ID: A large group of people, some riding camels, walking along a path in a desert-like setting. (stock image)
When I was in university, my roommate and close friend, Asili, whispered to me “you know what...My dad called and said he has sold all his cattle to go on Hajj (Islamic Pilgrimage).” At first, I was shocked. That was his entire livelihood. I asked her, “Wasn’t that risky?” She simply replied, “He said it was worth it even if he had nothing left, at least he fulfilled his duty to God.” That stayed with me. I didn’t know what to say. For days after, I found myself thinking about it. I had to reflect deeply, asking myself “What is a pilgrimage and why is it important?” But then I remembered that while growing up in Mombasa, Kenya I would casually hear people say, “A pilgrimage is a journey of faith.” It was a familiar phrase, often repeated among elders. Back then, I never gave it much thought. It just floated in the background of everyday life. But now, after hearing Asili’s story of how her father sold all his cattle to fulfill his spiritual duty, those words came back to me with new weight.
"I couldn’t shake it. What really is a pilgrimage? Out of curiosity, I had to dig deeper. I wanted to understand; was it only for religious purposes? Or could it be something more?"
In my search, I discovered that in a world where intercultural and religious understanding is becoming more essential, the concept of pilgrimages offers more than just spiritual significance. It represents a powerful, multidisciplinary idea that touches on major school subjects such as geography, history, literature, and even personal development. A pilgrimage, I learned, isn’t always about religion. It can also be a deeply personal quest to seek purpose, healing, or transformation.
Historically, pilgrimages span many cultures and beliefs. From the Christian trek to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Muslim Hajj to Mecca, to the Hindu journey to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River all which reflect the values and hopes of the communities that follow them. Even in secular contexts, journeys like visiting popular sites like Mt. Kenya or civil rights landmarks in the U.S. have become modern pilgrimages where people have meaningful, reflective journeys to connect with their identity and history.
This made me think on why topics like pilgrimages aren’t discussed more in schools. For students, especially in our increasingly diverse and interconnected world, learning about pilgrimages could offer so much more than just facts about religion or travel. It’s an entry point to empathy. A way to understand others on a deeper level. For instance, in a classroom where students may not know much about Islam, teaching about Hajj can help break down stereotypes and open up honest conversations. It’s a chance to see the personal and spiritual lives behind the headlines.
Educators could use pilgrimages to connect important concepts such as geography through the routes pilgrims travel, literature through the stories they tell, history through the cultural significance of sacred places, and character education through the values of patience, sacrifice, and reflection. Even asking students to think about their own “pilgrimages” in a literal or symbolic way can help them better understand themselves and their journeys through life.
Zeinab Mzungu
Zeinab is an instructional designer passionate about empathy-driven learning experiences and inclusive teaching practices. She advocates for digital accessibility and multicultural perspectives in education, helping learners and educators engage meaningfully across different worldviews. Her work explores how cultural journeys shape identity and how educators can create space for this richness in the classroom.
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