The historical and cultural documents regarding the Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques held by the King Abdulaziz Public Library constitute some of the world's rarest knowledge resources. Comprising over 6,000 items—including rare manuscripts, books, coins, miniatures, and photographs—these materials are cataloged in the library's database and reflect its deep commitment to preserving the culture of Hajj.

Among the rare manuscripts held by the library concerning the Hajj, the Two Holy Mosques, Makkah, and Madinah are: *Qurrat al-Ayn fi Awsaf al-Haramayn* (The Delight of the Eye: Descriptions of the Two Holy Mosques); *Dala’il al-Khayrat wa Shawariq al-Anwar* (Proofs of Good Deeds and Beams of Light); *Kitab al-Nawadir (al-Masa’iyya)* (Book of Rarities) and *Sharh al-Thalathin Mas’ala* (Commentary on the Thirty Issues); *Kharidat al-Aja’ib wa Faridat al-Ghara’ib* (The Pearl of Wonders and the Unique Gem of Curiosities); *Mazra‘ al-Hasanat* (The Field of Good Deeds) and *Sharh Dala’il al-Khayrat* (Commentary on *Dala’il al-Khayrat*); and *Sharh Aqrab al-Masalik* (Commentary on *Aqrab al-Masalik*); in addition to a collection of Qur’ans transcribed within the Two Holy Mosques.

The library also holds a rare manuscript titled *Saji‘at al-Haram* (The Rhyming Orator of the Sanctuary), authored by Imam Al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH / 1505 CE) and copied in the 12th century AH. This manuscript is a *maqama* (a literary genre of rhymed prose) that presents a spirited exchange between Makkah and Madinah, ultimately offering a balanced perspective on the merits of each city. Other manuscripts held by the library that pertain to the Hajj pilgrimage include *Al-Qaṣīdah al-Dhahabiyyah fī Manāsik al-Ḥajj al-Mar‘iyyah* (The Golden Poem on the Prescribed Rites of Hajj) by Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr ibn Rashīd al-Ḥalabī; *Sawāniḥ al-Ḥijāz* (Reflections on the Hijaz) by Bahā’ al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Ḥusayn al-Ḥārithī al-Hamadhānī (d. 1031 AH / 1622 CE)—along with his manuscript *Risālah Ithnā‘ashariyyah Ḥajj* (A Twelver Treatise on Hajj)—and *Sharḥ Manẓūmat al-Kuntī li-Waraqāt Imām al-Ḥaramayn* (Commentary on Al-Kuntī’s Versified Version of *Waraqāt* by Imām al-Ḥaramayn) by Muḥammad Yaḥyā ibn Muḥammad al-Mukhtār al-Shinqīṭī (d. 1330 AH). The library also holds numerous commentaries on this latter work—such as *Qurrat al-‘Ayn bi-Sharḥ Waraqāt Imām al-Ḥaramayn* by Muḥammad al-Ḥaṭṭāb (d. 954 AH / 1547 CE) and Muḥammad al-Maḥallī (d. 864 AH / 1459 CE)—which explain the original text, *Al-Waraqāt*, a manuscript of which is also in the library's collection, authored by ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn Yūsuf al-Juwaynī, known as Imām al-Ḥaramayn (d. 478 AH / 1085 CE); in addition to the manuscript *Manāsik al-Sijilmāsī* by Ibrāhīm ibn Hilāl al-Sijilmāsī (d. 903 AH / 1498 CE). Books on Hajj:

Printed publications represent a highlight of the library’s work in shedding light on Hajj—the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the religion's greatest rituals—where pilgrims from across the globe gather at the Sacred House and the Holy Kaaba. The library has published a range of significant books of interest to researchers and scholars regarding Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. Notable titles include: *Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (Rare Photographs)*; *A Japanese in Makkah* (translated and annotated by Dr. Samir Ibrahim and Sarah Takahashi); *The Road to Mecca* by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss); *Pilgrimage to Mecca* by Lady Evelyn Cobbold; and *Views of the Two Holy Mosques and Scenes of Hajj through the Lens of Hajj Ahmed Mirza*. The latter documents the work of the first professional Indian photographer to visit the Holy Lands for Hajj in 1325 AH (1907 CE). Spanning 240 pages, the book includes an introduction covering the Two Holy Mosques as depicted in ancient maps, historical drawings and miniatures, early photographs, and the history of photography in India, specifically highlighting the interest Indian photographers took in the Two Holy Mosques.

Rare Photographs and Publications:

Regarding rare photographs and books, the library holds significant collections, including rare images of the Kingdom and the Arab world in general. Among these is the pioneering and renowned collection captured by Major General Muhammad Sadiq Pasha, which features iconic images of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah—a collection of which only three copies exist worldwide. The library holds rare books by Muhammad Sadiq Pasha, including: *A Brief Account of the Exploration of the Hejaz Route from Al-Wajh and Yanbu al-Bahr to the Prophet’s City, with a Description of its Military Map* (1877); *The Mahmal’s Beacon: The Overland Hajj Journey* (1880); *The Star of Hajj: The Mahmal’s Journey by Sea and Land* (1885); and *The Hajj Guide for Those Arriving in Makkah and Madinah from Every Quarter* (1885).

The King Abdulaziz Public Library also possesses approximately 365 previously unpublished photographs of the Two Holy Mosques. These were taken by the renowned Egyptian photographer Ahmed Pasha Helmy, who was commissioned by King Farouk to document the Two Holy Mosques during the entry of King Abdulaziz—may God rest his soul—into Makkah and Madinah.

Films and Exhibitions:

Furthermore, the library screened the film *The Greatest Journey: Hajj to Makkah in the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta*. This film bridges the past and the present, showcasing modern-day Hajj rituals while highlighting the Kingdom's immense efforts to develop and maintain the Two Holy Mosques and to ensure the comfort and ease of the pilgrims visiting the Sacred House of God.

More than 2,000 people from 24 countries participated in the production, which drew inspiration from Ibn Battuta’s 14th-century journey to Makkah as its historical backdrop.

The film has previously been screened in major global capitals—including New York, Paris, London, Singapore, Jakarta, and Dubai—and won three awards at festivals in Houston, Boston, and Paris. It has been translated into several languages, including French, Russian, and Turkish, in addition to English and Arabic. The library has also previously organized a series of Hajj exhibitions both within the Kingdom and abroad, including in London (2012), Paris (2014), and Riyadh (2020 and 2023).