Mecca: The Sacred City
Author: Ziauddin Sardar
ISBN: 978-1408892527
Price: Rs. 750.00 • ✓ 100% Genuine Publisher Edition
Book Overview
Mecca is the heart of Islam. It is the birthplace of Muhammad, the direction towards which Muslims turn when they pray and the site of pilgrimage which annually draws some three million Muslims from all corners of the world. Yet Meccas importance goes beyond religion. What happens in Mecca and how Muslims think about the political and cultural history of Mecca has had and continues to have a profound influence on world events to this day. In this captivating book, Ziauddin Sardar unravels the significance of Mecca. Tracing its history, from its origins as a ¹…œbarren valley in the desert to its evolution as a trading town and sudden emergence as the religious centre of a world empire, Sardar examines the religious struggles and rebellions in Mecca that have powerfully shaped Muslim culture. Interweaving stories of his own pilgrimages to Mecca with those of others, Sardar offers a unique insight into not just the spiritual aspects of Mecca the passion, ecstasy and longing it evokes but also the conflict between heritage and modernity that has characterised its history. He unpeels the physical, social and cultural dimensions that have helped transform the city and also, though accounts of such Orientalist travellers as Richard Burton and Charles Doughty, the strange fascination that Mecca has long inspired in the Western imagination. And, ultimately, he explores what this tension could mean for Meccas future. An illuminative, lyrical and witty blend of history, reportage and memoir, this outstanding book reflects all that is profound, enlightening and curious about one of the most important religious sites in the world.
Browse this title within our Top 100 Books collection. Edition details: Images in this review, English, 224 pages. Reference ISBN: 978-1408892527.
About the Author
Ziauddin Sardar was born in Pakistan and grew up in Hackney. A writer, broadcaster and cultural critic, he is one of the world’s foremost Muslim intellectuals and author of more than fifty books on Islam, science and contemporary culture, including the highly acclaimed Desperately Seeking Paradise. He has been listed by Prospect magazine as one of Britain’s top 100 intellectuals. Currently he is the Director of Centre for Postnormal Policy and Futures Studies at East West University, Chicago, co-editor of the quarterly Critical Muslim, consulting editor of Futures, a monthly journal on policy, planning and futures studies and Chair of the Muslim Institute in London. www.ziauddinsardar.com
Book Specifications & Quick Facts
- Reading Level
- General / Adult
- Language & Format
- English • Images in this review
- ISBN Reference
- 978-1408892527
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Paperbacks
- Pan-India Delivery
- Dispatches in 24–48 Hours across India
What is this book about?
Mecca is the heart of Islam. It is the birthplace of Muhammad, the direction towards which Muslims turn when they pray and the site of pilgrimage which annually draws some three million Muslims from all corners of the world. Yet Meccas importance goes beyond religion. What happens in Mecca and how...
Who should read this book?
Recommended for readers who enjoy Top 100 Books and are looking for genuine, well-crafted literature by Ziauddin Sardar.
Why Readers Pick This Edition
- You’ll love this book for the way it brings Mecca to life beyond maps and rituals. Blending history, politics, and deeply personal reflection, Ziauddin Sardar helps you understand why this city shapes the hearts, minds, and identities of millions. You don’t just learn about Mecca—you feel its pull, its struggles, and its enduring power in the modern world. It’s thoughtful, moving, and endlessly illuminating.
- Published by Bloomsbury Paperbacks.
- Language: English.
- Page count: 224.
Catalog Description
Mecca is the heart of Islam. It is the birthplace of Muhammad, the direction towards which Muslims turn when they pray and the site of pilgrimage which annually draws some three million Muslims from all corners of the world. Yet Meccas importance goes beyond religion. What happens in Mecca and how Muslims think about the political and cultural history of Mecca has had and continues to have a profound influence on world events to this day. In this captivating book, Ziauddin Sardar unravels the significance of Mecca. Tracing its history, from its origins as a ¹…œbarren valley in the desert to its evolution as a trading town and sudden emergence as the religious centre of a world empire,...
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