Every Dhul-Hijja, hundreds of people join our Pilgrims at Home game to reconnect with their daily worship and experience the sacred season in a meaningful way. It is a game, yes, but it is also a tool. A chance to reset. A simple system that helps us become more consistent with our prayers, more mindful with our days, and more present in our relationship with Allah.
Pilgrims at Home is designed around the principles of gamification—a learning method proven to help build and sustain habits. Researchers have found that gamified systems increase motivation by giving us small, visible rewards that help us track progress and feel a sense of accomplishment. Even when the task is internal or spiritual, the external cues help us show up and stay committed.
This is why you will find points, progress charts, and daily reminders in Pilgrims at Home. They help turn intention into action. Even something as simple as checking a box each day reinforces the behavior. These game mechanics spark the brain’s reward system, making us more likely to repeat the action tomorrow.
And here is the most important part: you do not need a perfect score to win. In fact, most people don’t. What they do is more than they usually would. And that alone is a victory. Every extra prayer, every moment of dhikr, every time you choose the Quran instead of your phone—it all matters. It all adds up.
If you tend to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset, let this be your reminder: consistency is built in small moments. Pilgrims at Home is not about perfection. It is about progress. It is about building habits that last beyond the ten days of Dhul-Hijja. It is about letting the days of sacredness draw you closer, one small step at a time.
Want to join a “chill” team that isn’t aiming for a “perfect score”—look in the Rabateers thread! Teams are forming—you can join one or make your own!
Join us. Let’s walk this path together.
Sarah Olesky, Rabata Development Coordinator