One of the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj is a required pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. One Thousand Roads to Mecca is a unique collection of essays that chronicles the intimate thoughts and reflections of pilgrims taking this spiritual journey as far back as 10 centuries ago. Among the authors included in the anthology are Malcolm X and Sir Walter Burton.