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Jewel of Medina: A Novel | 
| Author: Sherry Jones
Publisher: Beaufort Books
Category: Book
Used (6) from £18.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 40301
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0825305187
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780825305184
ASIN: 0825305187
Publication Date: October 15, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
Freedom of speech November 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Judging by the response that this book has provoked, it should be at least worth the read. I can't review it; I haven't read it. I look forward to being able to reading it and reviews of it.
Any book that investigates the roots of one of the great religions, if well written, is, surely welcome. Or am I missing something here?
 Freedom of Speech Does Include the Freedom to Disagree - That's the Whole Point November 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book for the same reason as I bought the first edition of
Rushdie's Satanic Verses. Attempts to murder Rushdie seemed to me to be
an attempt to kill off the right to freedom of speech. Setting
fire to the home/office of the London publisher who decided to publish
the Jewel of Medina is in a similar category. Buying the books
is the best way of preserving the freedom.
Satanic Verses as a work of literature took some reading
and in the end I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.
At first glance The Jewel of Medina seems far more light weight
a novel. Not something which God is likely to be too bothered
by, any more than he is by say "Father Ted" or the "Life of Brian".
I shall try to read it and may be post again but buying the book
is the best response to those who under the guise of religion,
seek to bully, using threats of violence and even death.
 a freedom of speech does not necessarily mean a freedom to insult October 31, 2008
2 out of 13 found this review helpful
I am a sunni muslim and I write this review simply to voice my objection to this novel. I do not wish to proclaim any kind of a threat or voice any anti-western propaganda in any form whatsoever. I am simply writing this review to peacefully offer my condemnation of this novel. I will be honest. I have not read this book in full. I had found and only read the prologue of the novel. In the prologue, it portrays aisha (may god be pleased with her), the wife of the prophet muhammed (may peach be upon him), kissing another man and another individual accuses her of being a xania (commiting fornication, adultery, etc). These 2 individuals endured much hardship to spread the word of Islam, with many examples of peaceful behaviour and avoiding certain practices to follow strict obedience to god. These 2 individuals are therefore regarded with high esteem and respect by muslims across the world. It is therefore an integral part of Islam to revere them with love and respect. This is the reason why I offer my objection. It is a part of taking the faith of Islam seriously, and not light-heartedly. We live in a multi-cultural society today. I am not trying to say to suppress an individual's right to write and publish literature, but a certain level of respect and consideration for communities should be maintained. If I was to write literature and portray someone who was alive as a xania, would that person be happy-happy joy-joy, thinking that "oh, it's ok, he is exercising his right to freedom of speech"? The chances are that I would be sued for libel damages in a civil court for slander. This book portrays the beloved wife of the last messenger of Islam as commiting what is regarded as a major sin in Islam, something that she never did and something she would never consider in a billion years. It defames her reputation/name, so I offer a peaceful condemnation of this book. There will be objections from other muslim communities and protests, no doubt. These objections worry me though, because whilst the majority of them will be peaceful, there will be a small minority who will act completely out of order and resort to violent action. This agressive action by only a small minority will be blown out of all proportion by the media and give the wrong image of Islam. This is never to be even remotely considered in Islam and I urge all muslims who read this review, if you know someone who is considering violent action of any kind or if you are considering aggressive action, PLEASE DON'T. The prophet (may peace be upon him) and his family were attacked and insulted in their lifetime, but by and large, their response were 2 things that won over everyone, patience/calm and education. Please go to others and tell them why it is that muslims do not condone this book.
Call Islam peaceful.... October 28, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Call Islam peaceful, or we'll kill you (or firebomb the publisher's house, as the case may be).
These people do not understand irony.
Worst literary piece ever October 25, 2008
3 out of 21 found this review helpful
This book is not worth the read. This book has no substance whatsover let alone calling it a novel. I have read children's books that uplift the imagination and are of good works.
`The Jewel of Medina' and was described by one US academic as making "fun of Muslims and their history" and a "very ugly, stupid piece of work".
The writer should no better than to attack the belief & customs of Islam.
The author claims it is based on detailed historical research. I would like to see which, if any part of this book she is talking about.
If she believes that by slandering the prophet of Islam and his wife that would give her status among the novelists, she needs to wake up and smell the roses.
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