伊斯蘭在線駐《第二人生》協調員Breathe Swindlehurst說：“我認為這對於每一個計劃去朝覲但又不知道該做什麼不該做什麼的人來說都是一次空前的體驗”。
伊斯蘭在線網站的使命宣言是：教育全球穆斯林加強信仰。作為這個使命的一部分，網站將於12月9號在《第二人生》中自己的海島內開設朝覲教育節目。
這檔節目對於現實生活中正進行深刻自我反省的人及任何想了解相關知識的人來說都是一個強有力的教育工具。
不是簡單地閱讀一遍過程或觀看一段錄像，在這個節目中，人們可以從頭到尾體驗一遍朝覲的每一個步驟和細節。
Swindlehurst說：“我們在全島設置了要點提示，可以在朝覲體驗的全過程指引任何訪客完成體驗”。
“此外，我們計劃成立一個專門的預熱團，訪客可以在IOL莎莉亞部顧問的指導下體驗朝覲。顧問會給團員們講授關於朝覲他們應該知道的一切知識。”
作為伊斯蘭教五大基石之一的朝覲由幾個儀式組成，這些儀式的意義是他們象徵了伊斯蘭信仰的核心觀念、紀念了先知亞伯拉罕及其家人的偉大事蹟。
每一個身體健康、能夠承擔旅費的成年穆斯林必須一生至少朝覲一次。朝覲將於本月底開始。
《第二人生》創造於2003年，現在已經建設的很完善，擁有110萬註冊用戶。
在這個栩栩如生的世界裡，現實中的人們可以用自己的帳號選擇一個身份，生活在一個虛擬社區裡，這個社區包括房子、汽車、購物中心及虛擬貨幣—林登幣。
互動
該計劃設計者稱3D虛擬世界的互動性會給參與者逐步指導，指導完成朝覲。
設計者之一Khawla Masala說：“《第二人生》朝覲將是非凡的，因為它打破了一切旅行限制”。
“除了給練習者提供他們需要的文本資料外，它（《第二人生》朝覲）允許他們進行真實的互動，讓他們成為節目的一部分”。
在設計節目的時候，與真實生活越接近越好。
在虛擬過程開始之初，受訓者會得到一個免費大包，裡面裝著他們在朝聖過程中需要的虛擬工具。
它以戒衣、帳篷和睡袋為標識。
設計成這樣是為了給訪客一種體驗真實朝覲的感覺。
虛擬朝聖者將會走過從聖城麥加的禁寺到阿拉法特山的所有路程。
練習者也可以通過他們的帳號向象徵惡魔的石柱橋扔石頭。
從事該節目部分工作的瓦利德·韋斯頓就被這個想法深深吸引。
“第一次圍著禁寺走真是一種奇妙的經歷”。
“非常令人畏懼，我相信這是你最近距離感受真實朝覲的方式”。
更多計劃
虛擬朝覲只是伊斯蘭在線近期在電腦虛幻世界中推出的節目之一。
第一檔節目是在尊貴的齋月推出的“齋月帳篷”。
“帳篷”取得了巨大的成功，每天吸引近100名訪客。
它不僅在《第二人生》受到媒體的廣泛報導，也在現實生活中受到多種語言的報導。
伊斯蘭在線是第一個在《第二人生》中擁有整個海島的伊斯蘭媒體組織。
該組織當前正計劃成立一個中心用於在虛擬世界進行演講和召開教法會議。
這個中心將會成為成為訪客入島的第一站。它會利用文本和影像為《第二人生》的網民提供網站服務。
伊斯蘭在線網站將會利用虛擬世界的3D工具定期在《第二人生》公佈新方案。
編譯：wangmeifang
By Mohammad Yahia, IOL Staff
CAIRO — Have you ever dreamed of being able to be part of the full hajj experience without leaving your home? Today, that is possible with the launch of IslamOnline.net's educational hajj program on the virtual world of Second Life. "I think this would be an unparalleled experience for anyone who is going to go to hajj and is unsure of what should and should not be done," says Breathe Swindlehurst, IOL's coordinator in Second Life.
As part of its mission statement to better educate Muslims worldwide about their faith, IOL will launch the hajj educational program on December 9, on its own island inside Second Life.
The program is a powerful educational tool for people embarking on the soul-searching journey, in the real world, or anyone else who wants to learn about it.
Rather than reading through a course or watching a video, people can actually go through all the steps of hajj with all the details of the journey from beginning to end. "We have setup points throughout the island that can direct any visitors through the whole experience," said Swindlehurst.
"In addition to that, we plan to have special, preannounced sessions where visitors can go through the hajj under guidance of counselors from the IOL Shari`ah department who will teach the group everything they need to know about hajj."
One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim — who can financially afford the trip — must perform hajj, which starts later this month, at least once in their lifetime.
Second Life, created in 2003, is entirely built and owned by its booming population of over 11 million registered users.
In the animated world, real people use their avatars to "live" alternate identities in a virtual community, complete with homes, cars, shopping malls and a virtual currency, known as Linden Dollars.
Interactive
The project designers say the degree of interactivity in the 3D virtual world would allow participants the ultimate step by step guide to hajj.
"The Second Life hajj project is exceptional as it breaks all the traditional limits of training," says Khawla Masala, one of the designers.
"It allows the trainees to actually interact and be part of the program besides giving them all the textual material they may need."
The program is designed to be as accurate to real life as possible.
At the start of the virtual course, trainees will be able to take a free bag containing all the virtual tools they need in their pilgrimage.
It features ihram garb (special clothes worn by people during hajj), a tent and a sleeping bag.
This is all designed to give the visitor a feeling of the real hajj experience.
Virtual pilgrims will go all the way through Al-Masjid Al-Haram in the holy city of Makkah to Mena and Mount `Arafah.
Through their avatars, trainees will also be able to gather pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamrat Bridge.
Walid Weston, who worked on parts of the program, is fascinated by the idea.
"Walking through the Al-Masjid Al-Haram for the first time was a fantastic experience!
"It is very awe-inspiring and I believe it is the closest you can get to the real thing."
More to Come
The virtual hajj program is only the latest of IOL's projects in the computer-generated world.
The first was the Ramadan tent during the holy fasting month.
The tent was a great hit and gained instant popularity with nearly 100 visitors daily.
It received wide media coverage, in Second Life as well as in the real world, in many different languages.
IOL was the first Islamic media organization to host a full island inside Second Life.
The organization is currently planning a center for lectures and fatwa sessions in the virtual world.
Using text and audio, the center will be the first stop for all new visitors to the island. It will offer many of the website's services to SL residents.
IOL will also unveil new projects in Second Life that make use of the 3D tools of the world on a regular basis.
（http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1196786035497&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout）
http://blog.yam.com/goodthing1982/article/25058113
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