Standing Alone in Mecca by Asra Q. Nomani

Would it be correct to assume that it is far easier to get a book published, if one writes it as an unorthodox (gay, out of wedlock child etc.) Muslim female, writing about Islam, for a Western audience, with some comments that can create some controversy around blasphemy. Would the sales go up if a fatwa was passed against the author?

I have read books like that by some authors; though I haven’t read this one. And I would have to say, out of all such authors, the only ones who could get published even if they didn’t write in the above manner are Rushdie and Naipaul. Though, even Rushdie wouldn’t be half as well known, had it not been for the controversies he created around Islam. He would just be another accomplished writer, like Mistry etc. Interestingly, both Rushdie and Naipaul are males.

There seems to be a large demand for such books, by Muslim female authors, from publishers. Any Pakistani female author who is trying to get published, and cannot, due to limited writing skills, may want to entertain the above-described avenue………..

Is the author getting attention because she is just an excellent writer who has written something new and well-researched item on Islam, or is she getting attention because she is a female Muslim writer, with an out of wedlock son? If it is the former, then the book is worth reading. If it is the later, then I am afraid, one has to say, “Another one bites the dust!”

That son, unfortunately, is going to get far more publicity than he should, for no fault of his own. I am not sure if that is good for him……….

Having seen Ms. Nomani on CSPAN, all I have to say is thank God she is an Indian and we Pakistanis don`t have to ``own`` her!

The book is just the tripe, for once!, that the Islamofascists and Islamo-apologists say it is. Waste of paper.

``The author gains strength from the Muslim mothers who came before her. They are her spiritual guides. However, she misses a crucial point. Two of the women and their accomplishments to which she constantly refers, were from Pre-Islamic times.

Hajar, Abraham’s concubine, abandoned in the desert with her infant son, lived centuries before the advent of Islam.Khadija, the wife of the prophet was an independent businesswoman much before she asked him to marry her. Before she converted to Islam. ``

Jawahra:

Hazrat Hajra wife of Hazrat Ibrahim was not a concubine but legally bonded with him. And how come that time was Pre-Islamic. Islam was accomplished in its teachings and was completed by Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H) which had been started since Adam times.
She was left by Ibrahim on commands of God. Where in hills of Safa and marwa she desperately searched for water for infant Ismail which gushed in the form of spring `zamzam` originated beneath Ismail`s feet with his rubbing on sand. This seven times running between the hills is a ritual of pilgrimage after Hazrat Hajra.
Isn`t the author of the book unaware of some of the solid facts or the reviewing author has added this?
Similarly Hazrat Khadija was from banu Hashim with Islam practising ancestors. She can also be not termed pre-Islamic example.
Had it been unislamic then Muhammed should have renewed his wedding according to shariah upon his revelations at the age of 40 where theformal Nikkah at first hand was read by Abu Talib who is also believed in history as died as Kafir. How come Muhammed remained his Nikkah read by a Kafir and keep it forever. Shouldn`t it be considered `Batil`.
Muhammed however upon revelations of `Wahi` gained strength by Khadija`s advice.

don`t buy this book ! ............

........i don`t think i will read the book .......... i` ll wait for ``polyandry for muslim lesbians`` - written by an apostate lesbian with three kids from three different men who declares herself to be the daughter of al-lah ............or, ``take your islam and shove it!`` - co-authored by salman rushdie, ibn-warraq, tasleema nasreen, irshad manji and salim chauhan - it has four thousand pages with an introduction by pat robertson and an epilogue by general boykin titled, ``mine is bigger`` ............

................... also coming soon: `` the art and science of beating and stoning women`` by urstruly, with an introduction by phyllis schafly titled, `` the christian perspective - spare the rod and spoil the wench`` ...........

Urstruly,

I think you have been separated from five brothers of yours a la Manmohan Desai, the Quintet are Kiekergaard, Dostoevisky, Tolstoy, Iqbal and Gandhi. Alas you cant be reunited in this world.

Re: # 17 Marker

``The other thing is that any sin can be forgiven, even zina. The only thing that may not be forgiven is shirk. So to label someone as a religious criminal (sinner) is wrong, as long as they are still alive and have a chance to repent and reform. ``


As far as forgiveness of Zina is concerned, your assertion is true if the matter is between Allah and the sinner. However, in worldly matters Islamic jurisprudence has set standards and laws. According to this law, an out of wedlock child cannot be presented as a proof of zina and hence a hadd punishment cannot be imposed unless the woman confesses to the authorities on her own accord and without duress. In that case, Holy Prophet (pbuh) has imposed a hadd of stonning to death.

But in case, when woman has an out of wedlock child and she choses not to declare the parentage or the circumstances of the birth of child, the woman must be left alone. But in case of Asra, she not only admits to have committed zina but also tries to justifies her sin by twisting the open tennets of Islam and its law. But since we live in a society where hadd cannot be imposed therefore her status is that of a ``Fasiqah`` (tr; a personwho committs a major sin and does not repent or even goes as far as showing pride in it); in such cases Muslims should avoid her and boycott her socially. We must also pray to Allah that He saves us from her vile influence on us and on our children.

Re: # 20
[``yes, it is true that non-muslims are not allowed to enter makkah. this is a direct command of God in the Quran. ..``.]

...he can`t because there is none... non-muslims are prohibited from entering kaaba, the grand mosque of the muslims around the world, but the mullah brigade and saudi rulers use the particular surah to include the entire city and ban non-muslims from entering mecca....

``All these things apply to me as well (as to most of your Allahbadi Tandons), so what does it make me? :-)
``

Dost Mittar:

Are you related to the Tandons of Allahabad? There were two families, both Tandons, related to each other that were good friends of my parents. One family lived in this old haveli kinda building. The other family had an ownership interest in a hotel in Allahabad if I remember correctly.

My father was commanding AF Manauri which is located on GT Road, a little after Bamrauli.

This is a well-done review – very well done indeed! (One could even make the point that the reviewer put in more thought into the purpose of the book (and what would be a successful strategy to accomplish that purpose) than the original author did.) Yet I also have the feeling that you got too involved into the subject and the author. Indeed, perhaps you did set your expectations too high when you started reading. As always, the (original) author’s intent behind writing the piece must be taken into account. If it’s plain commercialism – that’s one thing, but in this case there appears to be also an effort to enlighten a bit – even though there may be some subconscious selfishness of creating space for herself, as you appear to indicate. Many of the faulty details from the book perhaps could have been easily fixed by running it by a knowledgeable third party.

[The question I had was, why he was involved in the creation of the mosque in the first place?]
Why involve? Perhaps because people evolve – he at first, with the zeal of a new convert, may not have paused and pondered, as he perhaps did later on! Most people’s thinking represents a certain degree of contradiction – usually they can not see it themselves.

[This is done by over-praising the United States and its stances on individual liberties and human women’s rights. She totally glosses over the human rights abuses (including its turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabian women’s rights), the creation of the Taliban, CIA interventions, funding of wars and assassinations by the US.]
Government policies are often more reflections of geopolitical realities than based on aspirations of domestic populations.

[Islam means submission. Despite the tradition of ijtihad (both her and Irshad Manji’s favorite) there are some things that cannot be questioned. In my opinion, you cannot submit and question at the same time.]
What would be your suggestion to the original author regarding how to address that contradiction?

[…for Western Liberals … preaching to the choir. They got enough to feel appropriately global and informed but not enough to feel uncomfortable or to ask real, deep, fundamental questions.]
Some people have expressed similar opinion of this web site.

Jawahara:

I agree with you. The point I was trying to make was that there are many such Muslim identities, the identity of a Panjabi Muslim woman would be different from your identity or that of a Turkish Muslim woman.

`` So, I might enjoy Urdu poetry, like what is termed Muslim food, way of life...but may not believe in the tenets of Islam.``

All these things apply to me as well (as to most of your Allahbadi Tandons), so what does it make me? :-)

Re: # 8
I have many long time family friends who are Muslims perhaps descendents of converts or Arabs going back many centuries. They are like any body and I am deeply impressed by their pietry, honesty,friendship, honour and dignity and all the civillized behaviour etc. etc. Some of them may be simple and even little educated people. It does not matter.

Now you say, ``yes, it is true that non-muslims are not allowed to enter makkah. this is a direct command of God in the Quran. ..``. Can you give me a single reference where it says so? I have adequate time and resources to verify such a claim. Tell me why Allah is so incondiderate of Non-Muslims so much He displays such petty-minded behaviour?

Is it not true Islam has universal appeal to all humanity like teachings of any other living faith? Peace.
Kamath

dost-mittar...you still might find the book interesting to read. I find Muslim itself to be an ethnic, socio-cultural identity. So, for example, I might call myself an Indian Muslim because of my various roots even if I do not practice Islam. So, I might enjoy Urdu poetry, like what is termed Muslim food, way of life...but may not believe in the tenets of Islam.

Marker, please re-read the review. Where did I call Ms. Nomani a sinner?

asd usual temporal baba and ms saminasha have come up with the most inane of comments -- the latter esp who think that making such silly comments is somehow a high point of her intellectualism (or should i say lack thereof) -- well dear ms shah, it probably isnt necessary to write a book that everyone likes but at least some people should be able to appreciate it -- asra nomani obviously wrote this for an audience or else she wouldnt have published it --

Dear ~Ms Saidullah,
To put the record straight, I must inform you that the Prophet Abrahim ( alaih salam) was a Muslim. Its written in the Holu Quran. If spend half the time you spend on reading this book you reviewed, you will find the verse in the Holy Quran which states that very fact.
The other thing is that any sin can be forgiven, even zina. The only thing that may not be forgiven is shirk. So to label someone as a religious criminal (sinner) is wrong, as long as they are still alive and have a chance to repent and reform.

The verses are not burried in the Holy Quran, they are in the second chapter, and I am copying them below for your perusal.

Bismillah Irehman Iraheem
124. And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: ``I will make thee an Imam to the Nations.`` He pleaded: ``And also (Imams) from my offspring!`` He answered: ``But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.``

125. Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma`il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).

126. And remember Abraham said: ``My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its people with fruits,-such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.`` He said: ``(Yea), and such as reject Faith,-for a while will I grant them their pleasure, but will soon drive them to the torment of Fire,- an evil destination (indeed)!``

127. And remember Abraham and Isma`il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): ``Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing.

128. ``Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

129. ``Our Lord! send amongst them an Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom, and sanctify them: For Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise.``

130. And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: And he will be in the Hereafter in the ranks of the Righteous.

*-*

thanks
Take care

Well, one less book to read!

``Muslim (an ethnic, socio-cultural identity, not necessarily an Islamic one)``

I think that you might have meant ``identities``, like Punjabi Muslim identity, UP Muslim identity or British Muslim identity.

Re: # 14 errrrrrr, it`s daddoo