Muslim Women’s Pilgrimage to Mecca and Beyond

Abstract

This book investigates female Muslims pilgrimage practices and how these relate to women's mobility, social relations, identities, and the power structures that shape women's lives. Bringing together scholars from different disciplines and regional expertise, it offers in-depth investigation of the gendered dimensions of Muslim pilgrimage and the life-worlds of female pilgrims. With a variety of case studies, the contributors explore the experiences of female pilgrims to Mecca and other pilgrimage sites, and how these are embedded in historical and current contexts of globalisation and transnational mobility. This volume will be relevant to a broad audience of researchers across pilgrimage, gender, religious, and Islamic studies.

Immaculate Conception of Gender: The Marian Phenomenon Among Catholic Women Pilgrims

“…Studies have explored the gendered dimensions of Muslim pilgrimages, such as the experiences of female Muslim pilgrims to Mecca and beyond (Buitelaar et al, 2020). They explore the connections between pilgrimage practices and various aspects of women's lives, such as mobility, social relations, identities and power structures, while also delving into the narratives and storytelling of female pilgrims, encompassing instances like the pilgrimage to Mecca for second-generation Moroccan-Dutch women (ibid).…”

“…Scholars have also examined the narratives, philosophy, literature, and depictions associated with pilgrimage and the social, cultural, and economic aspects of pilgrimage tourism. These studies contribute to our understanding of the diverse motivations, practices, and meanings of pilgrimage in different cultural and religious contexts (Alatas, 2019;Buitelaar, 2020;Buitelaar et al, 2020;Coleman, 2002;Feldman, 2014;Jafari and Scott, 2014;Nordin, 2009;Sepp and Remmel, 2020;Ulak, 2022).…”

Philosophical Baseline of the Religious Pilgrimage and Its Significance for Dialogue among Religions

“…Research conducted by Al-Ajarma (2021) provides information about the function of pilgrimage that can change the social conditions of pilgrim after returning to his country (Al-Ajarma, 2021). Aspects of women's equality and matters directly related to women's issues were studied by Buitelaar (2020) and Belém (2021). These two studies explain that pilgrimage is also closely related to social aspects, especially regarding female issues (Belém et al, 2021;Buitelaar et al, 2020).…”

“…Aspects of women's equality and matters directly related to women's issues were studied by Buitelaar (2020) and Belém (2021). These two studies explain that pilgrimage is also closely related to social aspects, especially regarding female issues (Belém et al, 2021;Buitelaar et al, 2020). Previous studies have not comprehensively reviewed the philosophical foundations of pilgrimage and its importance for creating interfaith dialogue.…”