Hajj

Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam Exhibition at the British Museum

• The exhibition took place at the British Museum in London from January to April 2012.
• It was the world's first major exhibition on the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.
• The exhibition displayed textiles, manuscripts, historical documents, photographs, and art works from many countries and eras to illustrate the themes of travel to Mecca, hajj rituals, and the Kaaba.
• More than 200 objects were included from 40 public and private collections in 14 countries, with the largest contributor being David Khalili's family trust.
• The exhibition was formally opened by Prince Charles and Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, son of King Abdullah, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
• It was popular with both Muslims and non-Muslims, attracting nearly 120,000 adult visitors and favourable press reviews.
• The success of the exhibition inspired other museums to stage their own hajj-themed exhibitions with contributions from the Khalili Collection.
• An exhibition catalogue with essays about the hajj, edited by Venetia Porter, was published by the British Museum in 2012, along with a shorter illustrated guide to the hajj.
• The hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
• The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to God.
• The hajj consists of several distinct rituals, including the tawaf, wuquf, and ramy al-jamarāt, all centered around the Kaaba.
• The exhibition was planned over a two-year period and included research projects funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, with the lead curator being Venetia Porter and the project curator Qaisra Khan.