British Museum all set to host exhibition on journey to Haj LONDON — The British Museum will launch its first exhibition dedicated to Haj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Makkah. In collaboration and partnership with King Abdulaziz Public Library (KAPL), the British Museum in London will open the Haj: Journey to The Heart of Islam exhibition on Jan. 26. It will be the first major exhibition committed to the Haj, exploring the importance and history of this religious journey to be hosted ever in the British capital. The exhibition will showcase in details how more than three million Muslims annually perform Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam. It will also highlight the efforts being exerted by Saudi Arabia in serving pilgrims and the development and expansion of Makkah and its Grand Mosque as well as other holy sites to accommodate the increasing numbers of pilgrims and visitors and to facilitate their performance of Haj. In a statement, Qaisra Khan, project curator in the department of the Middle East section at the British Museum said the Haj exhibition explains the importance of pilgrimage since the early days of starting this Islamic ritual, and also displays the first Haj journey of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “The exhibition also focuses on the Haj journey with time and geography to our present days in addition to reviewing the meanings of Haj. It highlights the fact that the pilgrimage is a ritual, and a peaceful phenomenon, and that Islam is a religion of peace, since nobody dare hurt the feelings of others or anyone during the Haj journey,” Ms. Khan asserted. She said the exhibition would be “a great opportunity” for non-Muslims to understand the importance and significance of the annual pilgrimage. Neil MacGregor, Director of British Museum, said the Haj exhibition's importance is highlighted from several aspects and its message has both “cultural and historical sides”. The exhibition includes new photos, recent and old movies as well as models provided by King Abdulaziz Public Library, reflecting the big development witnessed by Makkah and the holy sites as a result of the great attention accorded to them by the prudent leadership of Saudi Arabia since the era of the King Abdulaziz Al-Saud, till the era of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Commenting on the exhibition, Karen Armstrong, British author and commentator, highlighted the meanings of Haj, such as peace, tolerance, noting that these meanings were clear in the biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “The exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to understand each other,” he said. “I think that the exhibition will represent for non-Muslims an opportunity for a deep understanding of Islam from its spiritual and its quest for peace instead of the myths circulating in the Western media about Islam,” Armstrong added. Dr. Venetia Porter, Curator of the Islamic Collections in the Department of Asia at the British Museum, said the pilgrimage journey is “important and interesting”. Other senior officials at the British Museum praised the efforts exerted by the Saudi Embassy in the United Kingdom and KAPL. Prince Muhammad Bin Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, has set up a committee under his own chairmanship which includes members from KPAL and the Saudi embassy. The committee holds weekly meetings since an agreement was signed between the British Museum and KPAL for the exhibition. The committee strives to ensure the success of the exhibition and provide the true image of the meaning of Islamic tolerance, peace, unity and brotherhood that is witnessed during the annual Haj rital. The exhibition will conclude on April 15.
