The “Hajj Road,” which extends through the heart of the Sinai Peninsula, is considered one of the most important historical paths in the Islamic world. This road was a vital artery linking Egypt to the holy lands in the Hijaz, and was used by Egyptian pilgrims throughout the ages. It witnessed the flow of Egyptian and Arab pilgrims to Mecca annually to perform Hajj rituals. This road extends through mountainous and desert areas in Sinai, and pilgrims used to take it in huge convoys, and their journey on it continues through three main stages, from early Islamic times until the beginning of World War I. On both sides of it, there are historical monuments, such as “Nakhal Castle” and the ruins of the ruins of Sultan Qansouh al-Ghuri, which are considered among the most prominent monuments of this road.
Historical data indicate that the Hajj route passed through Sinai with clear divisions consistent with the stages of the long journey that the pilgrims took. The route was divided into three main stages, and in each stage the pilgrims covered a specific distance over the course of ten days. The first stage began from Cairo to Ajroud, a distance of 150 kilometers, and the second stage began from Ajroud to Nakhl, also a distance of 150 kilometers. The third stage starts from Nakhl all the way to Aqabat Ayla, a distance of up to 200 kilometers.
These stages were crossed by convoys of pilgrims on the backs of camels, heading towards Mecca via Sinai, on a long and arduous journey. The “Egyptian Hajj Route” begins from the Ajroud area, west of Suez, where pilgrims set off across the desert, heading towards the entrance to the Teh Desert, passing through areas such as Al-Nawatir and Wadi Al-Qurayd. And the mule bear, then they arrive at the Nakhl area in North Sinai. From Nakhal, pilgrims head to the Gulf of Aqaba, passing through the port of Nuweiba in South Sinai, towards Saudi territory via the Gulf of Aqaba and then to the Jordanian city of Ayla.
This road was not limited only to Egyptian pilgrims, but also witnessed the passage of convoys of pilgrims from various parts of the Islamic world, including pilgrims from Andalusia, Al-Aqsa Maghreb, Sudan, and even pilgrims from North African regions. The Hajj route through Sinai was a vital artery extending between continents and leading to Mecca, the capital of the Islamic world.
Since early Islamic times, the “Hajj Route” has been of interest to rulers and sultans who were keen to facilitate pilgrims’ journeys and ensure their security. This route has been taken by many prominent figures throughout the ages, such as Shajarat al-Durr in the year 648 AH, who made a pilgrimage trip via the route at a time when political events were tense in Egypt. The military commander Sultan Baybars also took it during the Mamluk era, in addition to Sultan Al-Nasir Qalawun in the year 719 AH, who made many efforts to develop and secure the road. Road stations such as “Nakhal Castle” and other areas were full of historical monuments bearing traces of these rulers.
As the annual influx of pilgrims continued, each caravan passing this route carried with it the “sacred mahmal” which contained the covering of the Kaaba, which was sent annually via the route to be presented to the Kaaba in Mecca. This “mehmel” was considered an important event in the Islamic world, and is considered one of the most prominent features of the Hajj route.
If the “Hajj Route” witnessed periods of interest throughout the various Islamic eras, the Mamluk era is considered the pinnacle of this route’s prosperity. The Mamluk Sultans made great efforts to develop and protect it, as Sultan al-Zahir Baibars, Sultan al-Mansur Saif al-Din Qalawun, and Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun were among the most prominent sultans who contributed to developing this road and facilitating pilgrims’ journeys. These rulers also built many stations and castles along the way, to provide protection for pilgrims and secure their journey.
In addition, one of the most important features of this period was that Sultan Qansouh al-Ghuri engraved his name on the mountain rocks on both sides of the road, which is considered one of the most prominent historical monuments that preserve the memory of this Mamluk era. This inscription is considered a witness to the interest this road received from the people. Before the Mamluk rulers.
Despite the historical importance and great spiritual character of the Hajj route through Sinai, the flow of pilgrims through it began to decrease significantly at the beginning of the twentieth century, as the severity of political crises and global conflicts increased. With the advent of modern means of transportation, which shortened the time and distance between Egypt and the Holy Land, the role of the road in transporting pilgrims by land diminished, until the road was no longer used regularly as it was in the past.
