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Hajj Guide UK

Hajj Guide UK / Journeys and stories

Hajj 2027

Famous pilgrims in history

Some of the best-known Hajj journeys in history are Mansa Musa of Mali's pilgrimage in 1324, Ibn Battuta's travels that began with Hajj in 1325, Ibn Jubayr's account of his pilgrimage in the 1180s, and Malcolm X's Hajj in 1964.

Last checked: November 2026. Written for pilgrims travelling from the UK.

Mansa Musa (1324)

The ruler of the Mali Empire travelled to Makkah in 1324 with a huge caravan. His wealth and generosity on the way, especially in Cairo, became famous across the Mediterranean world.

Ibn Battuta (1325)

The Moroccan traveller left Tangier in 1325 to perform Hajj. That first journey grew into almost thirty years of travel across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, recorded in his famous book of travels.

Ibn Jubayr (1183 to 1185)

A scholar and secretary from Granada, in Muslim Spain, Ibn Jubayr wrote a detailed account of his pilgrimage journey by sea and land, one of the earliest travel diaries of Hajj.

Malcolm X (1964)

The American civil rights leader performed Hajj in April 1964. In his letter from Makkah he described pilgrims of every colour praying and eating together, an experience that changed his views on race. After Hajj he used the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

Footballers and celebritiesMany public figures share trips to Makkah, but reports often mix up Umrah and Hajj. We only list people whose Hajj is clearly documented.

Sources