Hajj Procession Poetry in the Ottoman Era

Abstract

Muslims throughout the world, from the East to the West, throb with love for the holy sites. They yearn to visit them and long to perform the Hajj.

The Hajj processions in the Ottoman era are one of the most important phenomena reflecting the organizational, religious, and social aspects of Hajj.

These processions included large groups of pilgrims, marching under the supervision of the Ottoman authorities. They were well-equipped to ensure the pilgrims' safety and comfort during the journey.

This was not only a means of traveling to the holy sites; they also represented Islamic culture and social relations of the era.

This type of poetry was associated with the processions that traveled from various Islamic cities to Mecca, and was an opportunity to embody the religious and spiritual feelings felt by pilgrims on their way to the Sacred House.

The poet describes the road, the difficulties faced by the pilgrims, the stations they passed through, as well as the beauty of the holy sites and the honor of reaching them.

Hajj processional poetry is a means of conveying a vivid image of the pilgrims' journey, often embellished with rhetorical devices that reflect the artistic creativity of poets of that era.