London ( CNN ) -- From a few thousand people traveling by camel in the 7th century to three million a year today : The story of the Hajj -- the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca -- is an epic journey . That journey is celebrated in the first major exhibition dedicated to the Hajj , opening at the British Museum in London on January 26 . It includes sacred objects , pictures and the human stories of pilgrims past and present . `` We hope to be able to get across the hardship of the journey in the old days when it was a long journey by camel or by sea and could take two years there and back , '' said Venetia Porter , the exhibition curator . `` Now of course you can go by plane . '' Yet despite the changes over the years , it was what had n't changed which most struck Porter . `` The experience itself does n't seem to have changed , '' she said . `` If you read the historical accounts of pilgrims in medieval times , their rituals , how they feel and the deep spiritual significance is the same as now . '' The exhibition falls into three sections , the first focusing on the journey to Mecca , particularly along the major routes used through history across Africa , Asia , Europe and the Middle East . The second section focuses on the Hajj today , its rituals and what the experience means to pilgrims . Finally , the exhibition takes on Mecca itself , its origins and importance . Mecca is considered the spiritual center of Islam because it was where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have received his first revelations in the early 7th century . At its heart is the cube-shaped Ka'ba , built by Abraham and his son Ishmael , according to the Quran . The Hajj takes place in the last month of the Islamic year , known as Dhu ' l Hijja and includes certain rituals which must be completed . Every Muslim who can is expected to go on Hajj at least once in their lifetime . It took the British Museum more than two years to collect all the objects , which include a seetanah which covers the door of the Ka'ba , archaeological material , manuscripts , textiles , historic photographs and contemporary art . Also on Inside the Middle East : Finding freedom behind bars . The exhibition was put together with the help of the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh , which arranged the loan of some objects which had never before been taken outside Saudi Arabia . The Saudi Ambassador to Britain , HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud , said : `` Hajj is not just a physical journey , it 's the most extraordinary spiritual journey every Muslim takes . `` We leave our families and our homes to undertake this profound life-changing experience . `` It does n't guarantee passage to Heaven , but it focuses us on what 's important in life . `` It 's a sensitive issue for the British Museum to tackle and we had long discussions to make sure it was accurate . Eventually they did an excellent job . '' Porter said : `` The most challenging aspect for us was to turn it from a mere collection of objects into something evocative of the strong spiritual experience . `` The way we did it was to include quotes and voices from pilgrims . '' To accompany its exhibition , the British Museum invited Muslims to recount their own experiences on its website , and hundreds have done so . One , Kamran Majid , from London , wrote : `` The moment you enter the Harem Mosque and first lay eyes on the Ka'ba feels like the day you are truly born of life , your soul , heart and eyes soften and ease to the glorious sight . '' Also on Inside the Middle East : Youth march 'shows true spirit ' Another , Amal Alabdulkarim , from Riyhad , wrote : `` Hajj is the journey of pureness , love , hope and optimism . It taught me humility , patience and justice . '' Sophia Khan , from Slough , UK , wrote : `` My most memorable moment was when I just happened to sit on some steps looking out to the Ka'ba . There were thousands of people from all over the world circumambulating this sacred structure at the center of the Earth , all there for a common purpose of praising God , yet each engaged in private reflection oblivious of any other . ''
The Museum has first major exhibition on Islam . Three million Muslims a year take Hajj to Mecca . Qu'ran says all Muslims should go at least once in their lifetime .