A Virtual Hajj Through Time: Sharjah Book Fair’s VR Experience Revives 7th Century Islam
The hallowed halls of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) have long been a sanctuary for literary explorers, but this year, they have become a gateway to another dimension. Visitors are being offered an extraordinary passage through time—a groundbreaking virtual reality experience that doesn’t just describe history but immerses them within it. This journey, developed by the cultural innovators at Ana Al Madina, transports participants back 1,400 years to the very cradle of Islam, offering a visceral, emotional, and educational encounter with the early days of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
The Descent: From Orbital Grandeur to Ancient Sands
The experience begins with a moment of awe. As users don the VR headset, the bustling noise of the book fair melts away, replaced by the profound silence of space. They find themselves floating high above the curvature of the Earth, a blue marble against the void. This cosmic perspective sets the stage for a divine narrative, before the simulation initiates a gentle, graceful descent towards the Arabian Peninsula. The landscape resolves from a blur of brown and green into a vivid, dynamic reconstruction of 7th-century Makkah.
This is not the modern city of towering hotels and sprawling plazas. Participants arrive in a city carved from the desert itself. The air is thick with the dust of the unpaved streets and the murmur of a thriving, pre-Islamic society. At its heart stands the Kaaba, but it is a structure unfamiliar to the modern eye—built from rugged, untreated stone blocks and encircled by the silent, watchful forms of pagan idols. The attention to detail is staggering. Narrow, shadowed alleyways open into sun-drenched open-air markets, or souqs, where traders vociferously barter over goods—spices, textiles, and leatherware. The residents, animated with purpose, wander about their daily lives, offering a living tapestry of the era. A guiding narrative voice, calm and authoritative, provides context, explaining the complex societal landscape: the tribal hierarchies, the economic realities, and the roles of women and young girls within the cultural setting that existed before the advent of Islam.
The Revelation: Witnessing a World in Transformation
From this established setting, the journey deepens, moving from observation to witness. Participants are spiritually guided to the serene isolation of the Cave of Hira on Mount Jabal al-Nour. Here, in the quiet stillness, they are present for one of the most pivotal moments in human history: the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) receiving his first revelation from the archangel Jibreel (Gabriel). The visual and auditory design is so profoundly realistic that participants often report an instinctive, physical reaction—reaching out a hand to feel the cool, rough texture of the virtual cave walls, as if to anchor themselves in the moment.
As the narration unfolds, the simulation does not remain static. It visually charts the rise of the early Muslim community, showing the gradual but determined transformation of Makkah’s social and spiritual fabric. The journey then performs a miraculous leap, bringing users before the modern-day Kaaba, radiant and black. Then, in a feature that is both technologically remarkable and spiritually unique, the experience allows them to do the impossible: to step inside the sacred structure. Within, they can gaze upwards in wonder at the intricate golden lamps and experience the profound silence and sanctity of this innermost space—a perspective granted to very few in the physical world.
The Hijrah and the Foundation of a Community
The narrative then follows the path of the Prophet (PBUH) himself, transitioning to the city of Madinah. This segment is equally rich and immersive. Visitors witness the perilous migration, the Hijrah, and then observe the foundational efforts of the nascent Muslim society. They see the construction of the first Masjid al-Nabawi, a humble structure of palm trunks and mud bricks, a stark contrast to its modern grandeur. They are granted a glimpse into the Prophet’s simple home, understanding the modesty from which a global faith was administered.
Dr. Adil Abdul Qadir, Manager of Ana Al Madina, emphasises that the project’s core is deeply educational. “This VR set is designed purely for educational purposes,” he states. “People who experience it gain a tangible understanding of what Makkah and Madina were like 1,400 years ago—the culture, the lifestyle, and the way people interacted.” The simulation powerfully illustrates how the Prophet established a community rooted in compassion, equality, and justice. Dr. Adil explains that the ultimate goal is to “connect people to faith through knowledge … not just to see history, but to feel it, to experience the values that shaped our world.”
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An Emotional Bridge to the Past
The feedback from participants has been the true measure of the project’s success. Many emerge from the experience visibly moved, with tears in their eyes, struggling to find words. The most common description is that it felt “real—as if they have truly travelled back in time.” This powerful emotional response underscores the unique ability of this VR journey to evoke deep empathy and a more profound, personal understanding of the Prophet’s message of peace and unity.
In bringing this immersive experience to the book fair, Ana Al Madina has created more than a technological marvel; they have crafted an emotional and intellectual bridge. Participants don’t just watch a documentary; they inhabit the space, feel the significance of the events, and reflect on the human stories at the heart of Islamic history. For those attending the Sharjah Book Fair, this installation is a must-see attraction, a powerful reminder that technology, when guided by a reverence for culture and faith, can become the most profound gateway to empathy, understanding, and our shared human heritage.
