There is no place on Earth as venerated, as central or as holy to as many people as Makkah. By any objective standard, this valley in the Hijaz region of Arabia is the most celebrated place on Earth. Thousands circle the sacred Kaaba at the centre of the Haram sanctuary 24 hours a day. Millions of homes are adorned with pictures of it and over a billion face it five times a day. Read More »
He was an adventurer, a scholar, and possibly a spy — but as Dutchman Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje proved with his rare 1885 photographs and sound recordings of Mecca, he was also a pioneering multimedia journalist. Snouck's extraordinary collection of sepia-tinted images of Mecca in a bygone age have gone on ... Read More »
A massive project aims to modernize transit in the holy city, which is expected to see as many as eight million pilgrims a year by 2030; Canadian engineers are part of the solution. Read More »
I always imagined the drive scenery to be flat and bare, like driving through the Sahara desert. But I was surprised to see quite a bit of variation, even in the colors of the sand. Read More »
The following are simply some of my reflections/takeaways from my recent trip to Mecca and Madinah for umrah. For those of you who have been there before, these words will insha Allah bring forth some memories to the forefront of your consciousness; those who have not, insha Allah these words will serve as motivation for you to plan your first trip ASAP! One thing’s for sure…this trip is unlike any other that you’ll ever take in your life. Read More »
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