Return 

I am Mansa Musa, the King of Kings.

I am in sight of Niani, my capital city, except this time, from the opposite direction. I have returned from my Hajj to Mecca. I know not what I will find in the city. Will my son be ready for the burden I am going to place on him? Will my brother accept it? Is it my destiny to never return to Mecca? One of the most important things this journey has taught me is that life has many questions. As mortals, all we can do is trust in Allah, keep his commands, and do our best to solve problems. Things will work out in the end, one way or another. Since my Hajj is complete, this journal may be considered complete as well. I may start another set of writings if and when I return to Mecca. Therefore, I end my account with this final statement: Praise to Allah.

Note: This is the end of Mansa Musa's account of his Hajj. It admirably demonstrates his frame of mind and thoughts while he undertook the Hajj. Included in this compendium will be a map of  his Hajj, a list of cultural exchanges, and the top five moments of the entire pilgrimage. Also, a bibliography of sources used will be included. 

For those curious about the end of this story, Mansa Musa died of natural causes shortly after returning to Mali. His son, Mansa Magha, ruled for several years and then died of unknown causes. Afterward, Musa's brother Sulayman began a reign that lasted a large amount of time (Bell, Nawal Marcos. "The Age of Mansa Musa of Mali: Problems in Succession and Chronology." In The International Journal of African Historical Studies, 221-234. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Boston University African Studies Center, 1972).

Truly, Mansa Musa's story is one that will endure through the ages.