Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam
by
Asra Nomani
As President Bush is preparing to invade Iraq, Wall Street Journal correspondent Asra Nomani embarks on a dangerous journey from Middle America to the Middle East to join more than two million fellow Muslims on the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca required of all Muslims once in their lifetime. Mecca is Islam's most sacred city and strictly off limits to non-Muslims. On a jou...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
February 16th 2005
by HarperOne
(first published February 15th 2005)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
514)
I didn't know what to expect when I picked this up, but I really enjoyed it. It is a candid point of view of the things many American Muslim women might wonder about but not have the courage to ask or question. Seeking to understand within one's faith isn't always the same as questioning ones faith though sometimes it may feel that way. In the author's case there were doubts about her faith which lead her down a path of self discover and actualizing her relationship with God. It is a book about...more
Aug 30, 2007
Chadijah Mastura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
alreadyread
A must-read! This is a revolutionary book which sets a small path yet significant toward a peaceful living and better understanding among all humans. It shows the real face of Islam--Nomani said that she could be rated as ´Moslem Generation X´, but I think, indeed, she should be rated as Moslem Generation A: the real one. Because the ones who teach and spread hatred, violence and intolerance are actually the ones who should be called the X-Generation, the ones who misinterpreted and bended the t...more
Although written mainly for an American Muslim audience, Nomani's book tells an absorbing story for other readers whose knowledge of Islam is limited by whatever happens to be the day's news. Nomani, best described as a reformer within the American Muslim community, accomplishes two things: describing in detail the compelling experience of hajj (a pilgrimage with her family to Mecca in post-9/11 Saudi Arabia) and opening the doors of the mosque to reveal the fiercely intense political struggles...more
I was well impressed by the author's fight for equality inside the mosque, so I mentioned her crusade to my wife, who remarked,' what's the use if her own community has ostracised her in the end?' I thought it was a valid point as I plunged into the book.
Unfortunately the book is nothing but a classical dichotomy between parental religion (in this case Islam) and her own version, through the eyes of an ABCD (American born Confused Desi). The main accusation against ABCD is that they think they...more
Unfortunately the book is nothing but a classical dichotomy between parental religion (in this case Islam) and her own version, through the eyes of an ABCD (American born Confused Desi). The main accusation against ABCD is that they think they...more
On one hand, I think it’s good for my book discussion group to read this, as several of the members could use a basic education about the Islamic world that isn’t taught by Glenn Beck.
On the other, the writing style and the author’s constant repetition of herself did not make for enjoyable reading in my opinion. Standing Alone in Mecca became an utter chore.
The gist of Nomani’s book is that Islamic fundamentalists have misinterpreted the Qur'an in order to repress women in Muslim communities....more
On the other, the writing style and the author’s constant repetition of herself did not make for enjoyable reading in my opinion. Standing Alone in Mecca became an utter chore.
The gist of Nomani’s book is that Islamic fundamentalists have misinterpreted the Qur'an in order to repress women in Muslim communities....more
This is a great book for anyone interested in learning about some of the struggles progressive Muslims face in shaping how Islam will be expressed in the United States. Some of the writing was repetitive and a little choppy, but that was the least of my concerns--Nomani's story was so powerful that it kept things interesting, even when points were repeated. And besides that, the points that she repeated are extremely important: that women have a religious right to equality; that men have a respo...more
there was one really good thing about this book. it was the first time i read an account of hajj from a woman's perspective. loved that. it really made me want to go there myself. when the author starts talking about reform after she return from hajj, she really starts to lose it. she wants to reform a community she has played no part in and then wonders why no one welcomes her. she sounds very out of touch with her muslim background. her constant surprise at how islam and modernity can and do c...more
Asra Nomani takes us on her pilgrimage to Mecca and ends up on a much longer journey to promote women's "Islamic Rights". This book gave me an idea of why moderate Muslims insist that Islam is a religion of peace. If Ms. Nomani is correct in her assertions about early Islam, it was certainly a more peaceful and equitable religion than it seems to be currently. She calls for moderate followers to speak up more often in resistance to the Wahabism of Islam so that more people, and women in particul...more
I connected with Asra Nomani in her search for spirituality through the exploration of several religions and practices that she describes in this book. I learned a great deal about Islam at its core and some of the teachings of the prophet Muhammad that promote peace and tolerance which often doesn't come through in the way Islam is practiced in certain countries or talked about in the mainstream media. Nomani reiterates frequently that it is the silent moderate majority in Islam that is allowin...more
The power of the books comes in how it communicates to the reader the sense that there is no readymade utopia... you have to create your own. I'm sure that's not the writer's focus, but then that was my personal response. While the writing is about America and an American muslim - it stands for all thinking muslim women across the world who are constantly working towards blending religion with their otherwise independent world view. The clarity of writing, the humility and the strength of convic...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2009 #32: This is an autobiographical story of one woman's struggle with her faith. She has grown up in a modern world in America, and struggles to reconcile her views on the world with what she sees in the practice of Islam.
For me, it was surprising to see how differently women were treated in religious situations in different countries. Surprisingly, women were allowed to pray side-by-side with men in the most holy mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of the more strict Islamic states. But in A...more
For me, it was surprising to see how differently women were treated in religious situations in different countries. Surprisingly, women were allowed to pray side-by-side with men in the most holy mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of the more strict Islamic states. But in A...more
Al-hamdilulla! Praise be to Allah! I gave this four stars for the writing, but definitely five stars for the content. I'm so grateful for An invitation into Islam. This is Islamic liberation theology. I can't recommend it more highly. I am ready for my Shahadah,statement of faith, assuming as I do, multiple memberships– all in this kindom of God.go to sleep what's my next book Bobby got it for me
I liked her writing style; it captivated me from beginning to end. However, her interpretation of Islam and subsequent practice of the faith was disconcerting. There are many "revolutionaries" that seek the transform the religion and unfortunately they miss out on the fundamentals of the faith. But, it is interesting to read. And that's my two cents.
This is a great read if you are ready to hear about one woman's personal struggle with her religion. The tone isn't an "enlightened" one but it is an honest book (not some behind the burqa, thousand splendid suns or other opportunist "I am an oppressed Muslim woman" book). There are some insightful descriptions of Hajj and Mecca as well.
This work falsely paints an optimistic picture of Islam. The author conveniently ignores much of the misogyny in Islam and instead blames culture and men. The fact that she doesn't mention feeling guilty or repenting blatantly betrays the state of her faith: iffy at best, since Islam holds faith without works to be next to useless.
A few years ago after 9/11, and after becoming friends with an Egyptian Muslim, I was suddenly interested in learning more about Islam. This is one of a couple of books that I read on the subject. The author is a Muslim who was born in India, but raised in West Virginia. I think it's a great story from a woman's point of view.
Aug 20, 2008
Terry
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Women's Rights activists
Shelves:
biography
I really admire what the author Asra Nomani did in fighting for the rights of Muslim women in the US and the world. Freedom of religion and speech are our American rights and women practicing their religion in mosques in the US should have the same rights as men. To learn about the freedom that a woman has on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and then learn that the USA is not providing those same rights was a learning experience for me. The story of her hajj is the most interesting part of the book as she...more
I had a very hard time reading the book largely because of the style in which it was written. The author is a journalist first and the book read like one long news article, very long. I just couldn't get into it.
i am still reading it but it has been set to the side for about 7 or 8 months...not sure if i will finish it, so far it's just not grabbing me...
Dec 20, 2008
Anne
is currently reading it
One woman's pilgrimage to reclaim the rightful role of women in Islam.
So far it's very interesting and I'm loving this book.
So far it's very interesting and I'm loving this book.
An inspiring tale of an Islamic woman's fight again patriarchy.
I liked this book. I enjoyed the very detailed account of the hajj as well as her discovery of who she is and what she believes. Her questions about her religion and how she fits in and what she really believes are enlightening. It details the struggles that muslim women have to deal with within their own community in the United States. I love the strength that I drew from the book as she gets the courage to stand up to the men at her mosque. I loved it and would recommend it to those who want t...more
A co-worker loaned this to me because I had been to Morocco and would of course have an interest in Islamic feminism. Not a burning one, but it looked interesting, so I gave it a try and remembered that I don't usually like biographies. The style was the me me me that an autobiography is expected to be. The story about the pilgrimage to Mecca as inspiration to active feminism in her own mosque was compelling, but the creepy men she has to deal with remind me how crazy I usually think religion is...more
Apr 23, 2007
Iram
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in women's rights
Shelves:
read-it-once
The book was interesting because it provided an insight into the thought process of a woman who has become notorious in the American Muslim community for her demands for the elimination of what she sees as barriers set up within the religion against women. Sometimes she goes a bit too far, though, and much of what she speaks of as being Islamic seems to me as being a minority interpretation invoked by women such as herself who have alterior motives behind their 'religious reformations'.
view 1 comment
Took a long time to get through. But it was worth it. Very interesting account of a woman's journey to Mecca. Very informative and relevant to current Muslim practices in the USA.
Very good book! I admire Asra's courage for being open and strong. I am so thrilled that Muslim women are out there fighting for women rights in Muslim world.
I liked her last entry in her book:
“I know the indomitable spirit of women in Islam - and women everywhere - will survive our lifetimes and triumphs over more trials and tribulations. After all, in four thousand years, it is said, the well of Hajar has never run dry.”
I liked her last entry in her book:
“I know the indomitable spirit of women in Islam - and women everywhere - will survive our lifetimes and triumphs over more trials and tribulations. After all, in four thousand years, it is said, the well of Hajar has never run dry.”
This had to go back to the library. I started to read it because a friend recommended it. She'd said that she found it very inspiring & thoughtful. I found it thoughtful, but less inspiring, perhaps because I am not facing the same issues. However, when faced with the
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Born in 1965 in Bombay, India, she came to the United State at the age of four not knowing any English. She was raised in the foothills of West Virginia in Morgantown, W.V. As editor of her high school newspaper at Morgantown High School, she had an early appreciation for journalism.
Also, Asra Q. Nomani is a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal for 15 years, is the author of “Standing Alone...more
More about Asra Nomani...
Also, Asra Q. Nomani is a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal for 15 years, is the author of “Standing Alone...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
