"Inside Mecca" is a National Geographic documentary that invites viewers to accompany three pilgrims on their Hajj journey and explore the intricacies of pilgrimage and religion from the inside. During the film, three characters go through seven stages of the Hajj, each of which reflects a historical event and has a symbolic meaning. In this review, I will analyze the key elements of their journey and argue that the movie effectively elucidates the key doctrines of Islam such as equality, unity, piety, purity; and emphasizes the importance of following the right path.
The film begins by introducing the main characters - an American woman with a Christian background, a black South African man and a wealthy Malaysian. These people of different socio-economic status are united by a common faith and goal to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, rooted in the pre-Islamic traditions of Arabia. Transformed by the Prophet Muhammad into a monotheistic tradition, Hajj is the duty of any Muslim who can afford it physically and financially. The rites and rituals of the Hajj are centered around the "house of Allah" - the Kaaba and have a symbolic meaning (lecture "Early Islam"). It is important to note that although "Mecca is a God's holy house" and the Kaaba is the most sacred site, Muslims do not worship them (Ishaq, p.86). They worship what they represent - the symbol of the Oneness of God. Thus, every year in the last month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims perform the Hajj as a tribute to God. As it is shown in the movie, the pilgrims are of different ethnicity, age, marital and economic status, but they follow the same spiritual path and believe in One God. They are one and equal before Him and, as it was mentioned by Rahman (1994): "The essence of all human rights is the equality of the entire human race, which the Qur'an assumed, affirmed, and confirmed. It obliterated all distinctions among men except goodness and virtue (taqwa)" (p. 45). These aspects of Islam - unity and equality - are especially emphasized in the film.
The next part of the documentary depicts the stages of the Hajj: circulating the Kaaba seven times, praying on mount Arafat, staying overnight in Muzdalifah, running seven times between al-Safa and al-Marwa, stoning of the devil in Mina and farewell tawaf. All these rites need to be performed in a state of Ihram - spiritual purity that requires patience, curtesy and respect. This is a great challenge for both body and soul that the pilgrim's faith must meet. Moreover, these rituals take place in historical sites and imitate the journey of Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad, thereby strengthening the connection with history and God. The example we see in the film is the ritual of running seven times between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa, as a tribute to Hagar's despair. According to the narration, Abraham left Hagar and Ishmael in the desert, and when they ran out of supplies, Hagar began to run desperately between the hills in search of water. In response to her struggle, God sent the Angel Gabriel to help her and a spring of water appeared in that place. Another ritual from the movie associated with Abraham is the stoning of the devil. It is believed that when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, the devil tempted him to disobey the will of God, but Abraham resisted and stoned the devil. The ritual performed by the pilgrims symbolizes the importance of following the right path and resisting evil. Similarly, the rest of the rituals and the pilgrimage itself emphasize the necessity of being pious. In its turn, piety is considered the most crucial trait of a religious man. As Rahman (1994) noted, "It (piety) denotes the fully integrated and whole personality of man, the kind of "stability" which is formed after all the positive elements are drawn in" (p.28).
Throughout the journey depicted in the documentary, the main characters make every effort to follow the right path. For instance, although Khalil Mandhlazi from South Africa, was discriminated and unwelcomed because of his skin color, he managed to let go pain and anger and did not violate the state of Ihram. Also, he donated food to local poor families, which seemed to me an especially beautiful gesture, because the Hajj does not require it - it comes from the heart.
It is believed that no pilgrim returns home the same person. The Hajj is intended to deepen the faith of Muslims and strengthen their connection with God. However, the Hajj, like so much else in everyday life, can challenge patience and force people to choose between good and evil. The mission of a religious man is always to choose the good, the right, the just - to choose God.
The film begins by introducing the main characters - an American woman with a Christian background, a black South African man and a wealthy Malaysian. These people of different socio-economic status are united by a common faith and goal to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, rooted in the pre-Islamic traditions of Arabia. Transformed by the Prophet Muhammad into a monotheistic tradition, Hajj is the duty of any Muslim who can afford it physically and financially. The rites and rituals of the Hajj are centered around the "house of Allah" - the Kaaba and have a symbolic meaning (lecture "Early Islam"). It is important to note that although "Mecca is a God's holy house" and the Kaaba is the most sacred site, Muslims do not worship them (Ishaq, p.86). They worship what they represent - the symbol of the Oneness of God. Thus, every year in the last month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims perform the Hajj as a tribute to God. As it is shown in the movie, the pilgrims are of different ethnicity, age, marital and economic status, but they follow the same spiritual path and believe in One God. They are one and equal before Him and, as it was mentioned by Rahman (1994): "The essence of all human rights is the equality of the entire human race, which the Qur'an assumed, affirmed, and confirmed. It obliterated all distinctions among men except goodness and virtue (taqwa)" (p. 45). These aspects of Islam - unity and equality - are especially emphasized in the film.
The next part of the documentary depicts the stages of the Hajj: circulating the Kaaba seven times, praying on mount Arafat, staying overnight in Muzdalifah, running seven times between al-Safa and al-Marwa, stoning of the devil in Mina and farewell tawaf. All these rites need to be performed in a state of Ihram - spiritual purity that requires patience, curtesy and respect. This is a great challenge for both body and soul that the pilgrim's faith must meet. Moreover, these rituals take place in historical sites and imitate the journey of Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad, thereby strengthening the connection with history and God. The example we see in the film is the ritual of running seven times between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa, as a tribute to Hagar's despair. According to the narration, Abraham left Hagar and Ishmael in the desert, and when they ran out of supplies, Hagar began to run desperately between the hills in search of water. In response to her struggle, God sent the Angel Gabriel to help her and a spring of water appeared in that place. Another ritual from the movie associated with Abraham is the stoning of the devil. It is believed that when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, the devil tempted him to disobey the will of God, but Abraham resisted and stoned the devil. The ritual performed by the pilgrims symbolizes the importance of following the right path and resisting evil. Similarly, the rest of the rituals and the pilgrimage itself emphasize the necessity of being pious. In its turn, piety is considered the most crucial trait of a religious man. As Rahman (1994) noted, "It (piety) denotes the fully integrated and whole personality of man, the kind of "stability" which is formed after all the positive elements are drawn in" (p.28).
Throughout the journey depicted in the documentary, the main characters make every effort to follow the right path. For instance, although Khalil Mandhlazi from South Africa, was discriminated and unwelcomed because of his skin color, he managed to let go pain and anger and did not violate the state of Ihram. Also, he donated food to local poor families, which seemed to me an especially beautiful gesture, because the Hajj does not require it - it comes from the heart.
It is believed that no pilgrim returns home the same person. The Hajj is intended to deepen the faith of Muslims and strengthen their connection with God. However, the Hajj, like so much else in everyday life, can challenge patience and force people to choose between good and evil. The mission of a religious man is always to choose the good, the right, the just - to choose God.