Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 214
214 fellowship, brotherhood, and co-operation and the promotion of human welfare in the whole world. As this very important aspect of the pilgrimage has now been neglected over centuries, ways of effecting these objectives must be well thought out. The first steps would, no doubt, be modest, but if the effort be inspired by the true Islamic spirit, the pilgrimage can, within a matter of years, become one of the most beneficent instruments for the promotion of knowledge, of co-operation, and of constructive achievement in all fields. Ultimately it may even serve to secure the formulation of agreed policies and the putting into effect of beneficent projects in every part of the world. This is an objective well worth striving for. The spirit and the occasion are already there; men of vision and understanding are needed to harness them for the service of man, which is the true service of God. Before or after the pilgrimage, it is customary for large numbers of pilgrims to visit Medina, to supplement their knowledge of, and association with, the historic places connected with the life of the Prophet and with the beginnings of Islam, to revive the memories of the glories and inspiring events of that period, and, more particularly, to express their love for the Prophet by praying for him at his tomb. Until recently the journey from Mecca to Medina was an arduous one, occupying from eight to twelve days