Publisher's Synopsis
In an effort to demystify the religion of Islam and educate the uninitiated, the author, as a means of fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam, has written a spellbinding travelogue of his experiences. When initially undertaking the hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) in 2005, I was too awestruck and overwhelmed with emotions to process it "academically" and record my experience. I promised that if given the chance to perform it again I would use my pen for the purpose of clarifying the one of the most misunderstood religions currently--much less one of the most important tenets of the faith. The hajj, since it has to be performed by Muslims once in their lifetime (considering health and financial state), I wrote the book to illustrate for outsiders--and insiders--what such an important pillar of the faith looks and feels like. I also wrote 48 poems while I was there that provide the extra personal to the experience.
