The Hajj

Broadcast date: November 19, 2009

Download MP3 or listen here:

One of the world’s longest-lived religious rites, the hajj to Mecca, is even older than Islam. It’s been described as a universal journey for transcendence and peace. What does it mean to 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide? If you’re a Muslim, have you taken it or thought about taking it? Why is it important to you? What’s your experience of it?

Guests

• Michael Wolfe: co-founder and Executive Producer of Unity Productions Foundation, writer and host of 1997 Hajj program for ABC Nightline, author of The Hadj: An American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca (1993) and One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing about the Muslim Pilgrimage (1997)
• Qanta Ahmed: physician, author of In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor’s Journey in the Saudi Kingdom

How to Listen and Participate

• Listen live on radio stations in Wisconsin Public Radio broadcast areas. The show will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. and re-broadcast at 9 p.m. CT.
• Listen to a live webstream of the show on the Ideas Network.
• Call 1-877-GLOBE-07 to leave a voicemail for this show anytime.
• Leave a comment on this page, or send us an email with your thoughts.

Related Post

• The Hajj

Reading List

• Michael Wolfe
• Qanta Ahmed
• Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia
• My faith: Annual journey to Mecca (BBC)
• 2008 Hajj photos (Boston Globe)
• Saudi Won’t Bar Hajj Pilgrims Over Swine Flu Fears (New York Times)
• Michael Wolfe’s books about Hajj
• In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor’s Journey in the Saudi Kingdom