One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing about the Muslim PilgrimageMichael Wolfe “Wolfe does an exemplary job of detailing the ceremonies performed at Mecca and the reasons behind them . . . Highly recommended.” —Library Journal, starred review This updated and expanded edition of One Thousand Roads to Mecca collects significant works by observant travel writers from the East and West over the last ten centuries—including two new contemporary narratives—creating a comprehensive, multifaceted literary portrait of the enduring tradition. Since its inception in the seventh century, the pilgrimage to Mecca has been the central theme in a large body of Islamic travel literature. Beginning with the European Renaissance, it has also been the subject for a handful of adventurous writers from the West who, through conversion or connivance, managed to slip inside the walls of a city forbidden to non-Muslims. These very different literary traditions form distinct impressions of a spirited conversation in which Mecca is the common destination and Islam the common subject of inquiry. Along with an introduction by Reza Aslan, featured writers include Ibn Battuta, J. L. Burckhardt, Sir Richard Burton, the Begum of Bhopal, John F. Keane, Winifred Stegar, Muhammad Asad, Lady Evelyn Cobbald, Jalal Al-e Ahmad, and Malcolm X. One Thousand Roads to Mecca is a historically, geographically, and ethnically diverse collection of travel writing that adds substantially to the literature of Islam and the West. “Serves as an excellent introduction to a religion, people, culture, and philosophy.” —Santa Cruz Sentinel |
Contents
Ibn Battuta Morocco 1326 | |
Enter the Europeans Renegades Impostors Slaves and Scholars 15031814 | |
Ludovico di Varthema Bologna 1503 | |
Arthur J B Wavell AngloAfrica 1908 | |
The Early Twentieth Century 19251933 | |
Eldon Rutter Great Britain 1925 | |
Winifred Stegar Australia 1927 | |
Muhammad Asad Galicia 1927 | |
Harry St John Philby Great Britain 1931 | |
Lady Evelyn Cobbold Great Britain 1933 | |
The Jet Age Hajj 19472000 | |
A Pilgrim with No Name Italy ca 1575 | |
Joseph Pitts England ca 1685 | |
Ali Bey alAbbasi Spain 1807 | |
John Lewis Burckhardt Switzerland 1814 | |
NineteenthCentury Changes 18531908 | |
Sir Richard Burton Great Britain 1853 | |
Her Highness Sikandar the Begum of Bhopal India 1864 | |
John F Keane AngloIndia 187778 | |
Mohammad Hosayn Farahani Persia 188586 | |
Malcolm X United States 1964 | |
Saida Miller Khalifa Great Britain 1970 | |
Abdellah Hammoudi United StatesMorocco 1999 | |
Qanta Ahmed United States 2001 | |
Maps | |
Acknowledgments | |
Other editions - View all
One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing about the ... Michael Wolfe No preview available - 1997 |
One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing about the ... Michael Wolfe No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
account Allah Amir Arabia Arabic Arafat arrived asked back Bedouin began black book Burckhardt Burton Cairo Caliph called camels caravan century city clothes crowd Damascus desert door East Egypt Egyptian entered European eyes face feet four gate Hajj hajja hajjis hand Haram head Hijaz hills Holy hours house hundred Ibn Battuta Ibn Jubayr Ibn Saud ihram India Islam Jidda journey Ka'ba Kaba Khosraw Labayk later leave left little long looked Mamluk Marwa Mecca Medina miles morning mosque Mount Mount Arafat mountain Muhammad Muslim mutawwif Muzdalifa night number order parasangs Pasha passed performed Persian Philby pilgrimage pilgrims place plain pray prayer Prophet Quran religious return rites ritual road round route sacred Safa Saudi Sharif Shaykh ship side stone streets Sultan Syria Ta'if take tawaf tents things thousand three told took town travel Turkish valley visit Wahhabis walked wall water Western white women world Zamzam