The triumphant advance of Muslim armies across the inter-connecting landmass of Asia, Europe and Africa brought into the Islamic Empire large masses of people who were previously Christian, Zoroastrian, Buddhist or Hindu. Conversion to the new faith was slow. The conquering Muslims left the people of the territories alone as long as they paid the protective tax, jizya and did not interfere with...

For millions of Muslims around the world, the pilgrimage to Mecca is a lifelong dream. It is a journey of the heart, a physical and spiritual migration towards the House of Allah. While Hajj is the obligatory pilgrimage performed at a specific time of the year, Umrah serves as a voluntary act of worship that can be undertaken at almost any time. It offers a unique opportunity to cleanse the...