The Road to Mecca

The best books in my opinion are those that touch upon so many different subjects but bring them all together cohesively. This book does just that. Theology, philosophy, politics, culture, geography, friendship... you won't be dissapointed. Muhammad Asad wrote in a beautiful and poignant manner, detailing his adventures in the near East in a way that makes you feel like you lived them yourself. It is one man's journey of self discovery, and everybody stands to benefit from his critical outlook. Once you get into it, it's very difficult to put it down, and when it ends you'll find yourself wishing that it didn't.

This is a book about travel and the journey of one man through the geographical roads of the material earth, as well as the intellectual and spiritual odyssey he makes through the hills and plains of his own soul. Both journeys culminate in one place: Mecca - where he stays for some years having found the spiritual and intellectual contentment there which had eluded him in Europe. An interesting and inspiring way to learn more about Islam, in a way especially accessible to Westeners, as the author IS a Westerner who chose to accept the faith of Islam, and is thus able to articulate his faith's ideals in language understadable by his native Europeans. Also, this book is an alternative to normal introductory texts on Islam, as the basic precepts of the faith are clothed in the narrative discourse of the author's life himself. A good read, even if only as a book on travel and culture - highly recommended!

If you put aside the literary mastery aside from Mohammad Asad, the valuable content on offer alone is worth a read at least once!

Good value

This is unquestionably a wonderful book! The author is a very clever and talented writer you find yourself reading a book that is valid for all times and generations. A book full of information and knowledge in different fields of life. In this book Mohamed Asad built a strong bridge to connect the westerns to the beautiful religion of islam. I really enjoyed reading this book very much and I definitely recommend it.

The desert is a place of change and this transformative travel account is a beautifully written piece of prose. Asad was a true intellectual giant of his age and his writings are as fresh and relevant today, in 2018, as they were in the early half of the twentieth century.

An amazing book. Much better than I expected. Asad takes you into a world full of wisdom, beauty and danger.

An excellent account of Weiss' journey through life, and a life transforming physical and spiritual journey at a time when the centre of Islam, Arabia, was going through political unrest.