Transnational Islam and Muslim Politics: Policies, Identities, and Ideologies
The Boundaries of Belonging a Nation: Hajj as a Transnational Interaction for the Turkish Pilgrims
Ahmet KöroğluThis paper aims to take the sociological narratives of Turkish pilgrims as a point of departure in discussing the experience of Hajj through its capacity to address their feelings. As such, this work will argue these feelings to be related to the spiritual experience of the pilgrimage to Mecca and to be motivated by the interactions of Muslim pilgrims who belong to diverse backgrounds, cultures, identities and nationalities. The Hajj itself brings together Muslims representing the global nation beyond the differences that might exist within Muslim communities and national boundaries. However, this chapter also argues that the use of feelings in descriptions of the pilgrimage at the personal level has enabled individual Turkish pilgrims to gain an ongoing awareness and sense regarding the time and place of the pilgrimage upon their return to Türkiye. The pilgrimage itself is a powerful experience because of its effects and impact it is able to leave on the senses of both those who’ve performed the Hajj as well as those who listen to their narratives and stories. As a religious experience, the pilgrims have may be perceptible, visible, and audible and may also provide a framework of emotions. From this point of view, this work tries to reflect on the narrative experiences of Hajj through some feelings and awareness will reflect on how transnational relations during Hajj become part of these pilgrims’ emotional and belonging experience.