Driving back on the long road from the shores of the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea I looked in amazement at the snaking convoy of cars that was stretching over 800 km. Cars laden with overhead luggage and coaches were passing one a second all the way from the outskirts of Riyadh to Makkah. Assuming an average of 5 passengers per vehicle in a period of 12 hours a million pilgrims had driven themselves away from Makkah. The press figures state that the total number of pilgrims this year were 3 million - a staggering figure. Somewhere between 30-60% of this 3 million are pilgrims from outside the Gulf area. This amazing gathering provides an opportunity for furthering links between the various parts of the Muslim world. One such link is trade.
Hajj and trade have been linked ever since pre-Islamic times. The congregation of so many people from such all over the world has provided local traders an excellent opportunity to making profits. Some people say the profits made during the Hajj season generate revenues that will be enough for a whole year. The Quran itself provides sanction to the linking of business and Hajj in the following verse:
2:198 It is no sin for you that ye seek the bounty of your Lord (by trading). But, when ye press on in the multitude from Arafat, remember Allah by the sacred monument. Remember Him as He hath guided you, although before ye were of those astray.
Currently pilgrims have been reduced to consumers rather than traders and offer little of substance to other pilgrims. There are no forums for them to exchange information and contacts with fellow pilgrims. Though I have no data concerning the amount intra-Muslim world trade I would not be surprised in the least to find it is extremely low. A simple trip to most North African countries will show very few South Asians, though potentially there are many bilateral trading opportunities that exist.
Part of the reason is the lack of a forum in which contacts can be easily exchanged. The annual Hajj provides such an opportunity. The Hajj currently run provides a logistical and immigration challenge to the Saudi authorities, consequently most of their efforts have been geared towards meeting these challenges. Little thought has been put into taking advantage of this opportunity in other ways.
Given the current lack of intra-Muslim world trade it would seem to be a goal worth working to and promoting. The establishment of a large trade fair straight after the days of Hajj is an idea that should be explored, a 'Hajj Trade Fair'. It should allow pilgrims free access and business from all over the Muslim world to display their wares and services. Special rates should be given to pilgrim businessmen so that they can trade their wares or at the very least give them a degree of exposure that they could not otherwise afford. This would allow for the greater exposure of Muslim businesses to a Muslim population, potentially generate revenues for the Saudi authorities and promote intra-Muslim world trade which can only be an advantage for the Muslim world and promote self-reliance.
The trade fair is a non-threatening positive and constructive step. Putting it after the Hajj would be in keeping with the spirit of not distracting pilgrims from their primary purpose of coming to the Hajj. Pilgrims represent a heterogeneous group. From captains of trade and industry, foreign emissaries, decision makers, business persons, entrepreneurs, thinkers to the more common Bakr and Zaid. The Saudi authorities can also use this opportunity to offer free business development advice to the various pilgrims who are traders, this itself would generate tremendous goodwill which can only be for the greater good. I pray that this spark of an idea is given a breath of life and opportunity to flourish.
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