Riyadh, May 12, 2024, As Muslims strive to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam and arrive in Makkah, convoys of pilgrims have traversed numerous routes and paths towards the Grand Mosque. Their hearts are filled with eagerness to perform Hajj rituals; consequently, various groups and individuals have embarked on this pilgrimage with their diverse nationalities from all over the world.
Throughout the ancient Hajj routes, individuals observed advantages in commerce, disseminated cultures and knowledge, and influenced the societal structure of the gatherings along these routes. Thus, these routes served as a bridge of communication among Islamic cities bustling with activity in earlier eras.
Some of these Hajj routes include notable journeys such as the Zubaydah trail and the Iraqi, Levantine, Egyptian, Yemeni, and Omani pilgrim routes.
Historical records have documented the existence of seven primary routes that once led to Makkah and Madinah. Among these routes is the Kufa/Makkah route, which held great significance during the Islamic era as a major pilgrimage and trade route. It became renowned as the "Zubaydah Trail" in honour of Zubaydah bint Jaafar bin Abi Jaafar Al-Mansur, the wife of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid. Zubaydah played a significant role in its construction, ensuring its enduring legacy throughout the ages. This route served pilgrims travelling from Baghdad, passing through Kufa in Iraq, and traversing the northern and central regions of the Kingdom until reaching Makkah. Its total length within the Kingdom's territory exceeds 1400 km, spanning five regions: the Northern Border, Hail, Qassim, Madinah, and Makkah Regions.
The route has been utilized since the conquest of Iraq and the expansion of Islam in the Levant. It has thrived particularly during the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphate. Over time, its usage has become increasingly frequent and accessible. The route has transformed various water centres, grazing areas, and mining sites into significant stations.
During the Abbasid era, the route connecting Baghdad, the Two Holy Mosques, and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula gained significant importance. The Abbasid caliphs took great care of this route and implemented various measures to enhance its functionality. They constructed water basins, dug wells, established ponds, and built minarets along the road. Additionally, they worked towards expanding the route to accommodate the needs of pilgrims, travellers, and their animals.
According to historical and geographical sources, the route was designed distinctively and efficiently. Stations and rest houses were constructed along it, and its surface was paved with stones in sandy or muddy areas. Additionally, the route was equipped with essential amenities such as wells, ponds, and dams.
The Basra/Makkah route is the second most significant route. It starts from the city of Basra and passes through the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula in Wadi Al-Batin. It traverses various desert regions, the most challenging of which is the Al-Dahna Desert.
It continues on through the Qassim region, renowned for its abundant fresh water, fertile valleys, and springs. The route runs parallel to the Kufa-Makkah road and converges at Um Khurman or Awtas, situated ten miles from the Dhat Irq site.
The Basra road intersects with the main road extending from Kufa in the Ma'dan Al-Naqrah area, from where a road leads to Madinah.
The road spans about 1,200 km and features 27 main stations, with four currently located within the Kuwaiti and Iraqi borders, while the remaining stations are situated in Saudi Arabia.
The third road is the Egyptian (and North African) Hajj Road, used by Egyptian pilgrims and those from Morocco, Andalusia, and Africa on their journey to Makkah. They cross the Sinai Peninsula to reach Ayla (Aqaba), the initial station along the route. Subsequently, they travel through two routes: an internal trail and a coastal trail.
Since ancient times, the Yemeni Hajj routes have connected Yemen and the Hijaz. These roads and their paths varied, as did the departure cities. Aden, Taiz, Sanaa, Zabid, and Saadah in northern Yemen were the most significant cities from which Yemeni pilgrims embarked on their journey to Makkah.
Some routes intersected at specific points, such as the Taiz-Zabid and the Sanaa road to Saadah.
Yemeni pilgrims utilized three routes: the coastal road, the internal or middle road, and the upper road, each having its own paths and stations.
In the past, Omani pilgrims could take two routes. One of them started from Oman and passed through Yabrin, Bahrain, Yamama, and Dhariyah. Dhariyah was a meeting point for pilgrims from Basra and Bahrain. The other route started from Furq, Oklan, Habah coast, Shahr, and then joined one of the main Yemeni roads leading to Makkah.
The Bahrain-Yamama-Makkah Hajj route was significant, as it crossed central parts of the Arabian Peninsula and connected many countries and regions. It linked the Hejaz and Iraq, the centre of the Abbasid caliphate. Early Muslim geographers stated that the Yamama road met the Basra pilgrimage route. Yamama had two roads to Makkah.
The seventh pilgrimage route was the Levantine pilgrimage, which connected the Levant to the holy sites of Makkah and Medina.