God will let you do it,” Pala said. “People who have gone to Hajj are very respected.”

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