Commitment to sacred places: A qualitative study on muslims' experiences of the pilgrimage

This study aims to examine the spiritual dimension of sacred places and the phenomenon of "attachment" to these places from psycho-theological and socio-cultural perspectives. In this context, the reasons and nature of the emotional bond individuals feel towards these spaces were deeply investigated. The research focuses on the phenomenon of attachment to the Hajj pilgrimage sites in Mecca, utilizing a phenomenological approach that emphasizes the importance of individual experiences. To achieve this objective, a qualitative research method and a phenomenology design were applied. The study sample consists of 16 pilgrims residing in Istanbul who have performed both Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and emotional notes kept by the participants, and content analysis was performed using the MAXQDA program. The findings of the research revealed that the themes emerging from the qualitative data analysis align with the "Person, Place, Process" dimensions of Scannell and Gifford's Place Attachment Theory (PPP), presented around four main themes, including the "Sacredness" dimension added by the researcher. In light of the findings, it was determined that participants feel a strong, multidimensional attachment to sacred places. This attachment manifests through deep emotional responses (peace, happiness, longing, belonging), rich cognitive representations (religious-historical background, events relived through the power of imagination), transformative spiritual dimensions (inner transformation, sense of divine closeness, spiritual purification), and distinct behavioral expressions (desire to visit frequently, recommending, desire to take close relatives). Our study, by adding the "Sacredness" dimension (divine prestige, spiritual atmosphere, transformative effect) to this structure, revealed that this dimension plays a role in strengthening and supporting the person, place, and process dimensions. Consequently, this study can be regarded as an important step in supporting interdisciplinary studies in the field of attachment to sacred places and contributing to the understanding of the individual and societal transformative effects of this attachment.