Journey to Mecca: Ibn Battuta’s Trail Unveiled in Riyadh

Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta-The documentary has been translated into French, Russian, Turkish, and English, among other languages.

Bruce Neibaur’s highly regarded documentary, “Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta,” has at last screened for the world at Almakan Mall in Riyadh. It first debuted in 2009. The documentary, which was partially shot in Saudi Arabia, provides a thorough examination of the Moroccan scholar’s life and journey to Mecca.

Various government agencies in the kingdom collaborated to create this 45-minute documentary, which was overseen by the King Faisal Public Library (KAPL) and the King Faisal Centre for Islamic Studies and Research. The 6,000-photo film features important locations like the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the ports of arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and other holy sites. A portion of the movie was also filmed in Morocco, following the historic path taken by Ibn Battuta. Through the use of innovative methods, the documentary offers a representation of the Hajj ceremonies.

The documentary has received international recognition and awards from major film festivals in Houston, Boston, Paris, London, Singapore, New York, Jakarta, and Dubai after being screened in these and other major capital cities across the world. The film was shown in theatres for the first time in the Kingdom’s capital with its recent premiere in Riyadh.

“This new cultural shift, which is consistent with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the directions of the Ministry of Culture, is based on investing in various modern cultural and cognitive elements in order to provide a new intellectual awareness that connects us to the eras relating to our ancient Arab and Islamic heritage,” stated Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, General Supervisor of KAPL.

The production of the documentary, which is regarded as one of the most significant worldwide motion pictures, started in 2004. A multinational team and financiers from the Kingdom and several Islamic nations produced it.

Translated into French, Russian, Turkish, and English, among other languages, the documentary persists in bridging cultural divides and inspiring people worldwide with the story of Ibn Battuta’s pilgrimage.

The film, which is narrated by Ben Kingsley, tells the story of the first 18 months of Ibn Battuta’s journey to Mecca and is intercut with scenes from the modern Muslim pilgrimage.

Ibn Battuta was in danger when bandits attacked him on his lone horseback ride to Mecca. They robbed him and almost killed him. But the bandit leader, humiliated to learn that Ibn Battuta was a pilgrim, offered, in exchange for a price, to escort him to Egypt. Severe sandstorms made the difficult camel ride across the desert even more difficult, and when they finally arrived in Egypt, they had to cross the Nile by boat. Presenting a letter from a friend to a Sheikh, Ibn Battuta was instructed to “seek knowledge to China,” which led him on more lengthy travels. He was guided by a Hadith from Prophet Muhammad.

Ibn Battuta changed his route because of the dangers of war, although he had originally planned to sail to Mecca via the Red Sea port of ‘Aydhab. Choosing the land route via Damascus, he accompanied a caravan of ten thousand pilgrims. enduring with them during the difficult voyage until they arrived at their destination, Mecca.

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