The Diaries of a Hajj Journey (Bir Hac Yolculuğunun Günlükleri) is a work compiled from the personal notes of Abbas Hilmi Erhan about his Hajj pilgrimage by road in early 1970. The two notebooks, written in the old script by the author, have been brought to the present day with historical and mystical dimensions. It was published in October 2023 as part of Dergâh Publications' Anatolian Library series. The detailed and experience-based narration of the diaries makes this work a rare document within Hajj literature.
Content and Structure
The work is arranged chronologically, narrating the Hajj journey from January 25 to March 2, 1970, day by day. The diaries contain observations on:
- Details of time, place, and worship
- Commentaries on mosques and holy sites
- The spiritual states of the pilgrims
- The people and ethnic groups encountered on the road
- Elements of daily life such as buying, selling, food, and drink
The military-disciplined descriptions and remarkable details (e.g., timed entries, price notes) elevate the text from being a mere Hajj memoir to a research source of documentary value.
Themes and Significance
- Historical Testimony: The work provides primary information on the social, economic, and cultural atmosphere of the period.
- Space-Belonging: The physical and spiritual fabric of the Hajj locations is materialized through the diaries.
- Spiritual State: The spiritual sharing between the author and the pilgrims emphasizes the transformation of the individual in the presence of a sacred place.
- Journey from the Crowd to the Individual: The realistic, rather than poetic, narration of individual experiences within the pilgrim community is notable.
Narration and Style
The diaries kept by Abbas Hilmi Erhan, a non-commissioned officer of Bitlis origin, are simple, systematic, and observation-based, reflecting his military training. The style, which documents each day in detail, transcends the text’s function as a personal diary, offering the reader a Hajj narrative that is both academic and literary.
