The holy city of Mecca

These illustrated pages are from a manuscript that functioned as a guide for Muslims who desired to perform the hajj pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. All Muslims who have the physical and material means to do so are encouraged to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetimes. The focus of the pilgrimage is the monument known as the Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam. It is located at the center of the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Mecca, depicted here. In addition to representing a map, a guide such as this one would include prayers for different stages of the journey and advice for travelers. Guides for pilgrims to Mecca and Medina were often produced for and by communities that lived a considerable distance away, many of whom would never have been able to visit. Of interest here, the artist incorporated architectural features—the bulbous domes, the intricately carved marble screens, and the tiered minarets—that were more characteristic of the Deccan in south central India than of Mecca.