In pursuit of depth

One more pilgrimage (Hajj) has been completed safely and without problems. I particularly emphasize the lack of problems, because – as those who follow the matter will know – the history of the Hajj over the last 50 years is full of painful incidents. Stampedes, fires, traffic accidents – thousands of Muslims lost their lives within the borders of the Haram simply due to poor organization and inexperience in managing mass movements. So much so that in some cases, even the real death toll was not disclosed; the figures were only reported to the countries concerned.

With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman effectively taking over the administration of Saudi Arabia from 2017 onward, a visible order was brought to the performance of the Hajj and Umrah. First of all, performing Hajj illegally was made impossible, and penalties were raised to astronomical levels. Security measures were tightened, automation was introduced at border crossings, and arbitrary practices that caused long waiting times were eliminated. Because significant items in the announced 2030 Vision project are allocated to revenues from the Hajj and Umrah, the goal was to have as many people as possible visit Mecca and Medina. Within this framework, massive hotel constructions were undertaken, expansion projects in Mecca were accelerated, an online visa system was introduced, individual Umrah was made easier, every part of Mecca and Medina was opened to visitation and tourism, and everywhere was equipped with tourist facilities. Places that in previous periods were not even allowed to be set foot on for religious reasons have now become the main promotional material for the Saudi Arabian Tourism Ministry’s advertisement videos…

The Saudi Arabian ulama are also involved, in order to meet the ever-increasing demand – which is understood will continue to increase. For example, the following discourse has begun to be voiced by many senior scholars and influential figures: The whole of Mecca is a sanctuary (Haram); the Haram does not only mean the Masjid al-Haram. In this framework, it is being said that even if they are far from the Kaaba, the prayer performed in the hotels’ prayer rooms will be equivalent to the prayer performed in the Masjid al-Haram. It is quite clear that these noteworthy and controversial definitions aim to reduce the congestion and density in the center of Mecca.

As possibilities and options increase in areas such as transportation, accommodation, and comfort, the demand for the Hajj and Umrah will also multiply. We might even consider social media as a kind of incentive. We have begun to experience just the edge of it; those who come after us will encounter constant, very crowded visits to Mecca and Medina, focused entirely on pleasure and comfort. From now on, people will go to the Haramayn to fulfill their duty, but will need to exert much more effort than before for tranquility and inner peace. I think those who have visited those places from the 1990s to the present day, and thus have had the chance to observe the transformation on the ground, will understand what I am saying much better.

In this new, fast, outward-looking, advertising-heavy – social-media-heavy – version of the Hajj and Umrah, what is diminished is not only tranquility and inner peace. There is also no atmosphere that would allow Muslims coming from different geographies and gathering in the Hejaz to build a common consciousness, nor one that encourages them in that direction. In fact, it is not even possible to sit down, talk, get to know each other, and bond. Because the circulation is lightning-fast; it is almost impossible to stop and catch one’s breath. Keeping in mind the unpleasant incidents of previous years, the Saudi administration wants Muslims to complete their rites as soon as possible and quickly return to their countries. The haste and rushing at every stage of the worship clearly show this.

There is a general acceptance, as we know, that the Hajj is the annual congress of the Ummah. Given both the point that the Hajj has reached in recent years and the extreme diversification of communication possibilities, perhaps we are coming to times when we need to question this acceptance as well – I don’t know. Still, as emphasized in the verse I mentioned in my previous article, we are obliged to discover those benefits promised to us during the Hajj. Amidst today’s chaos, colorful splendor, misleading glitter, and concrete walls, we must run after that depth.