We should take inspiration from the Hajj, which brings millions together in peace, to mend our ways and pave a new path forward for humanity. Pilgrimage – the devotional practice of journeying towards a site deemed sacred and collectively engaging in acts of worship and faith there – has been a fundamental part of the human experience since time immemorial. It is a widespread and important practice in many religions.
Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Christians and Muslims all have pilgrimage as part of their religious worship. The right and need to assemble for common goals are indeed innately and intrinsically human. Even the American Constitution deems the right to assemble a necessary legal and fundamental right in its First Amendment.
Pilgrimages, which bring thousands – and sometimes millions – of human beings together in a single site, are usually completely peaceful. Unlike the participants of similarly large secular gatherings like sporting events and music festivals, devoted pilgrims rarely resort to violence or harm their environment. No doubt there are some fanatics who assemble people for supposed religious goals and entice them towards violent campaigns, but their actions are not representative of pilgrimages, or the core values of any religion.
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