AL HEJAZ THE LAND OF SACRED CITIES

HEJAZ THE GEM OFARABIA

We used to say in Egypt " He traveled to Al Hejaz " meaning that someone has traveled to Mecca to practice the ritual of pilgrimage ( Al Haj ) and to Medina to visit the Mosque of the Prophet Mohammed. But what do we know about Al Hejaz ?

Hejaz is on the shores of Red Sea incorporated with Nejd; bounded N. by Syria and Jordan, E. by Nfud desert and Nejd, S. by Tehama. Is almost all stony desert. After the participation of Turkey in the First World War this region was the scene of severe and prolonged fighting. It is well known that a number of western travelers across the ages visited Al Hejaz and depicted scenes from the two sacred cities Mecca and Medina. They were disguised as Moslem pilgrims. The most famous character of them is " Laurence of Arabia ". Now the kingdom of Saudi Arabia allows people from everrywhere to visit and work in the kingdom except Mecca and Medina for those who are not Moslems.