By Atika Sadeeqa
Upland, CA - USA
I have been reading the controversy swirling around “The Jewel of Medina” and its author all over the world. This book represents a twisted history disguised as artistic freedom. I would like to make few observations about it.
Author writes this novel to entertain and inform about Hazrat Aisha Bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The storyline is a rehash of the infamous charge against the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) about marrying Hazrat Aisha at her young age. The author did not provide the essential context to the reader about the historic period and the religion of Islam. The heroin of the story begins her tale as a premature female. Author would have better served its readers if her heroin would have been allowed to grow. Perhaps, author could have traveled to a Muslim country to assimilate and infuse the essence of that society in her story and, better yet, she could have read the unbiased accounts of Non-Muslim writers to better inform her readers.
According to some reliable Islamic sources, such as Sayed Suleiman Nadvi, a well known historian on the subject, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was 12-16 years old at the time of her marriage.
Hazrat Khadija (may Allah be please with her), the first wife wife of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was more than 10 years older than him and the companionship period was 25 years. Most other wives’ companionship was from 3 months to 9 years. Hazrat Aisah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the only wife of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) who was a virgin at the time of her marriage while others were either widows or divorcees. Several western thinkers and experts on the subjects are in agreement that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)’s marriages were out of sympathy and protection and to break the customs of the society of that period. In this regard Mr. T. Arnold, Pringle Kennedy, Michael H. Hart, Sir Thomas Carlyle, J. H. Denison, S. P. Scott, Alphonse de Lamartine, Sir William Muir are few of them that the author could have studied.
This literary description of historical fiction represents only the ideology of the author. Firstly, does the so called award winner author or her supporters take the responsibility of the accuracy of the facts mentioned in the book? The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), his family, friends and other personalities are portrayed in opposite manners to what is recorded in the Holy Quran and the Islamic history. It is a complete distortion of the reality. Our Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and his family could not be a shred of what has been portrayed in the book. And, on historical grounds alone the book portrayals are totally inaccurate.
Secondly, can the attempt by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to condemn the book be considered an act of censorship, infringing on the artistic rights of such authors? While it can be granted that artistic freedom ought to be maintained, that is not the issue involved here. Freedom refers to the responsible exercise of the choices within clear boundaries, not an open license where anything goes. That is why I denounce the novel, “The Jewel of Medina” and urge its removal from the bookstores and libraries.
Islam means peace. This means no bloodshed, violence, death threats, terrorism or destroying the peace of the world in any form. We should behave in a civilized manner. I would like to persuade people of all faiths that if peace is to be achieved, we must respect all Prophets of God and our fellow men. The Holy Quran lays the foundation of peace by declaring that all prophets of all religions of the world are sinless. The Holy Quran further declares: “There shall be no compulsion in faith- Call into the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the way that is best.”
A little over a decades ago, “Last Temptation” exhibited irresponsible behavior of the same nature on the part of filmmakers. We all know that freedom of speech does not mean that anyone has a right to humiliate and disgrace anyone by using indecent and filthy language, or by insinuating vulgarities. The defamation of someone’s characters is no definition for freedom of speech.
Not only in the Muslim world, but a large number of sensible people from all over the world are deeply offended by this book. If this trend continues in our society, we are heading for the eventual loss of all freedom.
As we know most prophets reported in the Bible had multiple wives, some times dozens, and even hundreds. The Old Testament states that Prophet David had 100 wives and Solomon had 700 wives along with 300 concubines. The word concubine is very much familiar to our 21st century progressive woman, which has echoed from Buckingham Palace to White House in recent years. On the other hand, Islam is the first religion to restrict the numbers of wives that the previous faiths could or did not want to control.
The Holy Quran establishes the complete innocence and moral integrity of all biblical prophets. Where as the both New and Old Testaments, leaves those to our assumptions and imaginations.
Hazrat Maryam (Mary, the mother of Christ), may Allah bestow peace on her, was 12 years of age, or according to some scholars 14, at the age of her marriage. Holy Quran stated: "..when the angels said, O Mary, ‘Allah gives thee glad tidings of a son through ‘a Word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honored in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God.” (Ch. 3:46)
The author’s lack of interest and enthusiasm for her heroin is not an excuse to misinform the reader and distort the history. A reader can not depend upon her fluid style of writing and imagery as a substitute for historical accuracy.
Have you read "The Jewel of Medina"? It doesn't sound as if you had. I know that scholars don't agree a to A'isha's age at marriage, so I chose the middle path -- 9 at marriage, 12 when she moves in with Muhammad, 14 at consummation. If you read it -- or go to my website -- you will see the 29 sources listed, histories, biographies, ancient poetry, books on food, culture, clothing of the time, and so on. I invite you to read the book before you comment! "The Jewel of Medina" is fiction, but it is rooted very deeply in the history and the spirit of Islam. And it tells a wonderful tale that most Westerners have never heard before.
ReplyDeleteWith due respect, Ms. Jones, I humbly suggest you try to understand the main point Islam makes about the spread of immorality - and it all begins with impure thoughts, unchaste speech and writing. We are all so concerned with pollution and second hand smoke yet no one realizes the immense damage being done to society by the moral and spiritual pollution that the likes of Jerry Springer and others spew out by the hour and the minute.
ReplyDeleteThere are deep connections with all such actions and the destruction of the family and the breakdown of the institution of marriage and all the consequent fallout.
When it comes to physical cleanliness, we all get it...to avoid the spread of swine-flu, how many times have you heard of the need to keep washing our hands and covering our mouth when sneezing etc. but the cleanliness of the mind and promotion of moral and spiritual values is abhorred ..instead, every violation of time-honored and established values is celebrated...big things are made of the breaking of taboos..the first kiss in a movie, the first full nude scene on the big screen and so on..
Islam says society must treat such things as the doctor treats wounds...apply an ointment and cover it up and let it heal, not broadcast it live to the universe and encourage, assist and hasten its spread.
People have pursued the kinds of thoughts you espouse and have filled holy books with mention of the Prophets of God as having committed incest and murder and been part of promoting mayhem...all the results of the unholy exercise in promotion of evil and hindrance of good for the gain of paltry sums.
The Holy Quran instead says: Let there always be a body of people among you who promote virtue and forbid evil. It is not so hard to understand the point Islam makes - but people who are used to these ways must realize that the laws of nature cannot be flaunted without a comeuppance sooner or later!
You cannot have your cake and eat it! And daily we are seeing the signs of people realizing that these paths of promiscuity and promotion of every evil deed and its display on all the media incessantly is leading to no good results.
Now, states are running around trying to find who the fathers are of children they are having to support...so they can go after them for child support payments. Similarly, the breakdown of the family is resulting in enormous burdens being placed on the state and local governments and they realize that they cannot even handle the foster children they end up having to care for.
What we have is only too easy to see - I just learnt yesterday that there are 100,000 sex offenders in California alone, and no one knows what to do about it, and everyone is petrified and afraid of finding one of these living next door.
If we break the divine laws we will have to pay the price one day, just as breaking the physical laws of nature always exacts a heavy toll.
So, yes, anyone can justify writing a work of fiction and say that look they got married and this is supported by this and this historic document and so this and that must have happened and that is all I am presenting in a very artistic and beautiful way ..yes, we have heard all that about all the other taboos that have been broken in the name of art and taste and so on..but with what result and what achievement?
Your book is an attack on the holiness and sanctity of people revered for their godliness by billions of people for centuries ..and all to make some money. And this is wholly and totally repugnant to us and just so much more moral and spiritual pollution that continues to mount in heaps in all such societies as still do not see its toxic consequences. May God have mercy and save us.
I recommend to everyone that they go and read this book which addresses these issues very comprehensively: Islam’s Response to Contemporary Issues; at: http://tinyurl.com/ylopsc9