Hajj certificates

A blue and gold Hajj certificate

Hajj certificates are official documents certifying that one has completed the Hajj, the Islamic obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca. The certificates also serve as personal and family mementos used to commemorate their pilgrimage. Certificates have origins in the 11th century and have had many variations in style and content over the centuries.

Origins

An example of a text only Hajj certificate

The original use of Hajj certificates can be dated back to the 11th century, and their use has remained to the modern day. Although these certificates used to be a commodity available to only wealthy pilgrims, 18th-century technological advancements in printing and papermaking made these documents much cheaper and more accessible to a wider base of pilgrims. While many Hajj certificates are mass-produced and not designed for a specific person, they will feature the name of the pilgrim and their place of origin which is added to the certificate upon completion of Hajj. Certificates of the early 20th century may feature little to no ornamentation, but primarily printed textual information regarding the pilgrim’s Hajj.

Modern certificates

The practice of using Hajj certificates continues to the modern day and has adapted to new technology as well as an increased number of Muslim pilgrims. Modern Hajj certificates can be created with the assistance of digital programs and apps. One such app, Nusuk, allows users to produce customizable Hajj certificates online, under the guise of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Materials and contents

Certificates were often made on paper and were embellished with colored inks, gold, silver, watercolors and calligraphy. Many certificates depict the journey to Mecca, highlighting the holy places visited on pilgrimage such as the Kaaba and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. Some exclusively feature text and others contain extensive illustrations, with many consisting of both.

Hajj certificate from the 17th or 18th century, created at Mecca

The content of certificates varies greatly depending on when and who created them. Locations and religious structures are important features of the certificates. The locations that a pilgrim has visited generally are included in some form in the certificate. Additionally, certificates may include important Shi’i sites in addition to the other sites.

Depictions of the Kaaba and the rest of the Masjid-al Haram at Mecca are frequently from a two-dimensional, bird’s eye perspective. The Kaaba takes on the center of the certificates’ composition, illustrated with representations of the Black Stone and the door to the structure. This standardized depiction dates back to the 13th century and is seen in tilework and manuscripts. A Hajj certificate dated somewhere between the 17th and 18th century follows this convention. The image itself features colorful depictions of individual buildings of the city, created with colored ink, watercolors, as well as gold and silver.

Proxy certificates

For various reasons, an individual may not be able to complete the Hajj on their own (prevention may include financial status, health, or ability), and furthermore may have died before completing the journey. Those unable to make the Hajj can delegate their pilgrimage to someone else who has already completed their own Hajj to obtain a Hajj certificate; in this case, the document will note that someone had completed it for them by proxy.