Among the lessons I learned on Hajj was that I needed to be mindful andkeep the inner connection with God at all times and that self-improvement is definitely a never-endingstruggle.

God wasinviting me to go on Hajj, but before that I needed to settle my debts. Muslims may only embark ontheir pilgrimage if they are debt-free or at least have made an arrangement for repayment.

naked” before God onJudgement Day and nothing counts but our actions and their effects upon our soul’.

As pilgrims we effectively slip into the role of our spiritual ancestress and run back and forthbetween the hills seven times. This symbolises our own quest in this world for whatever we areseeking and God’s...