I read about the Jewel of Medina uproar earlier today.
Essentially, an American lady named Sherry Jones has written a manuscript about Aisha r.a., wife of our Beloved s.a.w. Inspired by the events of September 11, she did a lot of research on Islam and came across Aisha. Ms Jones obsessed about her and decided to write a book chronicling her life. She was disturbed after Random House suddenly rejected her manuscript after paying her an advance, but another publisher has bought it, much to her glee.
No problems with the concept of the book, but some initial reactions are telling. The manuscript was sent to an expert on Islam at the University of Texas, who slammed the book, calling it an incitement to war and described a portion of the book as “soft-core pornography”. That portion apparently describes a scene between the Prophet s.a.w. consummating his marriage to Aisha r.a.
This last portion is disturbing. I have not read the manuscript, and the book may be better than it is mentioned, but the “expert on Islam” has made some comments which are worth noting, and the action of a major publisher pulling out also indicates something.
I’m not sure if non-Muslim actually understand the spiritual relationship Muslims have with these two great personalities. The Prophet s.a.w is our Master, our role model, our life, our everything. Aisha r.a. is our Mother, a scholar and teacher to us.
To relegate their lives to a book that seems to sensationalise certain aspects of their lives does not respect our belief, and it definitely does not promote inter-faith dialogue.
On a bigger scale, such projects by non-Muslim authors says a lot about the whole world-view divide that Muslims and non-Muslims might have. We have a totally different interpretation of the Islamic figures. They were not normal men and women, historical figures for scrutiny. Yes, we can be critical and academic about their actions, but we cannot compare their lives to lives that we lead now, or to lives led by other historical greats. These lives were lived in specific times in history, where specific circumstances arose to answer unique issues.
These individuals have been put in history as exemplars of human behavior. It’s rotten to relegate them to pulp fiction, subjecting the historical account of their lives to the whims and fancies of certain writers’ obsessions and “creativity”, who themselves do not share the worldview of people who love these individuals.
Essentially, an American lady named Sherry Jones has written a manuscript about Aisha r.a., wife of our Beloved s.a.w. Inspired by the events of September 11, she did a lot of research on Islam and came across Aisha. Ms Jones obsessed about her and decided to write a book chronicling her life. She was disturbed after Random House suddenly rejected her manuscript after paying her an advance, but another publisher has bought it, much to her glee.
No problems with the concept of the book, but some initial reactions are telling. The manuscript was sent to an expert on Islam at the University of Texas, who slammed the book, calling it an incitement to war and described a portion of the book as “soft-core pornography”. That portion apparently describes a scene between the Prophet s.a.w. consummating his marriage to Aisha r.a.
This last portion is disturbing. I have not read the manuscript, and the book may be better than it is mentioned, but the “expert on Islam” has made some comments which are worth noting, and the action of a major publisher pulling out also indicates something.
I’m not sure if non-Muslim actually understand the spiritual relationship Muslims have with these two great personalities. The Prophet s.a.w is our Master, our role model, our life, our everything. Aisha r.a. is our Mother, a scholar and teacher to us.
To relegate their lives to a book that seems to sensationalise certain aspects of their lives does not respect our belief, and it definitely does not promote inter-faith dialogue.
On a bigger scale, such projects by non-Muslim authors says a lot about the whole world-view divide that Muslims and non-Muslims might have. We have a totally different interpretation of the Islamic figures. They were not normal men and women, historical figures for scrutiny. Yes, we can be critical and academic about their actions, but we cannot compare their lives to lives that we lead now, or to lives led by other historical greats. These lives were lived in specific times in history, where specific circumstances arose to answer unique issues.
These individuals have been put in history as exemplars of human behavior. It’s rotten to relegate them to pulp fiction, subjecting the historical account of their lives to the whims and fancies of certain writers’ obsessions and “creativity”, who themselves do not share the worldview of people who love these individuals.
2 comments:
Why is it whenever someone writes “fictional” about Islam, everyone is offended by it, yet when the same is done to Christianity, it’s OK? When a movie was made that portrayed Christ as married, very few people made a fuss about it. The DaVinci Code, a book that claims Jesus had a child, was a best seller. Again no big deal.
It is a shame that whenever Christianity is bashed, no one speaks up, but as soon as someone states anything negative about Islam, and everyone is in an uproar.
hmm.. hei politically incorrect, i just believe that its everyones right to stand up for their respective faith.
In my opinion at least, i feel that its paramount that accurate representation of each and everyone's faith / religion is made. For injecting any amount of fiction, would dilute the actual outlook of the particular faith and it gets warped, misunderstood and even "cultified" at times.
Btw , Dan Browns book did get alot of heat from alot of people and even the vatican. But i think it was this sensationalism that propelled the book in to such a success..it stirred up the necessary publicity and curiosity..
hei, i mean no offense and if at all i did diss you or wat i humbly apologize..
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