- Hardcover: 392 pages
- Publisher: Islamic Book Service; New edition edition (1 April 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 8172311605
- ISBN-13: 978-8172311605
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 445,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very well written book, and very enlightening on the Arab condition, pre-oil boom era. It tells of a generous and devout people, welcomed this Austrian Jew with open arms into their homes and lives.
Asad was an Austrian Jew who converted to Islam while covering the Middle East for various well known news papers of the time. He has interwoven the story of his life with a spontaneous trip he wishes to make to Makkah with his trusted companion, Zayd.
The story of his life is bold, daring, of chances taken and opportunities made. His life was a big, colorful adventure, flavoured with the exotic lifestyle of the Arabs, whose culture he whole-heartedly adopted. His travels to Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan are all recounted here, including his friendship to Ibn Saud, the founder of the modern house of Saud that rule Saudi Arabia today. He tempers his admiration for Ibn Saud with gentle criticism for the manner in which he rules; and from Asads narratives we receive the impression that Ibn Saud was a kind man.
The Arab condition is touched upon, and the downfall of Arab civilisation is mourned; the manner in which women are effectively removed from important roles in society, the way in which people have been corrupted.
Sometimes, Asad touched upon convincing arguments for the moral case against Zionism (before he converted).
However, Asad is also a noted Islamic Scholar, who has translated the Quran itself, however no mention of his studies is made in the book. The style can be rather dry sometimes, almost touching on the academic.
That said, this is an extremely wonderful book, I feels it sheds some light on the rise of Islam in the West.
Format:Hardcover
I was drawn to The Road to Makkah by a documentary about the intriguing life of Mohammad Assad a young Jewish man who converted to Islam in the 1920s.
The book is pure poetry. Its lyical delination of Assad's journeyings with his Bedouin friend across an idyllic Middle East (now changed by oil capitalism and conflict) including Palestine, Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Saudi Arabia reflects faithfully Assad's profound love for the desert, for Arabs and for Islam.
Interspersed with vivid descriptions of Arabic life are Assad's insightful philosophical reflections which are shaped by his disillusionment with the superficiality and soullessness of Europe and his intellectual and sensate rapture with the brave new Arab world.
There are also valuable glimpses into history- his meeting with the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and his friendship with King Ibn Saud.
Its formal tone that captures Arabic respect for the other along with its lyrical flair makes it a reading experience in which each word and phrase is to be savoured, envisaged and felt.
The book is pure poetry. Its lyical delination of Assad's journeyings with his Bedouin friend across an idyllic Middle East (now changed by oil capitalism and conflict) including Palestine, Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Saudi Arabia reflects faithfully Assad's profound love for the desert, for Arabs and for Islam.
Interspersed with vivid descriptions of Arabic life are Assad's insightful philosophical reflections which are shaped by his disillusionment with the superficiality and soullessness of Europe and his intellectual and sensate rapture with the brave new Arab world.
There are also valuable glimpses into history- his meeting with the Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and his friendship with King Ibn Saud.
Its formal tone that captures Arabic respect for the other along with its lyrical flair makes it a reading experience in which each word and phrase is to be savoured, envisaged and felt.
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