Hajj Stories (Bay Area): Introduction to the Hajj

The hajj, one of the “five pillars” of Islam, is the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, that all Muslims should make at least once in their lifetime if their health and financial means allow it, according to Islamic tradition. Inspired by the British Museum’s video Hajj Stories, staff at the Asian Art Museum asked Bay Area Muslims who have performed the hajj to share experiences of their journeys.

The videos are broken up into four segments. You can access each video by selecting a link below:

1. Introduction to the Hajj
2. Preparations for the Hajj
3. Performing the Hajj
4. Takeaways from the Hajj

View the silver-gilded doors that were installed on the Ka’ba until 1947 in the Roads of Arabia exhibition at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco from Oct. 24, 2014 to Jan. 18, 2015.