My Mother's Hajj

In this episode, I talk with Ali about his journey to Mecca. Ali's mother had been waiting for years to be selected for the Hajj pilgrimage and then she passed away. Her name was chosen and Ali's family decided that he should complete the pilgrimage in her place. An existential dilemma emerged: Ali was raised in a religious Muslim household yet he no longer practiced Islam. Listen to hear how Ali navigated his love and devotion for his mother and his internal conflict about the religion of his youth.