Rating: 
Summary: The Road to Mecca: A historical autobiography
Review: The Road to Mecca is not a historical book. Yet, some parts of its mystical archives are very considerable in getting a real picture about Islam and Muslims during the two era; the falling of Islamic khilafah and the beginning of the western Imperialism era. Muhammad Asad or Asadullah von Weiss (1900-1992) was having close relationship with many leaders, scholars and fighters (mujahidin), including King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, King Faisal, King Abdullah, Reza Shah Pahlavi, Jacob Israël de Haan, Shaykh Mustafa al-Maraghi, Abul A'la al-Maududi, 'Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Sayyid Ahmad, Ash-Shaheed Umar Mukhtar and Agos Salim besides travelling a massive hundred of thousand miles to Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asian states. Hence, his long journey and great experiences wrapping in his own beautiful narrative, are the valuable 'tutorials' to be mastered. I would like to highlight two most significant chapters. Almost the whole chapter of 'Jihad' consists of Asad's dialogue with Sidi Muhammad az-Zuwayy, Sayyid Ahmad and Umar Mukhtar, illustrating the history of Sanusi Islamic movement. It includes the dilemma of the Sanusi, whether to fight against British in Egypt or not. I concluded the lessons as:
a)The Muslim leader as well as the whole Muslim community must follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah. God help whomever help God. Whereas the utmost priority in the Muslim life should be his ad-din al-Islam.
b)Muslim brotherhood should be developed without any different, Arab, Turkish etc.
c)Without any objection, jihad is a part of Islamic teaching and obligation, in protecting Muslim faith and land. Another chapter, 'Dajjal' was specifically written about the dajjalic modern life and Zionism, Iran and Reza Shah Pahlavi, and also about his experience in embracing into Islam. Muhammad Asad was all the time against the Zionist and any colonial power toward Muslims' land. "Although of Jewish origin myself," noted him in The Road to Mecca, "I conceived from the outset a strong objection to Zionism...I considered it immoral that immigrants, assisted by a great foreign power..." I never regret reading it. You too.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Adventure Story
Review: This is a great adventure story from the glorious days of Arabia. It's also the best introduction to Islam I've ever read.
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