Saudi- Exhibition documents pilgrims trip 100 years ago

(MENAFN- Arab News) In a unique initiative, Dar Al-Hikmah College, a women's educational institution, has organized an exhibition of rare photographs titled "Pilgrims to Makkah in 1908," documenting the condition of Egyptian pilgrims coming to Makkah and Madinah. The pictures were taken through the camera of Muhammad Husaini in 1908. The exhibition opened on Sept. 29 and will continue till Oct. 3. The pictures show the many details of the Haj journey that started from Egypt and ended in the holy places, documenting the various stages and rituals of the Haj. The Charitable Heritage Foundation (CHF) provided this rare collection of pictures in the book entitled "Pilgrims to Makkah 1908," in cooperation with the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies in Cairo. Usamah Al-Jawhari, secretary general of CHF, said: "CHF is supporting this exhibition by providing 53 rare historic pictures showing pilgrims coming to perform Haj in 1908. These pictures throw fascinating light on the Haj season of those times. We look at the exhibition as an opportunity to provide a bridge between Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic world." Dar Al-Hikmah College encourages such curricular and extracurricular activities, because they enrich the cultural and literary experience of students. Suhair Al-Qurashi, dean of the college, said: "We are happy to be part of this rich experience. I would like to thank CHF for their support and because they gave our students and our Saudi society the opportunity to introduce the people to the documented history of Haj." A couple of lectures were delivered during the exhibition, one in English under the title "Haj and the world order" and the other in Arabic, under the title "Prophetic remnants in Hejaz and Makkah."