Hajj, British Museum

Journey to the heart of Islam

British Museum, London

26 January - 15 April 2012

"It is special in being the only aspect of Islam which non-Muslimscannot take part in. It is not merely a spiritual phenomenon, it has become a cultural phenomenon. The museum has always sought to present a connection between faith and society. It [the hajj] is a phenomenon that needs to be better understood than it is. It has become very clear to us that we've been looking to put on exhibitions about things people want to know about – such as Iran and Afghanistan – and questions people want to explore."

Macgregor called the organisation of the hajj "one of the great administrative achievements in the world" and said the exhibition would show the logistics behind the pilgrimage, which annually attracts up to four million people to the holy sites of Mecca.

Venetia Porter, the curator for the exhibition, said: "The exhibition is about a journey and life-changing experience, a journey that has one purpose only – to reach the heart of Islam. We want people to understand what this experience has meant."