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| Mecca, The Blessed, Medina, The Radiant: The Holiest Cities of Islam | 
 enlarge | Author: Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Creator: Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi
Publisher: Aperture
Category: Book
List Price: $50.00
Buy New: $18.00
You Save: $32.00 (64%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $18.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  (21 reviews)
Sales Rank: 681206
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 11.3 x 11.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 089381752X
Dewey Decimal Number: 953.8
EAN: 9780893817527
ASIN: 089381752X
Publication Date: June 15, 2005
Release Date: June 15, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Nearly impossible for an outsider to gain access to, these two holy places have never before been as fully documented. Nomachi enters this world and returns with beautiful photographs, as thoughtful as they are revealing. "The photographs of these two cities are spectacular. What makes the book and the photographs even more compelling is that these cities are closed to non-Muslims and thus the book provides a rare glimpse at a culture and its artifacts, such as its architecture, that is little known. A fascinating look at one of the world's largest and least known living traditions." --Kirk Robertson, Neon Essay by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Hardcover, 11.75 x 10.75 in./192 pgs
Amazon.com Review
These photographs of the Muslim holy cities Mecca and Medina, taken by a Japanese convert, Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi, are something new for most Westerners, and perhaps even for many Muslims. Non-Muslims are never allowed into Mecca, and it is almost unheard-of for religious and government leaders to allow such pictures to be taken. Most of these images were shot during the holy month of Ramadan, when many faithful are in Mecca and Medina on pilgrimage. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, has contributed an essay explaining the history and significance of the two cities. "Mecca and its twin city Medina flourish as the heart and sacred Center of the Islamic universe and will continue to do so as long as there are men and women who accept the truth of Lailaha illa'Llah and Muhammadun rasul Allah," he writes. Nomachi has worked for National Geographic and Life, and his pictures have the information-packed clarity one might expect. There are fascinating images: literally hundreds of thousands of white-robed believers circling the Ka'bah, Mecca's sacred center; men ritually shaving one another's heads; tired families fasting; small children praying. Nomachi's pictures are oddly cool, but they convey the all-encompassing nature of the faith. Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant will be especially thrilling to those Muslims still planning their pilgrimage.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 beautiful book September 14, 2008
A beautiful picture book of the two most beautiful cities in this world. This book makes a great gift.
Great Insight April 20, 2008
This book provides really great insight into these cities and their history, very informative and the pictures are really great.
Wonderful March 6, 2007
Very nicely done book about Islam, with beautiful pictures.
Anyone wants know about islam must have this book.
 Put Politics and Religion Aside and Enjoy the Pictures November 30, 2005
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Several readers have reviewed MECCA THE BLESSED, MEDINA THE RADIANT based on their negative political views of Saudi Arabia as well as the religious prohibition preventing non-Muslims from entering Mecca and Medina. Although I share these views (see my review of HATRED'S KINGDOM by Dore Gold), this is not a political book but one of photography and my review is on that basis. And on that basis, the book is very good.
The photos are exceptional. Nomachi, a Japanese convert to Islam, is well known for his pictures of obscure locales and the reason for his reputation is evident here. The pictures are lush and colorful and take the reader inside these forbidden cities as well as a photographer could.
The reader is first taken to Mecca via the gateway in the form of a Koran held towards the sky that separates Jeddah from Mecca. In Mecca, we see several shots of the Grand Mosque as well as its centerpiece, the Kabah. Most of the other photographs are of the pilgrimage to Mecca, the hajj, required of all Muslims at least once in their lives and include other points of religious interest. These include shots of Mina, where pilgrims throw stones at pillars which symbolize the devil, and also the Mount of Mercy, where much of the Koran is alleged to have been revealed to Mohammed.
The section on Medina includes numerous shots of the Mosque of the Prophet. This was the first mosque in the world and, although I am no expert on the subject, gives the Haghia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Istanbul serious competition for being the most beautiful. Some of the fascinating photos include those of the prayer-niche where Mohammed first prayed and, most interesting of all, the tomb of Mohammed himself.
Although Nomachi's pictures are extremely compelling and, of course, very professional, I do have one complaint. It would have been nice to see more pictures of the day-to-day life within these cities. Putting aside their religious significance to Muslims, Mecca is still a city of about a million people with Medina not far behind with both cities being quite old. Photos of the general architecture as well as people living their daily lives would have provided an even more intimate picture of these cities than the ones provided.
The accompanying essays by Seyyed Hossein Nasr are instructive though unfortunately not as good as the photographs. Nasr provides a solid history of Arabia, the rise of Islam and details about the hajj. However, his being a Muslim himself is a double edged sword. One the one hand, he is quite knowledgable about his subject matter. Given the prohibition on non-Muslims in Mecca and Medina, being a Muslim is likely beneficial in this respect. But on the other, he is not simply deferential but obsequious in his essays to the point of distraction. This also makes him overly vague and elliptical in his writings of Mohammed and the alleged revelation of the Koran to him. Finally, although I cannot fault a Muslim for not doing so, it would have been nice for some tips as to how a non-Muslim can sneak into the cities. Alas, I guess I am on my own on that one.
Truely Unique Pictures September 30, 2005
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have to say that I found this book to be very enlightning. It is truely a work of art for pictures to convey the emotions and suspenseful situation that the pilgrames who are performing their Hajj are experiencing. I had experienced and performed the Hajj about 3 years ago and truely the pictures convey the emotional and spiritual roller coaster every pilgram had felt. Unfortunately, my only complaint maybe that there aren't enough pictures!! But...kudos to the photographer who had to work through the difficult atmosphere just to get these pictures anyways.
For the person who wrote something about, "...two racist cities..." has no idea what they are talking about. How can a religion which is not bound to any one race could be racist? No religion on Earth so far has been based on Race let alone Islam for that matter. However, I personally agree that the Two Holy Cities should not allow non-Muslims in as another critic has mentioned mainly because then there would be problems of tourists trampling all over the place and having difficulties in dealing with the clothes as well as not being conscious of the different cultural norms. I sure as Hell do not want to see the Two Holy Cities turning into those sad spectacles of rampaging tourists like those seen in Burma, Vietnam, India, Thailand, The Vatican and so on.
Still, I give this book a 5 due to it's exquisite use of photography on one of the most spectacular pilgramages in human existance to date. The book is large, attractive, and makes for a great topic starter when seen on the coffee table. A great job well done on the part of the Author and the Photographer.
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