Hajj: Memories of a Journey, an exhibition that tells the story and history of Makkah and the rituals of Haj, will open on September 19, at the grounds of Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, in Abu Dhabi.
Organised by the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC), which is celebrating the 10th anniversary, and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the exhibition will also bring to life the significance of the sacred practices, while underlining the evident attributes of tolerance, equality and the diversity found in Islam.
Hajj: Memories of a Journey presents a holistic narrative beginning with an exploration of the historical progression of the arrival and adoption of Islam in Arabia and evidence of the earliest centuries of Islamic practice, through key studies and archaeological sites in the UAE. A special feature of the exhibition is a collection of the Kaaba’s coverings, or ‘Kiswah’, from different historic eras, along with a collection of both public and private historic pictures from the UAE and other countries.
The exhibition bases its narrative on archived material such as artefacts, historical images, documentaries and rare transcripts, besides a variety of contemporary modern art and oral narrations that document the history of the sacred journey. There will also be a series of public programmes and educational workshops.
Ahmad Juma Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and Board Chairman of the SZGMC, said, ‘The exhibition arose from the Center’s vision. It was also inspired by the doctrines of our Islamic faith and the humanitarian and cultural virtues established by the nation’s founder, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.’