Mecca: From Before Genesis Until NowArchetype, 2004 - 46 pages In this, one of his last works, Martin Lings discusses the significance of the pilgrimage to Mecca, made annually by several million Muslims, in the light of the tradition of Abraham. Drawing upon his own experience of performing the pilgrimage first in 1946 and then in 1978, as well referring to the traditional sources, he considers the timeless spiritual meaning of the Hajj, which was proclaimed and established by Abraham and Ishmael and renewed by the Prophet Muhammad, in the context of its long history and comes to some surprising conclusions. |
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Abd al-Muttalib Abraham accept added already Arab Arafat army Baca become beginning blessed camels caravan centre centuries chief Christianity clan coming confederates continued death destroyed dimension direction Divine entered establish example face fact felt finally function gave Hagar hand holy idols immediate included Ishmael Islam Jews Ka'ba known leaders leaving less live majority means Mecca Medina mentioned Moses Mosque Muḥammad Muslims nature night oasis passed performed Pilgrimage pilgrims powerful prayer precinct Prophet question Qur'an Quraysh reach reference relative religion Revelation rite round sacred Sanctuary seen sense sent signs sons soon South speaking spiritual Stone surrounded taken tells things throughout told took tradition tribe turn unto valley virtue wall wear whereas whole women Yathrib Zamzam