Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage

Preview: Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage

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About the Work

The annual observance of Hajj has been a significant event for Muslims since the advent of Islam. However, until recently, this practice has remained largely unknown to the Western world. The Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage is a comprehensive collection of approximately 5,000 objects related to Hajj, ranging from the eighth to the twenty-first century and geographically spanning from China to Morocco and the United Kingdom. It includes rare books, Qur’ans, scientific instruments, textiles, coins, paintings, prints, archival documents, and examples of some of the earliest photographers of the Hajj. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of its kind.

This beautifully illustrated volume, written by Qaisra M. Khan, a former curator at the British Museum and current curator for the Khalili Collections, provides insightful chapters on the Islamic principles of Hajj, travel, rituals, sacred manuscripts, textiles, souvenirs, and Western perspectives. It narrates and reveals the spiritual, cultural, and artistic aspects of the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, told exclusively through the Khalili Collection of Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage. This book is a valuable resource for all those seeking a deeper understanding of this important religious practice.

About the Author

Qaisra M. Khan is a curator with a specialization in the Arts of Pilgrimage. She holds a degree in Law from Magdalene College, Cambridge University, and an MPhil in Oriental Studies from Cambridge University as well. After working in financial consulting for many years, Khan changed paths to pursue the arts, earning an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She worked at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar before joining the British Museum, where she served as Project Curator for the acclaimed 2012 exhibition Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam and worked on projects with museums around the world. Khan has delivered lectures and appeared on various broadcasts discussing the arts of Muslim pilgrimage.

Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili is an Iranian-born British scholar, collector, philanthropist, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He is widely recognized worldwide for his eight extensive art collections comprising around 35,000 works, which have been displayed at prestigious museums and institutions across the globe. Each work in his collection has been meticulously conserved, researched, cataloged, and published as part of one of the most ambitious art scholarship projects in modern history. Sir David's many accolades include Knighthoods from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI for his work towards peace, education, and culture among nations. He was also awarded the Rank of Officier in the National Order of the Legion of Honour by the French president François Hollande at the Elysée Palace. He received a knighthood in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to interfaith relations and charity".

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