What affect would the Hajj have on an Islamic colonization of the Americas?

If Muslims were to settle the Americas, using their technology (I know, I doubt it too), what would the required pilgrimage to Mecca effect on the colonization? Would it stop it from happening in the first place?
 
It didn't stop Indonesians and Hui Chinese from traveling.

The Hajj was done by people who could afford to do it. The rest are usually satisfied with hearing about it.

Also, do not forget Dar al-Islam was on par with Christendom for a long time.

If you can keep southern Spain in Muslim hands, they will be some of the first to set foot on the New World.
 
The Hajj only needs to be done by Muslims who are physically and financially capable of doing it. So really, there is no reason why it would pose a problem to colonization.
 
The Hajj was done by people who could afford to do it. The rest are usually satisfied with hearing about it.

Yup, over here in South East Asia, in older times only the very rich or very lucky could actually go to Mecca and Medina. Even today, many spend literally a lifetime's savings for the chance of performing the pilgrimage. And of course nowadays, the Saudis impose strict quotas for each country to limit the number of pilgrims.

It's not compulsory, only for those who can afford it. One can also perform the pilgrimage on behalf of others, so likely many made some sort of payment to those who could afford to go, to make the pilgrimage for the ones who can't for one reason or another (I see the notices for this at mosques when Hajj season approaches), mostly due to health reasons. Heck, my parents were rather healthy middle aged folks when they went for their Hajj, yet even they suffered some pneumonia with my mom spending a night in hospital. Quite a number of would-be pilgrims would have been barred or advised not to go by doctors if they are deemed not well enough for the pilgrimage...and there are those who want to die performing it, but that's another topic.

American Muslims in pre 1900...I can see the rich aristocrats affording the journey. Many normal colonist probably won't be able too, and as have been pointed out, not all that different from Asian Muslims. Likely they could pool money and have someone perform the Hajj for a number of them, though again if they really can't afford, then it's just not compulsory.

I wonder if the OP is asking whether the Kaaba be moved further West or something to make it easier for ATL Muslims in America, that would need a really strange POD :D
 
It probably won't stop colonization, but the fact that the rich Muslims will be traveling back East from time to time might mean that Muslim colonies will be more integrated with the metropole than European colonies.
 
If Muslims were to settle the Americas, using their technology (I know, I doubt it too)

do not forget [the] Dar al-Islam was on par with Christendom for a long time.

*nods* My understanding is that the downward slide for the Islamic world began with the Mongol sacking of Baghdad and burning of its libraries. A sort of Alexandria II: Nomadic Boogaloo. :p

If you can keep southern Spain in Muslim hands, they will be some of the first to set foot on the New World.

Earlier even than the Vinlanders? Or just earlier than OTL Columbus getting discovered by the Arawak? :)

It probably won't stop colonization, but the fact that the rich Muslims will be traveling back East from time to time might mean that Muslim colonies will be more integrated with the metropole than European colonies.

The ramifications of which are potentially quite astonishing.
 
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If Muslims were to settle the Americas, using their technology (I know, I doubt it too), what would the required pilgrimage to Mecca effect on the colonization? Would it stop it from happening in the first place?

You doubt it?

The way things happen in history is purely circumstance. There's no reason to doubt anything, aside from zombie aliens attacking the Nazis.

The Islamic World was just as advanced as Europe (and decades ahead at times) all the way until the Mongols destroyed Baghdad in 1258 (at the same time, Eastern Europe was weakened by Mongol attacks).

Failed reconquista, as others mentioned, is an easy POD for Islamic Americas. Even easier is an even better Islamic invasion of Europe (i.e. Islamic France or at least Islamic Occitan).



Anyway, OT, to answer your question, Muslims who can't afford to go on Hajj aren't expected to, nor do they mind. Many Muslims in medieval times never went on Hajj. Muslims living as far east as India, or heck, as far away as Cairo could sometimes live their entire lives without once visiting Mecca.
 
I agree with most of the posters but would like to suggest that being able to call oneself Hajji may have an increased amount of prestige attached to it.

So you may find that it becomes an even greater status symbol for colonies so far away (as I believe was the case in the far eastern Muslim areas.)
 
I agree with most of the posters but would like to suggest that being able to call oneself Hajji may have an increased amount of prestige attached to it.

So you may find that it becomes an even greater status symbol for colonies so far away (as I believe was the case in the far eastern Muslim areas.)

This is an interesting prospect. And like another post said, even a trickle of travellers going east would mean greater integration with the metropole, as well as a consistent transmission of ideas back and forth.
 
I agree with most of the posters but would like to suggest that being able to call oneself Hajji may have an increased amount of prestige attached to it.
So you may find that it becomes an even greater status symbol for colonies so far away (as I believe was the case in the far eastern Muslim areas.)

Yup, the prestige is already there in OTL in Asia where going to Mecca is a considerable expense. Here even in modern times, a Haji (male) or Hajjah (female) who come back from Mecca are given due respect and referred to by those titles (e.g. instead of Mr Ali, he becomes Haji Ali, Malays usually add Tuan Haji Ali). Even non-Muslims usually use those titles when addressing a Haji or Hajjah, particularly for the elderly. Certainly preachers and imams at mosques get extra respect if they're a Haji.

So yeah, ATL American colonists who have performed the pilgrimage would be more respected members of their community. Politicians may also use it to build up support, here in Malaysia Muslim politicians facing a scandal or something similar will suddenly announce a trip to Mecca or will attend the next pilgrimage :p
 
how about this:

al-andalus survives, discovers south america, incans convert. but andalus isn't as strong as OTL spain, and can't really turn south america into new andalus as it can barely hold onto spain & morocco. it's more lenient than the conquistadors and the local cultures survives stronger. there is syncretism. during the late 1600s-early 1700s some charismatic inqani declares himself the messiah (a la mirza ghulam ahmad) and claims *colombus of andalusia's discovery to be the "final hijra" as machu picchu (or another surviving incan site) was a mosque founded by a one of noah's grandsons (think mormons). a schism occurs. the local ulema declare him heretic and he is forced to relocate to mexico where he continues preaching. the new religion dominates around UPCA but can be found in rural inqah and even brasilia. despite the religios clashesi inqanis find out it is more lucrative to allow the american hajj than to forbid it. the site is destroyed during a communist period in al-inqah. but is reopened after the fall of the panama wall.
 
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