Abstract
Each year millions of Muslims make their way to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam’s prophet Muhammad and site of its holiest city, about 50 miles from the Red Sea on the western border of Saudi Arabia. This Hajj, the ritual pilgrimage to Mecca, is a conditional obligation to be performed at least once in the lifetime of every follower of Islam [1]. Early in its history, pilgrims arrived solely by sea or via caravan along numerous distinct overland routes from “distant” lands like Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. In modern times, the sojourner is more apt to arrive by airplane from any number of places around the world.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Artenstein, A.W. (2012). A Very Mortal Disease. In: In the Blink of an Eye. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4845-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4845-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4844-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4845-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)