Journey to Mecca

When I arrived at the Museum of Nature & Science at Fair Park-Dallas, I found the line to be well into the middle of the lobby. The Journey to Mecca IMAX® film hosted by the Moroccan North Texas Association (MNTA) was a sell out for its only three showings on Saturday, December 12. Journey to Mecca is a first for an IMAX® camera crew of approximately 80 people from over 30 different nations to go aboard towards such a major, striving production that took place in the Gulf Region in December 2007. Present to kick-off the show was Chaib Salih, President of MNTA; Councilman Amir Omar; and Mohamed Eliabiary, Co Founder of the Freedom and Justice Foundation. Filmed as a documentary feature, it tells the astonishing story of a young 21-year old, Ibn Battuta. As his first pilgrimage between 1325 and 1326, Ibn Battuta set out on his journey from Tangier, Morocco to Mecca, Saudi Arabia which was 3,000 miles to the East. This expedition marked him the greatest explorer of the Old World.

He was questioned by a friend about his plan for this long, treacherous journey. He could not understand how he could accomplish this out in the desert on his own. After all, he was only 21-years old and could die out in the desert just from the elements itself. He told his friend that many a times he had dreams about flying to Mecca on a ‘big bird’ and that if he were to die, let it be on the journey to Mecca. Pilgrims have been risking their lives for thousands of years to reach Mecca. Ibn Battuta was no different and determined to make the journey regardless of any obstacles. Although his parents were going to miss their son, they still supported his decision. His father gave him a magnificent horse, some gold, and his blessing. His mother gave him a beautiful snow white ihram.

With a few navigation tools included, he was on his way. Throughout his journey the sand guided him by day and the stars guided him by night. The impediments did not delay in reaching him. He was soon surrounded by thieves who attacked him to steal from him. When he was about to be killed by one of the thieves, the leader decided to spare his life since he saw the ihram in his saddle pack and knew he was heading towards the Holy City of Mecca for the pilgrimage. How great Allah (SWT) is when His creation does something for the sake of Him.

He was left to continue his journey. As he went on his way, the desert’s sun, heat, and sand storms became so overwhelming to him that he began to hallucinate. He was found by a Bedouin family who took him to their camp and nourished him back to health. The leader of the thieves who stole from him previously happened to be a member of the camp and once again they meet. This time it was under better circumstances to where they befriend each other. Taking into consideration his weak condition when they found him, he advised him to continue his journey with a caravan from Syria. It was reiterated to him his chances of survival would be much better if he traveled with a group of people instead of on his own. Being a young lad of 21, he felt he was strong enough to take on any challenge to reach Mecca because it was the greatest of all journeys. Moreover, he already felt he was being protected by Allah (SWT) because he was doing this for the sake of Him and remembered the saying from the Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) about seeking knowledge even if you wind up in China.

As the friendship flourished between the two, the leader offered to escort him and provide him protection until he reached Cairo where Ibn Battuta was to meet with a friend. There is where their travels together came to an end. After leaving his friend’s home, this time he continued on his journey in a camel with the caravan. Many people died along the way. The heat and sand storms were too much to endure for many. The caravan finally made it to Mecca. It made him feel so accelerating especially when he climbed to the Mountain of Mercy in Arafat where the Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) gave his last speech.

Ibn Battuta was away from his home and family for many years. He was known to have traveled three times more than Marco Polo. The dreams he was constantly having in the past were relevant to what the pilgrims of the 21-Century are now experiencing; they are the ones now flying to Mecca on a ‘big bird’---an airplane. This is the premonition he was having; however, it was not going to transpire in his lifetime. The time span between 1325/1326 to the 21-Century is indeed a massive comparison between the pilgrims from back then to the pilgrims today. When Allah (SWT) allowed me to do Umrah last year I could not believe my eyes with all the construction going on around the Haram. So much had changed in just two years after I did my Hajj. Even then we were driven around from place-to-place in air-conditioned buses and stayed in air-conditioned tents in Mena. Although Saudi Arabia is trying to improve conditions to make it more pleasant for the over 3-million pilgrims that perform Hajj every year, it brings back to mind of a Hadeeth regarding the ‘Signs of the Hour’ when the Prophet Mohammed (SWT) said, “The slave girl will give birth to her mistress and you will see barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds competing in constructing lofty buildings.” Something does not feel right about the eradication of the diminishing historic landmarks. Few structures remain in Mecca today that date back to the time of the Prophet (SAWS) over 1,400 years ago. What makes it dreadful too is the Al-Ajyad Fortress built by the Ottomans to defend the Ka’aba and house pilgrims is now covered by shopping centers including one nicknamed “The American Mall.” Yet more luxury hotels and apartments continue to spring up right across the Ka’aba with room service and spas. I think this would be enough to make Ibn Battuta turn in his grave….are we going to the Holy Land of Mecca to fulfill our fifth pillar ordained by Allah (SWT) like he ordained us to do or are we going for some ‘R and R and shop till we drop’? No wonder many of the native Meccans can be so rude at times. Can we blame them?

Nevertheless, I pray and hope Allah (SWT) will allow us all to make the Hajj and accept it regardless of how we get there and the accommodations we have during our time and journey. Ibn Battuta’s journey is just one of more meaning to me, more awesome, and more glorious when something terrible is about to happen to you and Allah (SWT) comes to your rescue and makes it easy on you. This is far more rewarding than the comfort we are spoiled into sometimes and take for granted. How worthy he must have felt in his heart and soul of an experience of a life time that he could take with him to his grave. The film received such a great response with a sell out shortly after tickets were ready to be purchased on the internet that the MNTA opened up two more showings, one at 5:00 p.m. and the other at 9:30 p.m. According to Chaib Salih, the film will not come out for sell on DVD until sometime in 2011. At present it is being circulated throughout the country through certain organizations only. The one day IMAX® film showing in Dallas was estimated to have had approximately 1,500 viewers.