A personal pilgrimage
Ahmed Al-Khaja (OO) left his studies at Jesus College, Cambridge to come and give a talk on the spiritual significance of the Hajj pilgrimage, to pupils studying Islam for their Religious Studies GCSE.
Since leaving Oundle last year Ahmed has performed the pilgrimage to Makkah , which is compulsory for all Muslims to do during their lifetimes. Although billed as a lecture, Ahmed actually gave a performance, illustrating to the audience the emotions, thoughts and physical trials one has to undergo during the arduous but rewarding series of rituals.
The talk not only gave the pupils the necessary information they would need for their coursework, but more importantly it gave them a sense of the beneficial effect Ahmed felt his beliefs and practices have on him, and on Islamic society.