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Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant: The Holiest Cities of Islam Hardcover – March 28, 2017

by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Ph.D. (Author), Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi (Photographer)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
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Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant is an unprecedented photographic exploration of the holiest cities of Islam and the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage during Ramadan when more than a million faithful journey to Mecca's Great Mosque to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an (Koran).

This book allows both Muslims and those unfamiliar with the Islamic faith complete access to the holiest sites of one of the world's major religions, practiced by a quarter of the world's population but often misunderstood in the West.

Photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Namachi, a Muslim convert from Japan, garnered the full support of Saudi Arabian authorities—rarely given—to shoot in cities where photography is strictly controlled, and non-Muslims are not allowed.

An expansive work of photojournalism, Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant includes:
  • 140 full-color, never-before-seen photographs
  • Mystical places and scenes of Islam
  • Breathtaking aerial photographs of the Arabian terrain
  • Vistas of teeming crowds of worshippers surrounding the Kasbah, Mecca's sacred center
  • Intense portraits of faithful Muslims in prayer
  • Magnificent architecture reflecting the faith of the believers
  • Archival illustrations

Text by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the most highly regarded scholars of Islam, enhances the stunning Islamic holy city photographs to illuminate many aspects of Islamic belief that have remained enigmatic to non-Muslims—until now.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tuttle Publishing
  4. Publication date
    March 28, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    10 x 0.8 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780804849166
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0804849166
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi is known for his exhaustive research and field work covering the Arabian peninsula. His photographs have been featured in Life, National Geographic, and Stern, among other leading magazines. Nomachi is the recipient of many awards, including the Annual Award 1997 from the Photographic Society of Japan.

Author Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, born in Iran, was educated at MIT and Harvard University, and is now Professor of Islamic Studies at The George Washington University. He has taught and lectured extensively throughout the Islamic world, Western Europe, North and Central America, India, Japan, and Australia. Dr. Nasr is the author of more than twenty books, including Islamic Art and Spirituality, Islamic Life and Thought, and Traditional Islam in the Modern World.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0804849161
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tuttle Publishing (March 28, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780804849166
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804849166
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.87 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10 x 0.8 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
43 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Fazal Abbas
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks to everyone who made this possible
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2003
Verified Purchase
Thank you Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi, Seyyed Hossein, Aperture and to everyone who made possible, such a unique collection.

This book has 4 major sections. First is about history, geography, out skirts and some related information about Islam, Hajj and Arabia. Next 3 are covering Mecca, Medina and Arabia. The text, the history, the photographs, the geography, its not just insightful for Muslims but also for non-Muslims. Its a beautiful gift.

I dont agree with one of previous comment that "night exposure is disaster" because for me it doesnt matter that pictures were taken at night or at day, every picture has its mood and every picture is a master piece. Picture doesnt always have to be in daylight and this is very artistic that photographer captured those different times and moods. This book is like one from series of "a day in life of". Coverage was enough to make me sentimental.

In response to comment "two racist cities...", in short, non-muslims were allowed earlier but after the incident of 2 non-muslims digging tunnel underground to get the body of prophet Mohammad (PBUH) from his tomb in the time of ruler salahuddin ayyubi, its restricted now. In response to comment "Where blacks went for...", its true that that was slavery era, east west and everywhere else but mapping Islam with slavery is not right. As a matter of fact, releasing a slave from slavery was very much appretiated in Islam.
7 people found this helpful
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James Dylan Held
5.0 out of 5 stars Help us understand Muslim holy sites
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
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This is a stunning picture book plus description of the two most sacred sites in the Muslim world, at least in Saudi Arabia. The pictures are sumptuous and tell a great story on their own, but the accompanying text is very informative, so for anyone that wants to understand better this world that seems so foreign to most of us Westerners, this book is welcome and reveals a lot of splendid architecture of faith that you would see no where else and if you are not a Muslim, you simply cannot go there!
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Tinaa
5.0 out of 5 stars Radiant and Blessed Book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2010
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This is the most beautiful book, full of history and gorgeous pictures from both the holy cities. It will bring Makkah and Madinah to life. It is an excellent gift, we have often given it as a gift to people returning from Hajj, and they have been thrilled with the book,a reminder of the journey of a lifetime.
The foreword by Dr. Syed Hussein Nasr is excellent, and filled with many details about Makkah and the Kaba that I had never heard.
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Rafael
5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind, beautiful book of photos of Mecca and Medina
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2014
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Printed on heavy stock gloss (as any photography book should be anyway) this book shows beautiful and inspiring views of the holiest cities of Islam. I purchased another copy because I gave my original as a gift.

If you've any Muslim friends or acquaintances you'd like to get a gift for they very likely already have a Qur'an or two, this would be quite the appreciated gift.
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Dash Manchette
4.0 out of 5 stars Put Politics and Religion Aside and Enjoy the Pictures
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2005
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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.
6 people found this helpful
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Jake
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book has excellent pictures that makes you feel like ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2018
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Great book has excellent pictures that makes you feel like your their, also has great history and information about Mecca and history of Saudi Arabia
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Taalibah A. Kariem-White
5.0 out of 5 stars Remembering Your Journey
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017
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This book took me back to Hajj and Umrah with its beautiful photography. And, it made perfect 'Eid gifts; an inspiration for those who desire to go.
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Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2000
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This book has stunning and beautiful pictures of Islam's holy areas and pictures of Muslims in action. As a non-Muslim, I would never be able to see these things in person. This book gave me a lot of insight into such things, and I definately do not regret the purchase.
22 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

T. Hassan
5.0 out of 5 stars A visual delight, devotion demonstrated through architecture
Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
Although I have seen plenty of pictures of plenty of mosques, it is often difficult to fully appreciate any type of building by looking at a two-dimensional picture. Compared to being there, pictures are merely the best secondhand attempt at conveying what it's like to experience it in person. Having said that, this collection of photographs is stunning in its scope - broad vistas, panoramas, close-ups and intimate portraits, there is a tremendous range of wonderful photography here. I was fortunate to purchase this book before I visited the mosques in the two holy cities last year, and they helped to fuel my curiosity to explore the hidden corners of the mosques and their environs and to make my own collection of photos, which now entertains me endlessly. I could have taken 5 times as many pictures. It is not easy to explain the lengths to which the custodians of the mosque in Medina went to build a structure that is meant to be an architectural monument to the love that scores of generations have felt for the Prophet of Islam, and to the depth of their gratitude towards their Creator. It is unsettling to, at once, be a part of a vast sea of people, all there for a common purpose, and yet to feel the uniqueness of purpose, that one is making this journey for one's Creator. The journey is performed as an expression of devotion to God through ritual, intensely personal and yet shared with a seemingly infinite amount of fellow believers. This book captures some of the range of human experiences that make up this journey, which is difficult to explain, and he also captures the tremendous beauty that can be found in the soaring minarets, the hypnotizing arches, and the myriad of other details. Thoroughly enjoyable!
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Kanaka
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2014
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My mother has been asking for this book for a while now. She loves it. My kids like to look through it too.
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