Pilgrimage has been a feature of many religions, and Christianity and Islam are no exception. While there are similarities, it’s important to note the primary difference between Christian and Islamic pilgrimage. In Islam, pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj) is a religious requirement, while in Christianity, no such obligation exists. While the motivation for each community differed, both Christian and Islamic medieval pilgrimages were oriented around the attempt to reach a place deemed sacred by the religious community for the intended goal of obtaining spiritual benefit. In both cases, the destination could be a holy place (Mecca, Rome, Jerusalem) or a shrine that contained relics of saints or exemplars.
Christianity
A primary motivation for late medieval Christian pilgrimage to holy sites associated with saints was the acquisition of indulgences, which basically amounted to the promise of intercession from the Church on behalf of the pilgrim for the lessening of punishment for sins, whether in this life or in purgatory. In contrast, earlier Christians sought holy places as a way to retreat from earthly life and seek out spiritual and heavenly contemplation. The Crusades were also framed as a pilgrimage of sorts, for which all manner of spiritual reward could be promised.
Islam
Pilgrimage in Islam is associated most strongly with the Hajj, a journey to Mecca that all Muslims are required to make once in their lifetime. Aside from this, the idea of a sacred journey to a holy place developed for the purpose of gaining blessings, cures, or knowledge about the Prophet Muhammad, his companions, and other exemplary Muslims. Medieval Muslims had the benefit of guides created specifically to help the faithful undertake these journeys. However, Islam does not have the concept of sainthood as Christians do, and eventually these lesser pilgrimages were seen as undesirable, with the concern that the importance placed on exemplary humans took away the focus from God.
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