In North America, every holiday is accompanied with its fair share of holiday movies. They’re what spread festive cheer. In the spirit of Hajj, host a holiday movie night featuring, “Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta.”
This short film, produced by National Geographic, documents the journey of Ibn Battuta, a 20 year old law student from Morocco who sets out in the year 1325 to perform Hajj in Makkah. The film highlights the adventures and dangers Ibn Battuta encounters in the 18 months it takes him to reach Makkah.
After completing his Hajj, Ibn Battuta didn’t return home for another 29 years. He went on to travel more, covering about 75 000 miles, and eventually becoming renown as a medieval explorer and writer.
So grab your jammies and cozy up by the TV with our easy tips for the perfect holiday movie night – Hajj edition!
Keep it Casual
To set the mood, wrap twinkle lights around a chalkboard and write out the words “MOVIE NIGHT.” Within a matter of minutes, you have decor reminiscent of a vintage marquee sign.
Add a Retro Touch
No movie night is complete without popcorn! Add a touch of retro to your movie night by serving popcorn in a classic movie-theatre inspired tub.
Stay Warm
It’s getting chilly outside! Warm your insides with a cup of hot chocolate, complete with a good helping of whip cream and sifted cocoa powder.
Encourage Discussion
Journey to Mecca is a short movie (less than an hour). After watching the movie, get the conversation going. Lay out books and atlases of the medieval Islamic world to help trace the journey Ibn Battuta made and understand the times in which he lived.
If you’ve ever been on Hajj, this is also a great time to share your stories of your pilgrimage experiences and hear about the experiences others’ had in Makkah.
Photos: Manal Aman
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