Hajj: A Journey Back in Time: A Grace Remembered-A Hope Renewed

Safdar Nensey's Hajj: A Journey Back in Time invites readers into one of the world's oldest and most sacred annual expeditions: the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah. Through a rare collection of postcards spanning from the 1890s to 1980, Nensey traces how the Hajj has changed in appearance-through new technologies and evolving landscapes-while its spiritual purpose remains constant. A retired petroleum engineer who built his career in Pakistan and the Arabian Gulf region, Nensey has spent decades collecting historical artifacts and visual ephemera. This book, along with his earlier volumes on Jerusalem, Lahore, Karachi and Pakistan's cultural heritage, reflects both scholarly curiosity and personal devotion. Hajj begins with two contrasting images: one from the 1950s showing pilgrims arriving by sea and another from the 1970s depicting air travelers at Jeddah Airport. The pairing shows how pilgrimage adapts to the modern world-yet still fulfills the same deep call to gather, pray and reflect. The book's structure echoes the stages of the pilgrimage itself, guiding readers through preparation, spiritual rites and moments of personal closure. By documenting this sacred journey over time, Nensey offers more than a visual archive; he opens a window onto a living act of faith-one that connects generations, cultures and histories through devotion made visible.