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aga_acrobat's review
5.0
Wer selbst auf der Suche ist, wird den so dringlich Suchenden von ganzem Herzen verstehen.
jfngjnfkgnkfjg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
danyal_saeed's review
5.0
When I finished this book, I don't know how I felt. I had to take a long walk. I don't know why. Maybe to digest. The last chapter was about Hajj. And this is the first time a book has made me want to go for Hajj. I always knew it's obligatory, but I am talking about having a desire to do it, from the heart, not just because it's obligatory. I imagined Kaba in my head, right in front of me.
This is what introduced me to Asad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1s3vk-O2Bs, and as soon as I watched this, I wanted to know more. I knew his was the Asad whose translation of the Quaran the travel blogger Rosie Gabrielle was holding in the photo when she announced her conversion to Islam.
This book is the life story of Asad, written very beautifully like a novel, except that it's real. He was born into a Jewish family, and lost some of his family members to the Holocaust. He worked as a journalist, and his travels took him to Palestine, and then Arabia, and later on Iran and Afghanistan. He learnt Arabic, converted to Islam. When I told a friend I had begun reading this, he asked to me to share takeaways when I am finished. These are rough, but these are some of the points I noted:
1. The broader picture. The story is an adventure. It's like a movie. With his present, and past being told in flashbacks.
2. Oneness of things. The soul and the body. Practical matters and matters of faith. According to Asad, these are not different, they are one.- He was impressed by prayers / namaz. When he saw people so immersed in their prayers. Are we so immersed in our prayers that we impress a stranger to Islam?
3. Decay of a civilization is reflected in social decay. Silence / inaction.
4. There is a nice passage about how Early Muslims valued knowledge of all kinds, and were not like how today's scholars differentiate between 'religious' and 'secular'.
5. British Games. How they played with Ikhwan in Saudi Arabia sounds very similar to how the Americans now play with Taliban in Pakistan/Afghanistan. First creating them, then supporting them via arms, then attacking them saying to the govt that we are doing it for your good.
6. Secularism of Meccans. Islam was not a threat if it was supposed to remain a personal belief thing only. Why Meccans felt threatened was because it came with a social and economic order. Consequently, secularism is quite far removed from Islam.
7. Dajjal - Asad hints at the dajjal being the material world and looking at the world through material-only eyes, while shutting the spiritual eye.
8. Asad asks very penetrating questions to present Muslims. That's also a nice passage. This is the point where he hasn't converted, but asks an Afghan. To which the Afghan replies that you are a Muslim, you just don't know it yet.
9. How violently against religion USSR was. I knew it was atheist. But there is mention of how mosques were attacked and stuff.
10. An intro to Islam is also given on p.301. That is not supposed to be that, but functions as that. As to how it is different from other religions and how it was a new idea.
11. He officially converted at the hands of an Indian Muslim friend who isn't mentioned. It was nice to know.
12. There is a part of his life where he has lived with, and even carried out some 'spy' operations for the Sanusi Order. I have to read more about it. Talks about Umar Mukhtar. He is said to be a brave and courageous African leader fighting against colonial forces. Also Sayyid Ahmed.
13. Kemal Ataturk was secular but he used all the religious forces he could get his hands on. Later on, he betrayed the hopes of these, including the Sanusi Order.
14. It was very interesting to learn that the Italians have blood on their hands too. Desecration of Quran, burning and bombing villages, etc.
15. He also talks about how this strong force of the West with its glitter and gold is destroying the Islamic world, and how imitation is always going to ensure that a people remain small. (Using knowledge isn't imitation. Imitation is copying the values and culture.)
16. The last chapter is about Hajj. And it is one of the most beautiful things I have read. I don't expect a discussion of Hajj to be like this. I expect it to be boring. But it was beautiful.
17. Also interesting (but was early on the book so couldn't make a proper note) was the personality of Ibn Saud. I thought he was too forgiving to him, but later on there is a criticism as well. And I'd say that's just the literary style of some writers.
18. Also he talks about how while land of Palestine was being lost, there was still extravagance, parties (don't know how to write a better word right now), etc and how the red-light district of egypt (or maybe jordan) was full of 'life'.
19. There is an interesting analysis of Iran. How opium was so prevalent. (One wonders then, that the expressions on their faces that Asad has read, were because of opium.) Melancholy, sadness. He links it to how Shia-ism was the doctrine that resonated with them because they didn't like Arabs.
20. He also is critical of Muhammad Ibn Al Wahhab's teachings (Wahhabism)
I was hoping to see India and Pakistan as well. But this was only till Mecca. And ended there. I probably have to buy another book now to see what he was doing in Punjab and as Pakistan's Ambassador to UN.
A few days later, I watched the documentary "A Road to Mecca", which explores Asad's legacy around the world, in Arabia, Palestine, Pakistan, Morocco. That is also a good watch if you like Asad's works.
This is what introduced me to Asad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1s3vk-O2Bs, and as soon as I watched this, I wanted to know more. I knew his was the Asad whose translation of the Quaran the travel blogger Rosie Gabrielle was holding in the photo when she announced her conversion to Islam.
This book is the life story of Asad, written very beautifully like a novel, except that it's real. He was born into a Jewish family, and lost some of his family members to the Holocaust. He worked as a journalist, and his travels took him to Palestine, and then Arabia, and later on Iran and Afghanistan. He learnt Arabic, converted to Islam. When I told a friend I had begun reading this, he asked to me to share takeaways when I am finished. These are rough, but these are some of the points I noted:
1. The broader picture. The story is an adventure. It's like a movie. With his present, and past being told in flashbacks.
2. Oneness of things. The soul and the body. Practical matters and matters of faith. According to Asad, these are not different, they are one.- He was impressed by prayers / namaz. When he saw people so immersed in their prayers. Are we so immersed in our prayers that we impress a stranger to Islam?
3. Decay of a civilization is reflected in social decay. Silence / inaction.
4. There is a nice passage about how Early Muslims valued knowledge of all kinds, and were not like how today's scholars differentiate between 'religious' and 'secular'.
5. British Games. How they played with Ikhwan in Saudi Arabia sounds very similar to how the Americans now play with Taliban in Pakistan/Afghanistan. First creating them, then supporting them via arms, then attacking them saying to the govt that we are doing it for your good.
6. Secularism of Meccans. Islam was not a threat if it was supposed to remain a personal belief thing only. Why Meccans felt threatened was because it came with a social and economic order. Consequently, secularism is quite far removed from Islam.
7. Dajjal - Asad hints at the dajjal being the material world and looking at the world through material-only eyes, while shutting the spiritual eye.
8. Asad asks very penetrating questions to present Muslims. That's also a nice passage. This is the point where he hasn't converted, but asks an Afghan. To which the Afghan replies that you are a Muslim, you just don't know it yet.
9. How violently against religion USSR was. I knew it was atheist. But there is mention of how mosques were attacked and stuff.
10. An intro to Islam is also given on p.301. That is not supposed to be that, but functions as that. As to how it is different from other religions and how it was a new idea.
11. He officially converted at the hands of an Indian Muslim friend who isn't mentioned. It was nice to know.
12. There is a part of his life where he has lived with, and even carried out some 'spy' operations for the Sanusi Order. I have to read more about it. Talks about Umar Mukhtar. He is said to be a brave and courageous African leader fighting against colonial forces. Also Sayyid Ahmed.
13. Kemal Ataturk was secular but he used all the religious forces he could get his hands on. Later on, he betrayed the hopes of these, including the Sanusi Order.
14. It was very interesting to learn that the Italians have blood on their hands too. Desecration of Quran, burning and bombing villages, etc.
15. He also talks about how this strong force of the West with its glitter and gold is destroying the Islamic world, and how imitation is always going to ensure that a people remain small. (Using knowledge isn't imitation. Imitation is copying the values and culture.)
16. The last chapter is about Hajj. And it is one of the most beautiful things I have read. I don't expect a discussion of Hajj to be like this. I expect it to be boring. But it was beautiful.
17. Also interesting (but was early on the book so couldn't make a proper note) was the personality of Ibn Saud. I thought he was too forgiving to him, but later on there is a criticism as well. And I'd say that's just the literary style of some writers.
18. Also he talks about how while land of Palestine was being lost, there was still extravagance, parties (don't know how to write a better word right now), etc and how the red-light district of egypt (or maybe jordan) was full of 'life'.
19. There is an interesting analysis of Iran. How opium was so prevalent. (One wonders then, that the expressions on their faces that Asad has read, were because of opium.) Melancholy, sadness. He links it to how Shia-ism was the doctrine that resonated with them because they didn't like Arabs.
20. He also is critical of Muhammad Ibn Al Wahhab's teachings (Wahhabism)
I was hoping to see India and Pakistan as well. But this was only till Mecca. And ended there. I probably have to buy another book now to see what he was doing in Punjab and as Pakistan's Ambassador to UN.
A few days later, I watched the documentary "A Road to Mecca", which explores Asad's legacy around the world, in Arabia, Palestine, Pakistan, Morocco. That is also a good watch if you like Asad's works.
abu_kaddu's review
4.0
decent book, it had it's moments. really gives you a good idea of how different the world was culturally, even just 100 years ago. the author's adventures are vividly recounted and asad paints a picture of an arabian world subject to the machinations of the colonial powers and modern technology, and yet, still spiritually untainted. his encounters with the sanussi order and omar al mukhtar really stood out for me. all in all a great read, although a bit slow sometimes.
raafatgilani's review
5.0
This book has been a ride, I generally don’t read anything outside of academia, but got really exhausted, so thought of picking this long awaited book, no regrets whatsoever.
The book brings in a fascinating amalgamation of the ideas, structure and history of west and the east. The author, being a westerner by origin takes the reader through an interesting sphere of the sense of being in the west as compared to the east, more specifically the Middle-East. He does so brilliantly, the writing is smooth and flows without a rush through his experiences. Recommended, definitely, for those who want to have a taste of what it could be like, given the walls of avoidance that the West has put between it and the East, could be climbed over. This being an autobiography he showcases his personal encounter and subsequent transformation after going beyond borders.
The book brings in a fascinating amalgamation of the ideas, structure and history of west and the east. The author, being a westerner by origin takes the reader through an interesting sphere of the sense of being in the west as compared to the east, more specifically the Middle-East. He does so brilliantly, the writing is smooth and flows without a rush through his experiences. Recommended, definitely, for those who want to have a taste of what it could be like, given the walls of avoidance that the West has put between it and the East, could be climbed over. This being an autobiography he showcases his personal encounter and subsequent transformation after going beyond borders.
ayaha's review
5.0
This book is easily one of my favorites of 2021, and probably the best autobiography I've ever read. Honestly, I had to struggle not to underline entire pages!
Muhammad Asad was an Austrian who converted to Islam from Judaism after traveling through the Middle East as a journalist in the 1920s.
I really appreciate the insightful commentary that Asad shares about Western civilization's spiritual void, materialism, relativism/postmodernism--things that led to his dissatisfaction and ultimately towards his acceptance of Islam. Honestly, a lot of the time when he spoke about problems with the West, it felt very relevant to the world as it is today.
I also really loved the details about the Muslim lands he traveled! It was so interesting to read about Madinah, Makkah, Jerusalem, beduin tribes, and city marketplaces as they were a hundred years ago. It was a time of intense change, what with the collapse of the Ottoman empire, the Sanusi movements in North Africa, and the birth of the Saudi kingdom. It was also interesting to read about Asad's personal involvement with historical figures like Omar Mukhtar and his friendship with Ibn Saud. I appreciated that despite his direct friendship with Ibn Saud, Asad was never afraid to voice his disagreements with him and his policy.
But the ultimate message of this book lies in the beauty of Islam and the oneness of God that Asad comes to fully grasp. It is a beautiful journey of discovery and exploration, balancing the external wonders with internal reflections.
Muhammad Asad was an Austrian who converted to Islam from Judaism after traveling through the Middle East as a journalist in the 1920s.
I really appreciate the insightful commentary that Asad shares about Western civilization's spiritual void, materialism, relativism/postmodernism--things that led to his dissatisfaction and ultimately towards his acceptance of Islam. Honestly, a lot of the time when he spoke about problems with the West, it felt very relevant to the world as it is today.
I also really loved the details about the Muslim lands he traveled! It was so interesting to read about Madinah, Makkah, Jerusalem, beduin tribes, and city marketplaces as they were a hundred years ago. It was a time of intense change, what with the collapse of the Ottoman empire, the Sanusi movements in North Africa, and the birth of the Saudi kingdom. It was also interesting to read about Asad's personal involvement with historical figures like Omar Mukhtar and his friendship with Ibn Saud. I appreciated that despite his direct friendship with Ibn Saud, Asad was never afraid to voice his disagreements with him and his policy.
But the ultimate message of this book lies in the beauty of Islam and the oneness of God that Asad comes to fully grasp. It is a beautiful journey of discovery and exploration, balancing the external wonders with internal reflections.
cassiea22's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
*Light Spoilers*
As one of many Westerner born at the turn of the century, when climate disaster and political turmoil seem to be looming over every aspect of life; the new-ness of the internet means we are still uncertain as to exactly how it is potentially skewing our world views this book was both hopeful and heart-wrenching. As a examination of the vices of secularism that has so characterized the West in the past centuries, and aided in the creation of an industrialized, capital-oriented culture this book was trully thought provoking and a beautiful reminder that these issues are not unseen, and that perhaps a system that is continuously failing us is not a system we should push to maintain simply because we insist on believing ourselves at the peak of innovation and enlightened thinking.
The Islam Muhammad Asad shows the reader is beautiful and whole, celebrating the oneness of humanity, God, and the universe in a way that Christianity and Judaism trully fail to grasp in any effective way. This is not the say that the book is perfect, or that those religions are proven archaic and useless. Asad's view of the Arabs he meets is highly idealized and often monolithic. He envisions in these peoples a simple, unchanging, and primordial knowledge and life that is not accuratley reflected in his adventures through war torn nations and opposing Islamic tribes. They are beautiful and complex and evolving while the author insists on idealizing them in a way that seems to reflect his own self-actualization against Western ideals than it reflects the realities of those around him. Still his examination of Islam and his focus on the oldest elements of the faith is an important perspective on the potential to combine religion and secularism when secularism has lost its ability to take care of humans and the planet. Progress for the sake of Progress in a post Great War Europe is contrasted by the more intentional Progress for an Independant Islamic nation in the East. He also provides an important perspective on the European colonization of Africa and the Middle East where the rules of just war, as laid out by early followers of Muhammad the Prophet, are continuously broken by the invading Italians, British, and French imperialists.
As one of many Westerner born at the turn of the century, when climate disaster and political turmoil seem to be looming over every aspect of life; the new-ness of the internet means we are still uncertain as to exactly how it is potentially skewing our world views this book was both hopeful and heart-wrenching. As a examination of the vices of secularism that has so characterized the West in the past centuries, and aided in the creation of an industrialized, capital-oriented culture this book was trully thought provoking and a beautiful reminder that these issues are not unseen, and that perhaps a system that is continuously failing us is not a system we should push to maintain simply because we insist on believing ourselves at the peak of innovation and enlightened thinking.
The Islam Muhammad Asad shows the reader is beautiful and whole, celebrating the oneness of humanity, God, and the universe in a way that Christianity and Judaism trully fail to grasp in any effective way. This is not the say that the book is perfect, or that those religions are proven archaic and useless. Asad's view of the Arabs he meets is highly idealized and often monolithic. He envisions in these peoples a simple, unchanging, and primordial knowledge and life that is not accuratley reflected in his adventures through war torn nations and opposing Islamic tribes. They are beautiful and complex and evolving while the author insists on idealizing them in a way that seems to reflect his own self-actualization against Western ideals than it reflects the realities of those around him. Still his examination of Islam and his focus on the oldest elements of the faith is an important perspective on the potential to combine religion and secularism when secularism has lost its ability to take care of humans and the planet. Progress for the sake of Progress in a post Great War Europe is contrasted by the more intentional Progress for an Independant Islamic nation in the East. He also provides an important perspective on the European colonization of Africa and the Middle East where the rules of just war, as laid out by early followers of Muhammad the Prophet, are continuously broken by the invading Italians, British, and French imperialists.
aya_atif's review
5.0
كتاب مهم جدا.. يدعوك الى التفكر و التأمل في ديننا و حياتنا ..ماضينا،حاضرنا و مستقبلنا..يخاطب عقلك و روحك معا.
من اكثر اجزاءه جماﻻ وتاثيرا:
ﻓﺴﺄﻟﺖ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺟﻲ ﺫﺍﺕ ﻳﻮﻡ ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻳﻔﻬﻢ ﺍﻹﻧﺠﻠﻴﺰﻳﺔ ﻗﻠﻴﻼً : ﻫﻞ ﺗﻌﺘﻘﺪ ﺣﻘﺎً ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﻣﻨﻚ ﺃﻥ ﺗﻈﻬﺮ ﻟﻪ ﺍﺣﺘﺮﺍﻣﻚ ﺑﺘﻜﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺮﻛﻮﻉ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﺠﻮﺩ؟ ﺃﻻ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻷﻓﻀﻞ ﻟﻠﻤﺮﺀ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺨﻠﻮ ﺑﻨﻔﺴﻪ ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻠﺒﻪ؟ ﻟﻢ ﺣﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺟﺴﻤﻚ ﻫﺬﻩ؟
ﻭﻟﻢ ﺃﻛﺪ ﺃﻧﻄﻖ ﺑﻬﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻜﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﺣﺘﻰ ﺷﻌﺮﺕ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺪﻡ ﻭﺗﺄﻧﻴﺐ ﺍﻟﻀﻤﻴﺮ، ﺫﻟﻚ ﺃﻧﻨﻲ ﻟﻢ ﺃﻛﻦ ﺃﻧﻮﻱ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺟﺮﺡ ﺷﻌﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﺸﻴﺦ ﺍﻟﺪﻳﻨﻲ، ﻭﻟﻜﻦ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺟﻲ ﻟﻢ ﺗﺒﺪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻗﻂ ﺃﻣﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻴﺎﺀ، ﻟﻘﺪ ﺛﻐﺮ ﻓﻤﻪ ﻋﻦ ﺍﺑﺘﺴﺎﻣﺔ، ﻭﺃﺟﺎﺏ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻘﻮﻟﻪ:
"ﺑﺄﻱ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺃﺧﺮﻯ ﺇﺫﺍً ﻳﺠﺐ ﺃﻥ ﻧﻌﺒﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ؟ ﺃﻟﻢ ﻳﺨﻠﻖ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﺪ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﻭﺡ ﻣﻌﺎً؟ ﻭﺇﺫﺍ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ , ﺃﻓﻼ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺍﻹﻧﺴﺎﻥ ﺑﺠﺴﺪﻩ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺑﺮﻭﺣﻪ؟ ﺍﺳﻤﻊ : ﺳﺄﻓﻬﻤﻚ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻧﺼﻠﻲ ﻧﺤﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻮﻥ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻧﺼﻠﻲ , ﺇﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﻮﻟﻲ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻨﺎ ﻧﺤﻮ ﺍﻟﻜﻌﺒﺔ , ﺑﻴﺖ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺤﺮﺍﻡ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻜﺔ , ﻣﺪﺭﻛﻴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ ﻛﻠﻬﻢ , ﺣﻴﺜﻤﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ , ﻣﻮﻟﻮﻥ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻬﻢ ﻧﺤﻮﻫﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺻﻼﺗﻬﻢ , ﻭﺃﻧﻨﺎ ﻛﺠﺴﻢ ﻭﺍﺣﺪ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻫﻮ ﻣﺤﻮﺭ ﺗﻔﻜﻴﺮﻧﺎ ﺟﻤﻴﻌﺎً , ﻧﺤﻦ ﻧﻘﻒ ﺃﻭﻻً ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻴﻤﻴﻦ , ﻭﻧﻘﺮﺃ ﺷﻴﺌﺎً ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻘﺮﺁﻥ ﺍﻟﻜﺮﻳﻢ , ﺫﺍﻛﺮﻳﻦ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻛﻠﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺃﻧﺰﻟﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻹﻧﺴﺎﻥ , ﻛﻴﻤﺎ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻴﻤﺎً ﺭﺻﻴﻨﺎً ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﺎﺓ ﺛﻢ ﻧﻘﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﻛﺒﺮ ﻣﺬﻛﺮﻳﻦ ﺃﻧﻔﺴﻨﺎ ﺑﺄﻧﻪ ﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻳﺴﺘﺤﻖ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻌﺒﺪ ﺇﻻ ﻫﻮ , ﻭﻧﺮﻛﻊ ﻷﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﻌﺘﺒﺮﻩ ﻓﻮﻕ ﻛﻞ ﺷﻲﺀ , ﻭﻧﺴﺒﺢ ﺑﻌﺰﺗﻪ ﻭﻣﺠﺪﻩ , ﻭﺑﻌﺪ ﺫﻟﻚ ﻧﺴﺠﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺒﺎﻫﻨﺎ ﻷﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﺸﻌﺮ ﺑﺄﻧﻨﺎ ﻟﺴﻨﺎ ﺗﺠﺎﻫﻪ ﺇﻻ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺮﺍﺏ , ﻭﺃﻧﻪ ﻫﻮ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺧﻠﻘﻨﺎ ﻭﻫﻮ ﺭﺑﻨﺎ ﺍﻷﻋﻠﻰ , ﻧﺮﻓﻊ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻨﺎ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ , ﻭﻧﺒﻘﻰ ﺟﺎﻟﺴﻴﻦ , ﺩﺍﻋﻴﻦ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻐﻔﺮ ﺫﻧﻮﺑﻨﺎ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺘﻐﻤﺪﻧﺎ ﺑﺮﺣﻤﺘﻪ , ﻭﻳﻬﺪﻧﺎ ﺍﻟﺼﺮﺍﻁ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ , ﻭﻳﻬﺒﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻓﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﺯﻕ , ﺛﻢ ﻧﺴﺠﺪ ﺛﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ , ﻭﻧﻠﻤﺲ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﺍﺏ ﺑﺠﺒﺎﻫﻨﺎ ﺗﺠﺎﻩ ﻋﺰﺓ ﺍﻟﻮﺍﺣﺪ ﺍﻷﺣﺪ ﻭﻋﻈﻤﺘﻪ , ﻭﺑﻌﺪ ﺫﻟﻚ ﻧﺴﺘﻮﻱ ﺟﺎﻟﺴﻴﻦ , ﻭﻧﺪﻋﻮ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺃﺑﻠﻐﻨﺎ ﺭﺳﺎﻟﺘﻪ , ﻛﻤﺎ ﺻﻠﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻷﻧﺒﻴﺎﺀ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻠﻪ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺒﺎﺭﻛﻨﺎ ﺃﻳﻀﺎً , ﻭﺟﻤﻴﻊ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺘﺒﻊ ﺳﻮﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺴﺒﻴﻞ , ﻭﻧﺴﺄﻟﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻬﺐ ﻟﻨﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺪﻧﻴﺎ ﺣﺴﻨﺔ ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻵﺧﺮﺓ ﺣﺴﻨﺔ , ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﻬﺎﻳﺔ ﻧﺪﻳﺮ ﺭﺅﻭﺳﻨﺎ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻴﻤﻴﻦ ﻭﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺸﻤﺎﻝ ﻗﺎﺋﻠﻴﻦ : ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ ﻭﺭﺣﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻭﺑﺮﻛﺎﺗﻪ , ﻭﺑﺬﻟﻚ ﻧﺤﻴﻲ ﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ ﺻﺎﻟﺤﻴﻦ ﺣﻴﺜﻤﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ ".
قرأته بترجمة "عفيف البعلبكي".
من اكثر اجزاءه جماﻻ وتاثيرا:
ﻓﺴﺄﻟﺖ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺟﻲ ﺫﺍﺕ ﻳﻮﻡ ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻳﻔﻬﻢ ﺍﻹﻧﺠﻠﻴﺰﻳﺔ ﻗﻠﻴﻼً : ﻫﻞ ﺗﻌﺘﻘﺪ ﺣﻘﺎً ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﻣﻨﻚ ﺃﻥ ﺗﻈﻬﺮ ﻟﻪ ﺍﺣﺘﺮﺍﻣﻚ ﺑﺘﻜﺮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﺮﻛﻮﻉ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﺠﻮﺩ؟ ﺃﻻ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻷﻓﻀﻞ ﻟﻠﻤﺮﺀ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺨﻠﻮ ﺑﻨﻔﺴﻪ ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻠﺒﻪ؟ ﻟﻢ ﺣﺮﻛﺎﺕ ﺟﺴﻤﻚ ﻫﺬﻩ؟
ﻭﻟﻢ ﺃﻛﺪ ﺃﻧﻄﻖ ﺑﻬﺬﻩ ﺍﻟﻜﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﺣﺘﻰ ﺷﻌﺮﺕ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺪﻡ ﻭﺗﺄﻧﻴﺐ ﺍﻟﻀﻤﻴﺮ، ﺫﻟﻚ ﺃﻧﻨﻲ ﻟﻢ ﺃﻛﻦ ﺃﻧﻮﻱ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺟﺮﺡ ﺷﻌﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﺸﻴﺦ ﺍﻟﺪﻳﻨﻲ، ﻭﻟﻜﻦ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺟﻲ ﻟﻢ ﺗﺒﺪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻗﻂ ﺃﻣﺎﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﻴﺎﺀ، ﻟﻘﺪ ﺛﻐﺮ ﻓﻤﻪ ﻋﻦ ﺍﺑﺘﺴﺎﻣﺔ، ﻭﺃﺟﺎﺏ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺑﻘﻮﻟﻪ:
"ﺑﺄﻱ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺃﺧﺮﻯ ﺇﺫﺍً ﻳﺠﺐ ﺃﻥ ﻧﻌﺒﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ؟ ﺃﻟﻢ ﻳﺨﻠﻖ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﺪ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﻭﺡ ﻣﻌﺎً؟ ﻭﺇﺫﺍ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻫﺬﺍ , ﺃﻓﻼ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺍﻹﻧﺴﺎﻥ ﺑﺠﺴﺪﻩ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺑﺮﻭﺣﻪ؟ ﺍﺳﻤﻊ : ﺳﺄﻓﻬﻤﻚ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻧﺼﻠﻲ ﻧﺤﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻮﻥ ﻛﻤﺎ ﻧﺼﻠﻲ , ﺇﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﻮﻟﻲ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻨﺎ ﻧﺤﻮ ﺍﻟﻜﻌﺒﺔ , ﺑﻴﺖ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺤﺮﺍﻡ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻜﺔ , ﻣﺪﺭﻛﻴﻦ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ ﻛﻠﻬﻢ , ﺣﻴﺜﻤﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ , ﻣﻮﻟﻮﻥ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻬﻢ ﻧﺤﻮﻫﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺻﻼﺗﻬﻢ , ﻭﺃﻧﻨﺎ ﻛﺠﺴﻢ ﻭﺍﺣﺪ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻫﻮ ﻣﺤﻮﺭ ﺗﻔﻜﻴﺮﻧﺎ ﺟﻤﻴﻌﺎً , ﻧﺤﻦ ﻧﻘﻒ ﺃﻭﻻً ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻴﻤﻴﻦ , ﻭﻧﻘﺮﺃ ﺷﻴﺌﺎً ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻘﺮﺁﻥ ﺍﻟﻜﺮﻳﻢ , ﺫﺍﻛﺮﻳﻦ ﺃﻧﻪ ﻛﻠﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺃﻧﺰﻟﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻹﻧﺴﺎﻥ , ﻛﻴﻤﺎ ﻳﻜﻮﻥ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻴﻤﺎً ﺭﺻﻴﻨﺎً ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﺎﺓ ﺛﻢ ﻧﻘﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﻛﺒﺮ ﻣﺬﻛﺮﻳﻦ ﺃﻧﻔﺴﻨﺎ ﺑﺄﻧﻪ ﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻳﺴﺘﺤﻖ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻌﺒﺪ ﺇﻻ ﻫﻮ , ﻭﻧﺮﻛﻊ ﻷﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﻌﺘﺒﺮﻩ ﻓﻮﻕ ﻛﻞ ﺷﻲﺀ , ﻭﻧﺴﺒﺢ ﺑﻌﺰﺗﻪ ﻭﻣﺠﺪﻩ , ﻭﺑﻌﺪ ﺫﻟﻚ ﻧﺴﺠﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺒﺎﻫﻨﺎ ﻷﻧﻨﺎ ﻧﺸﻌﺮ ﺑﺄﻧﻨﺎ ﻟﺴﻨﺎ ﺗﺠﺎﻫﻪ ﺇﻻ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﻡ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺮﺍﺏ , ﻭﺃﻧﻪ ﻫﻮ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺧﻠﻘﻨﺎ ﻭﻫﻮ ﺭﺑﻨﺎ ﺍﻷﻋﻠﻰ , ﻧﺮﻓﻊ ﻭﺟﻮﻫﻨﺎ ﻋﻦ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ , ﻭﻧﺒﻘﻰ ﺟﺎﻟﺴﻴﻦ , ﺩﺍﻋﻴﻦ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻐﻔﺮ ﺫﻧﻮﺑﻨﺎ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺘﻐﻤﺪﻧﺎ ﺑﺮﺣﻤﺘﻪ , ﻭﻳﻬﺪﻧﺎ ﺍﻟﺼﺮﺍﻁ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ , ﻭﻳﻬﺒﻨﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻓﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺮﺯﻕ , ﺛﻢ ﻧﺴﺠﺪ ﺛﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ , ﻭﻧﻠﻤﺲ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﺍﺏ ﺑﺠﺒﺎﻫﻨﺎ ﺗﺠﺎﻩ ﻋﺰﺓ ﺍﻟﻮﺍﺣﺪ ﺍﻷﺣﺪ ﻭﻋﻈﻤﺘﻪ , ﻭﺑﻌﺪ ﺫﻟﻚ ﻧﺴﺘﻮﻱ ﺟﺎﻟﺴﻴﻦ , ﻭﻧﺪﻋﻮ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﺃﺑﻠﻐﻨﺎ ﺭﺳﺎﻟﺘﻪ , ﻛﻤﺎ ﺻﻠﻰ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻷﻧﺒﻴﺎﺀ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻠﻪ , ﻭﺃﻥ ﻳﺒﺎﺭﻛﻨﺎ ﺃﻳﻀﺎً , ﻭﺟﻤﻴﻊ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺘﺒﻊ ﺳﻮﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺴﺒﻴﻞ , ﻭﻧﺴﺄﻟﻪ ﺃﻥ ﻳﻬﺐ ﻟﻨﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺪﻧﻴﺎ ﺣﺴﻨﺔ ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻵﺧﺮﺓ ﺣﺴﻨﺔ , ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﻬﺎﻳﺔ ﻧﺪﻳﺮ ﺭﺅﻭﺳﻨﺎ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻴﻤﻴﻦ ﻭﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﺸﻤﺎﻝ ﻗﺎﺋﻠﻴﻦ : ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ ﻭﺭﺣﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻭﺑﺮﻛﺎﺗﻪ , ﻭﺑﺬﻟﻚ ﻧﺤﻴﻲ ﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ ﺻﺎﻟﺤﻴﻦ ﺣﻴﺜﻤﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﺍ ".
قرأته بترجمة "عفيف البعلبكي".
rania2070's review against another edition
5.0
أخذ الكتاب ما أخذ و أعطى ما أعطى، سواء وقت أو روح أو طاقة فظل يعطي و يإخذ.
رحلة الكاتب الحياتية مبهرة للحد الذي أن قال لي أحد أنه رواية بلا حبكة لا سيرة ذاتية لصدقته.
يإخذك الكاتب في دول الشرق من مكة و بعض مدن السعودية لمصر لدمشق للقدس لإيران لإفغانستان و بعض دول الغرب، إلا أن وصفه للعالم الأسلامي و الشرق ملئ بالروح و الوصف و الحب بينما وصفه للعالم الغربي ميت كحال الغرب.
يتغزل الكاتب في الصحراء و يصفها كما أشعر أنا تجاهها و ودت كثيرا لو كنت عشت في الصحاري كما عاش فيها و قابلت من قابل من أعلام عصره.
الحاج محمد أسد كان سياسياً محنكاً في كتابته فهو كتب وجهة نظره فيما يعجبه و ما يريد إيصاله عن الإسلام و الشرق و يمتنع عن أبداء رأيه في ما لا يعجبه و يضع لك الحادثة كما هي بلا تعقيب منه، محادثة زواجه من فتاة في الحادية عشر من عمرها و تطليقه لها بلا تطبيق شرعي للزواج، يضع لك حوادث ظالمة ضد المرأة في المجتمع السعودي و لا يعقب عليها.
يقول لك و يلقي الضوء على ما يريد أبلاغه و يخفي ما لا يريد أظهاره ببراعة شديدة، لا يعطيك صورة واضحه لحياته الشخصية بل يعطيك لمحات من فكره و حوادث معينة في حياته.
رحلة الكاتب الحياتية مبهرة للحد الذي أن قال لي أحد أنه رواية بلا حبكة لا سيرة ذاتية لصدقته.
يإخذك الكاتب في دول الشرق من مكة و بعض مدن السعودية لمصر لدمشق للقدس لإيران لإفغانستان و بعض دول الغرب، إلا أن وصفه للعالم الأسلامي و الشرق ملئ بالروح و الوصف و الحب بينما وصفه للعالم الغربي ميت كحال الغرب.
يتغزل الكاتب في الصحراء و يصفها كما أشعر أنا تجاهها و ودت كثيرا لو كنت عشت في الصحاري كما عاش فيها و قابلت من قابل من أعلام عصره.
الحاج محمد أسد كان سياسياً محنكاً في كتابته فهو كتب وجهة نظره فيما يعجبه و ما يريد إيصاله عن الإسلام و الشرق و يمتنع عن أبداء رأيه في ما لا يعجبه و يضع لك الحادثة كما هي بلا تعقيب منه، محادثة زواجه من فتاة في الحادية عشر من عمرها و تطليقه لها بلا تطبيق شرعي للزواج، يضع لك حوادث ظالمة ضد المرأة في المجتمع السعودي و لا يعقب عليها.
يقول لك و يلقي الضوء على ما يريد أبلاغه و يخفي ما لا يريد أظهاره ببراعة شديدة، لا يعطيك صورة واضحه لحياته الشخصية بل يعطيك لمحات من فكره و حوادث معينة في حياته.