Tentative Schedule

CALL FOR PAPERS FOR CONFERENCE
“ON HAJJ AND PILGRIMS FROM MUSLIM COUNTRIES”

King  Abdul Aziz Foundation  for Research and Archives, Saudi Arabia and International Islamic University, Islamabad  are mutually organizing an international conference in November 2014, on the above subject. The experts from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran in the fields of Modern History, Sociology and Geography are invited to write the paper(s) on the following themes under the subject “Hajj and Pilgrims from Muslim Countries”. The detail of the themes is given in the end.   
The papers will be presented in English, Arabic, Urdu and Persian languages and the authors are requested to send their paper(s) upto 15th September, 2014 15th August, 2014 via email on the following address: [email protected].

 The conference committee will review the paper(s) and if the paper is accepted the information regarding acceptance of the paper(s) will be communicated to the author. There is a cash award as a token of acknowledgement for the accepted papers.

          (Professor Dr. Ahmad Yousif A. Al-Draiweesh)
    President,
International Islamic University, Islamabad/
Chairman of the Conference

 (Professor Dr. N. B. Jumani)
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences/
  Convener of the Conference

Hajj and Pilgrims from Muslim Countries: Memo and Themes for Researchers

King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives is currently preparing an Encyclopedia of Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques aimed at tracing and documenting the history of Hajj and pilgrims from the Pre-Islamic era to the present, in one source of reference. The new project will serve as a database for Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques and will be an important source especially for academic and methodological purposes.

The first part of the project – the encyclopedia – will be based on researching and documenting different subjects of Hajj during consecutive periods. In addition to collecting and analyzing Hajj manuscripts and documents, the project will include studies and researches by historians, geographers and culturalists. The Encyclopedia of Hajj will comprise 8 parts each of which consists of one or more volumes that include a variety of topics and researches.
Part 1. Hajj from pre-Islamic Era until the end of the Abbasid perid.
Part 2. Hajj during the Periods of Mamluks, Ottoman and First Saudi State.
Part 3. Hajj during the reigns of the Kings of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, i.e. from King Abdulaziz to King Abdullah.
Part 4. Makkah Al-Mukarramah past and present and the expansions of the Holy Mosque of Makkah before and during the Saudi Era.
Part 5. Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah past and present, and the expansions of the Holy Mosque of the Prophet ( PBUH ) before and during the Saudi Era.
Part 6. Deals with different subjects as: Hajj routes, the Holy sites (AI-” Masha’er), numbers of pilgrims and manuals.
Part 7. Documented works relevant to the official institutions directly involved in the organization and planning of Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Part 8. Concentrates on habits, traditions, regulations, and procedures of past and present pilgrims coming from each country. Researchers should give complete picture of each country by bringing to light available documents, manuscripts and data relevant to the Hajj and Pilgrims of the country concerned.

Researchers should address the characteristics of the pilgrims of each country, including their numbers, social, economic and cultural background and the reciprocal effects between the Haramain Region and the country concerned in accordance with the themes and guidelines outlined below.

Suggested Main Themes for Research on Pilgrims from Different Countries, their-Traditions and Records

– Collecting and analyzing Hajj related documents and written works in the country under investigation.
This includes analytical studies of previous Hajj and pilgrims literature such as books, articles, pictures, documents, manuscripts, etc.
– Hajj journeys to the Haramain: routes and number of pilgrims.
This theme deals with the early Hajj journeys, means of
transport past and present, routes which the pilgrims followed on their way to Makkah and Madinah and back, the situations and
hardships they encountered, etc.
– Habits and traditions observed on bidding pilgrims farewell and on their return.
This theme deals with the habits and
traditions observed upon preparing for Hajj and on the way to Haramain and back. These include festivities, receptions, the social
status Of pilgrims (men and women), and the habits that have died out and those that are still in pract~ce.
– Regulations, procedures and departments of Hajj and their development.
Authors should explain all the regulations pertaining to the historical development of Hajj and pilgrims in the country itself and the requirements for embarking on Hajj. The author should explain if there are any quotas or systems for selecting the would be pilgrims, and the criteria for such selection. Further, the author should mention the government departments, and private agencies concerned with Hajj and pilgrims in the country under investigation.
– The numbers and characteristics of pilgrims.
In this theme, researchers should conduct an analytical study of the number of
pilgrims in chronological order starting with the establishment of the state until the present. They should explain the reasons for the fluctuation in pilgrims numbers in the country concerned. Researchers should investigate the social, economic, and cultural background of the pilgrims of each country. This can be illustrated by presenting data on the pilgrims of the country concerned over a number of years, both recently and in the past. Alternatively, the researcher may interview the pilgrims themselves and prepare a special form showing their social, economic and cultural status.
– Cultural and economic effects of Hajj on the pilgrims and their homeland.
The researcher can address the various reciprocal effects of Hajj on both the homeland of pilgrims and the Haramain Region, respectively.
– Future vision.
In this theme, researchers should address the future number of pilgrims, Hajj regulations, and the future plans laid down by the homeland state in this regard.