Malcolm X Post III-Religious Pilgrimages

"The literal meaning of Hajj in Arabic is to set out toward a definite objective. In Islamic Lw, it means to set out to for Ka'ba, the Sacred House, and to fulfill the pilgrimage rights" (Haley 329).

In Chapter 17, Malcolm goes on the Hajj, a traditional Islamic practice where the Muslim travels to Mecca. Why do they do this? Is it necessary? According to http://www.religioustolerance.org/isla1.htm, Muslims undergo this practice because it is one of their five, Pillars of Islam. It is estimated that 10,000 Muslim Americans make this trip a year! The definite purpose of the Hajj was dictated by Prophet Muhammad who claimed that anyone undertaking this journey would "return as a newly born baby [free of all sins]. The pilgrimmage also enables Muslims from all around the world of different colors, languages, races, and ethnicities, to come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood to worship one god together".

I found this aspect of Malcolm's life very interesting. It was interesting to learn about a new religion and the purpose for their various ceremonial rights such as the use of the rug: "I began to see what an important role the rug played in the overall cultural life of the Muslims" (Haley 334). It was also interesting how Muslims ate and slept together in order to practice brotherhood and sisterhood. 

In Hinduism, it is also common to take pilgrimages, but for different reasons. Many people from all around the world, including whites and African American's, flock to India each area to visit holy places. Some of the most popular destinations are Shirdi, Brindavan, and Ayodyha. These are very important because they are the birthplaces of people of divinity. The purpose of a pilgrimage in Hinduism is to gain benefit from the spiritual vibrations that these great persons left behind, and higher your own spiritual prospects by visiting these places. Because of this, many people meditate in these places with the help of other gurus that reside there.

 I personally have gone on one of these pilgrimages and have found it to have a profound calming effect on me. The vibrations and the feel of these places are like none other on Earth. When you go there, you feel as you are in a heavenly environment, full of peace and morality. Like many other pilgrims before me, I returned from the pilgrimage feeling humbled and serene. Therefore, in this aspect, I feel as I can relate to Malcolm in his experience of the Hajj. I can understand his influx of emotions that swelled through his body as he first entered the Holy City.