How was Hajj done in the old days?

As the day of Hajj approaches, users on social media share information, photos and videos related to Hajj. In these pictures, the scenes and conditions of performing Hajj rituals in the past can be seen.

Along with this, in these pictures, the details of the extraordinary efforts made by Saudi Arabia for the facilities of the pilgrims in the past are also revealed.

On social media, pictures of the days spent during Hajj decades ago and the pilgrims present in Mina have been published.

According to Al-Arabiya Urdu, ancient scenes of Tawaf, throwing pebbles, and waqf of Arafa can also be seen in these photos.

In these pictures, it can be seen how caravans of pilgrims used to reach Hijaz on camels and other animals.

In the past years, pilgrims had to face great difficulties. According to these historical references, the journey of Hajj in the past was difficult and fraught with dangers.

In the viral photos, camels can be seen showing how people used to travel on Hajj on them in the old days.

The scenes of the caravans of pilgrims stopping and cooking their food are no less surprising.

Pilgrims used to walk from their localities to the holy places for several days. They also had to face the harshness and intensity of the weather. In this patient journey, the pilgrims had to face extreme heat, scorching sun and heavy stormy rains.

Hajj journey

Ahmed Halabi, an expert on Hajj and Umrah services in Saudi Arabia, told Al Arabiya.net that before the establishment of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz, the Hajj journey was full of dangers.

‘Pilgrims had to face many difficulties, lack of roads, paths and means of transport. People used to travel for months on camels through barren valleys, hot deserts, jungles and deserts.’

He further said that the people of the past had started making proverbs regarding this situation. Due to the arduous journey of Hajj, an Arabic proverb means something like this: ‘He who goes on Hajj disappears and he who returns from Hajj is as if he has been reborn.’

He adds in this regard that ‘This was a phrase that was spoken by more or less every pilgrim at the time of departure for Hajj. If he returns safely after performing Hajj, it is as if he has started a new life.’

He said that for hundreds of years caravans used to travel on camels, pilgrims used to carry their goods and fodder with them.

Some used to travel on donkeys and cross the mountains on foot with camels as this was the only means of transport in the past.’

About the transportation of pilgrims, Al-Halabi said that the transportation and journey of the pilgrims was started from Jeddah to Makkah, Madinah and the holy places ‘Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina’.

Camels were also taken special care during the Hajj journey and were not burdened with more than ganjash.