History of the Hajj

title given to the commander of the annual Hajj pilgrim caravan

thumb|right|upright|Cover for a Damascus Mahmal, Istanbul, 16th century. Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage A mahmal () is a ceremonial passenger-less litter that was carried on a camel among caravans of pilgrims on the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca which is a sacred duty in Islam. It symbolised the political power of the sultans who sent it, demonstrating their custody of Islam's holy sites. Each mahmal had an intricately embroidered textile cover, or sitr. The tradition dates back at least to the 13th century and ended in the mid-20th. There are many descriptions and photo

aspect of history