Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant: The Holiest Cities of Islam [Hardcover]

Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiantis 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 Radiantincludes:

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

AuthorDr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, born in Iran, was educated at MIT and Harvard Univels