Everyone can experience Hajj Pilgrimage via Second Life! OnIslam launches their Virtual Hajj Training... an authentic Hajj learning experience, led by real life (RL) expert: Dr. Wael Shehaib.

     Hajj is the 5th Pillar of Islam, one of 5 essential responsibilities for every Muslim. Hajj is a RL pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the founding places of Islam, at a special time of year, determined via a lunar calendar, thus Hajj observance changes seasons over time.

     During this year's training, Dr. Shehaib shared a special thought, Hajj is "a message of peace, it's a message for co-existence... faith, unity, co-existence, brotherhood, equality among people!" I asked whether these universal values applied only during Hajj season. Dr. Shehaib reiterated many times during the Hajj tour, "We retain these values always! All acts must maintain this spirit!" Hurray!

     At the end of this story, I'll discuss the pictures... But for now... In their own words... the organizers explain:

OnIslam launches its virtual Hajj training program

Mixing the real world with virtual reality, OnIslam launches the new season of its virtual Hajj training and education program inside the world of Second Life.

     In the launch event, which takes place in Shepherd Hotel in Cairo on November 6, 2010, the OnIslam team welcomes visitors to join a live training session. The event will also have a live musical performance commemorating the Hajj season.

     OnIslam, a project of Mada Organization for Media Development, launched the training program to educate Muslims on how to perform the Hajj and minimize mistakes. It is also aimed at introducisng non-Muslims to the different rituals of the Hajj – offering them a glimpse of places they cannot visit in the real world.

     According to the project’s team, the program features a complete recreation of the Haram Mosque, along with the latest real world upgrades, such as the newly built Mecca clock, the largest in the world.

     Over the past few weeks, the OnIslam virtual Hajj island in Second Life held several lectures for Muslims and non-Muslims in English and Arabic, under guidance of the Shariah section of the website. The training sessions are completely interactive, allowing the trainees to be partake in all aspects of the Hajj.

     An average of 400 visitors comes to the island everyday during the Hajj season. The multicultural team, coming from several countries around the world, invested a total of over 300 work hours to put the project together. Several books and scholars were used as a reference to validate the accuracy of the different rites built virtually.

     Second Life is a 3D virtual world with millions of users. It is completely interactive, with everything inside created by its users.

For more information please contact:

Mohammed Yahia
mohammedyahia@hotmail.com
+2 010 149 1085

Ahmed Fathy
m_fathy75@hotmail.com
+2 012 753 0455

PICTURE CAPTIONS and CREDITS

Picture 1 is Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, Second Life recreation of The Sacred Mosque in Mecca. Click on the picture number, then mouse up a little and click the Full Screen icon! A stunning structure, no doubt the finest building in Second Life!

     Picture 2 shows the Hajj Kits. OnIslam supplies your complete outfit, everything you need for an authentic Hajj training experience. Guys and gals wear quite different garb, as you shall see!

     Picture 3 is Emotions Magic and Any (me!). Emotions is the lead organizer of the SL Hajj training. This year, Emotions orchestrated a live RL Hajj training class in Egypt, simultaneous with the SL Hajj training in English. It was a heady experience, to be sure, as she felt that the eyes of the world press were upon her and the SL event!

     Picture 4 is Kamal Lyvette in male Hajji attire. Picture 5 is Any in middle with Sarah1 Spargel in pink burka with spaceman JS Uralia. Picture 6 is Any on right with Fatma Aie in black burka with gold filigree. Picture 7 is Any on left with Vela Phenomenon in purple head to toe burka and Nona Ubert in black burka with white scarf.  Picture 8 is Marsha McDunnough (on left) with Kamal. Picture 9 is Any on the right of Aitibi Anatine in green burka with white hijab.

     Fancier Islamic dresses such as  Pictures 3 and 6 are truly world class fashions. In fact, I sometimes wear mine while teaching at New Citizens Inc (NCI), since these outfits command respect. Speaking of NCI...

     Free Classes... learn Journalism and Art Photography directly from CNN SuperStar iReporters every Saturday at 6:30am SLT (US Pacific) here:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/NCI%20Dream%20Seeker/156/205/34

     Visit the OnIslam Virtual Hajj in SL at:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/OnIslam/8/55/22

     For more info, read my iReport about the Virtual Hajj:

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-353216

Special thanks to OnIslam leader Ruuh Casini who explained many interesting aspects of the Hajj observance. Thanks to Sarah1 Spargel (Picture 5) who sells Islamic artwork at her Joyfull Art Main Store, here:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Made%20in%20Jura/18/185/52