Islamic Religious Practice and Pilgrimage: Early Twentieth Century Photograph of Pilgrims on Mount Arafat During the Hajj

Hajj Pilgrimage

Photograph

Early twentieth century photograph documenting the Hajj pilgrimage at Mount Arafat near Mecca, one of the central ritual sites of the annual Islamic pilgrimage required of Muslims able to undertake the journey. The gathering at Mount Arafat, often called the “Standing at Arafat,” forms the spiritual climax of the Hajj and brings together pilgrims from across the Islamic world for collective prayer and reflection. Photographic documentation of the pilgrimage during the early twentieth century provides visual evidence of the scale of participation in the ritual and of the sacred geography surrounding Mecca before the large scale infrastructural expansions of the later twentieth century.

Original black and white photograph depicting thousands of Muslim pilgrims assembled on the slopes and summit of Mount Arafat, also known as the Mount of Mercy, outside Mecca. Circa 1930. The image records the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage when pilgrims gather at the site for communal prayer and supplication. Arabic writing appears in the lower right corner of the image. The photograph measures approximately 3.5 x 5.5 inches.

The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca represents one of the five pillars of Islam and has drawn pilgrims from across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia for centuries. By the early twentieth century photography had become an important medium for documenting Islamic religious life and the movement of pilgrims across the Arabian Peninsula. Images of Mount Arafat are particularly significant because the site marks the central moment of the pilgrimage, when participants gather for collective prayer believed to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon and the broader Islamic tradition associated with the location. Light age toning and minor handling wear; overall very good condition. A clear early photographic record of one of the most important ritual gatherings in the Islamic world.

Item #14938

Price: $750.00