Closer encounter with the human diversity and emotions of the faithful reveals the divinity of the Islamic faith
Once a year, many members of the press head out to Mecca to document the Hajj, the yearly Muslim pilgrimage. If you switch on the news during this time, you are likely to see footage filmed from afar presenting a surreal image of throngs of people dressed in white (or simply white dots), rotating around the Kaaba.
But for some journalists, viewing the spiritual event from afar won’t suffice.
“I was concerned with human feelings, people and God, says Amr Nabil, Associated Press photographer who was sent on two assignments to document Hajj in 2000 and 2005.
Currently at El-Sawy Cultural Center, Nabil is exhibiting what he considers to be the photographs that best connect the viewer with the human component of the pilgrimage.
The exhibition also includes the pictures of fellow photojournalist Michael (or his Muslim name Malik) Nelson and Khaled El-Fiki from the European Press Agency (EPA) who have also contributed to the 46 exhibited photographs. Although professional rivals, Nabil invited them to join in the exhibition, as they are “real friends and brothers.
The pictures focus on three events: the standing at Arafat (the site of resurrection), climbing of Gabal Nour (mountain of light) and of course the circumambulation of the Kaaba.
The standing at Arafat is a dramatic climax when pilgrims stand in the open and beseech Allah for forgiveness. These pictures are taken astonishingly close, showing the expression of submission on the faces of the pilgrims.
“In the Hajj you are pretty much allowed to do anything you want except inside the mosques, explains Nelson, who was performing the rituals as well as taking pictures.
“It was physically difficult and very demanding plus doing photography as well and carrying two cameras. yet it was a great experience both from a photojournalistic and a spiritual sense, he says.
Although all pilgrims are wearing the same white ihram (ritually prescribed) clothing, the pictures are eclectic. Like a rich painting, the pallet consists of people from different races, ethnicity, age and sex but sharing a strong unity, creating a masterpiece of the human specimen.
Ascending Gabal Nour, although not among the Hajj s required rituals, is popular with the pilgrims as it is home to the Hira a cave, where the Prophet is said to have received the first verses of the Quran.
It is difficult to climb, but worth the effort as the peak offers a beautiful view, especially at sunset when some of the pictures were taken. Others were taken later in the darkness, with flickering lights as a backdrop to the exhausted pilgrims who take a moment to rest and admire the view of Mecca. The focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage, which attracts nearly four million worshippers every year, is their circumambulation of the Kaaba. This event is of course impossible to photograph from the inside as the photographer would most likely be crushed by the crowds and would have no opportunity to to pause to focus his camera.
The Saudi Information Ministry routinely sets up a camp for the media to make documenting the pilgrimage as easy as possible, offering helicopter trips over the Kaaba and giving each journalist on the ground a guide to get through security and avoid being lost in the sea of humanity.
One element Nabil focuses on, unusual for most Hajj documentaries, is the pigeons of Mecca, which are considered sacred. One of his pictures, which can be considered the symbol of the exhibition, captures a pigeon flying over the Kaaba. He believes it is a “symbol of peace, which is in fact the theme of Islam.
“This exhibition is as close as you can get to Hajj, without actually being there, says Mona Sherif, a viewer at the exhibition who thinks it is, “Brilliant! You can almost touch [the event], she adds.
El Sawy Cultural CenterWord HallEnd of 26 of July St.Zamalek, CairoExhibition runs until October 30
