Some contributions to the study of the pilgrimage tradition in nigeria

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Periodical article

Title:	Some contributions to the study of the pilgrimage tradition in nigeria
Author:	Alkali, M. Nur
Year:	1985
Periodical:	Annals of Borno
Volume:	2
Pages:	127-138
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Northern Nigeria
Subjects:	Islam pilgrimages
Abstract:	If one considers the background picture of Islamization in Borno and Hausaland, it is clear that the institution of the pilgrimage or hajj is as old as the coming of Islam, which by the beginning of the twelfth century had reached not only the Central Bilad al-Sudan but also a greater part of the Western Sudan. The Islamic States that emerged in the course of the centuries under various Muslim dynasties were much more committed to the cause of Islam, and in particular the annual pilgrimage, than many of the Islamic States in the Maghrib-al-Aqsa, the Nile Valley and Arabia. Despite the distance between the Central Bilad al-Sudan and the Hejaz, with all the hazards of travel along the various routes, Muslims continued to perform the hajj annually with a significant increase in their numbers. The author describes the routes followed by the pilgrims, the journey to the Holy Land, and the significance of the pilgrimage throughout historical times, up to the late nineteenth century. With the establishment of colonialism, the element of independent decisions on the pilgrimage, the organization and conduct of the hajj, were drastically modified. Notes, ref.