Pilgrimage journeys from Africa to Mecca through the observations of European Orientalists (John Lewis Burkhardt )

Abstract

This study examines the Hajj journey from Africa to Mecca from the perspective of the Swiss Orientalist John Lewis Burckhardt, one of the most prominent European travelers of the early nineteenth century. It highlights the religious, cultural, social, and political dimensions of this journey as documented in his writings. The study begins with a comprehensive definition of Hajj and its importance in Islam, as it is the fifth pillar of the religion and a manifestation of unity and equality among Muslims. It then examines the concept of Orientalism, its multiple definitions, and the diversity of its motivations, ranging from scientific to ideological.

The study focuses on Burckhardt's upbringing and biography, his involvement with the African Society in London, his planning of the journey by assuming the identity of a Muslim named "Sheikh Ibrahim," and his meticulous documentation of his travels from the Levant to the Hijaz, via Sudan and Egypt, with the aim of penetrating Islamic and African societies. The research also highlights the anthropological, geographical, and religious dimensions of his journey, particularly his visit to Mecca and his performance of the Hajj pilgrimage while assuming the role of a Muslim, transcending the boundaries of exploration into a profound socio-religious interaction with the environment in which he lived.