Author of: The Hadj: An
American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca and
One
Thousand Roads to Mecca: An Anthology of Pilgrim Travel Writing
This is the sort of Hajj account
we need many more of: an honest assessment of an experience shared by
millions world-wide, which does not leave out the personal, but rather
successfully reminds us that every pilgrim comes from somewhere, from a
specific place, a particular family, a politics and a social point of view
informed by Islam: in this case, South Africa. And how few books of any
kind are written by a husband and wife who enjoy, respect and understand
each other! This book breaks new ground in many ways. May other pilgrims
follow its fine lead.
Shamil Jeppie
University of Cape Town
I very much liked the whole thing.
It is well written, clear, and captivating. The hajj came alive for me
like no other description I’ve read before… I still wanted more when I
closed the manuscript. Indeed, after each chapter I felt I wanted it to
continue. I’m certain many other readers will respond in the same
fashion… I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tamara Sonn
The College of William and Mary
This is a unique book, actually
groundbreaking in the field of Islamic studies. It is, on its surface, a
personal story of a South African couple making their first pilgrimage to
Makkah (Hajj) together. The authors are highly intelligent, well educated,
slightly sarcastic, but very devout in a way that resonates with the faith
of other young people throughout the world. But this book is more than the
musings of young professionals on the meaning of a traditional ritual. The
authors are South African activists struggling against apartheid and its
aftermath. At the same time, Shamima and Na’eem grapple with gender and
authority issues within Islam, especially as these issues question their
social activism. Their book is therefore a focused story of Muslims
committed to social reform and seeking to reconcile their activism with
their deeply traditional faith. The story is made all the more poignant
knowing that the trip is both the vehicle of spiritual discovery and the
couple’s last trip together. Shamima died a few months later, leaving
Na’eem to bring up their two young sons and make sense of their
journey(s) together. There have been several books published recently on
the Islamic pilgrimage: F.E. Peters, The Hajj: The Muslims’
Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Holy Places (Princeton, 1994); I.R.
Netton, Seek Knowledge: Thought and Travel in the House of Islam (Curzon,
1966); and most recently, Michael Wolfe, ed., One Thousand Roads to
Mecca (Grove, 1997). None of these, however, has the accessibility and
personal appeal that Na’eem and Shamima have achieved in their Journey
of Discovery. More importantly, none has incorporated the meaning of
the pilgrimage into the spiritual and social landscape of Muslim life in
the contemporary world, as theirs has. This book is easy to read, yet
highly charged intellectually and emotionally, making it a good choice for
undergraduate classroom discussion. It is also attractive to a
non-specialist readership.
Laila Al-Marayati
Chairperson,
Muslim Women’s League, USA
The
style is open and inviting and made me feel as if I had accompanied [the]
group on its journey. [The] discussion of the significance of the rituals
from a spiritual and meaningful Islamic point of view was very enriching.
I felt I was seeing things that I already knew in a different and more
compelling light. The humor was apparent throughout and is something that
is sadly lacking in other books as it seems that we Muslims are unable to
laugh at ourselves in general. Several (South African) references were
extremely relevant and eye-opening for those of us who were not present
during the resistance to apartheid.
from the
Foreword by Amina
Wadud
Virginia
Commonwealth University
In
sharing their Hajj experience Shamima and Na’eem allow us to witness how
Islam as engaged surrender is put into action. For one thing, we are
reminded that the struggle goes on at multiple levels. At times we are
witnesses to their joy and at other times to their frustrations. We
witness small victories and defeats. The Hajj for Na’eem and Shamima is
full of the ups and downs of the life journey. In this context Islam as
engaged surrender reminds us that we must make our path as we walk it.
from the
biographical chapter by Abdulkader Tayob
University
of Cape Town
[Shamima] and Na’eem seemed to
have discovered different levels of their relationship with God, community
and nation. This profundity certainly oozes through the pages of this text
as the Hajj brings together their spirituality and their social
conscience.
Have you read Journey of Discovery? Do you want to
comment
about it?
Order
this unique book today through the publishers in South
Africa (email hajj at shams.za.org - replacing "at" with "@") or through
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! Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj
- today!
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