Mecca, from Before Genesis Until Now - Softcover

Lings, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1901383075 ISBN 13: 9781901383072

Publisher: Archetype, 2004

Synopsis

In this, one of his last works, Martin Lings discusses the significance of the pilgrimage to Mecca, made annually by several million Muslims, in the light of the tradition of Abraham. Drawing upon his own experience of performing the pilgrimage first in 1946 and then in 1978, as well referring to the traditional sources, he considers the timeless spiritual meaning of the Hajj, which was proclaimed and established by Abraham and Ishmael and renewed by the Prophet Muhammad, in the context of its long history and comes to some surprising conclusions.

About this title

From the Author:

To read this book is to be taken far back, or rather let us say irresistably re-absorbed, into an ancestral past which belongs to all the three mono-
theistic religions. Jews and Christians, some of these to their surprise and not a few of them to their joy, will find that they have deep spiritual roots in the Arabian peninsula. Not only Jews but also Christians trace with love and with gratitude their line of liturgical descent back to David; and for him, as well as for Moses before him, the concept of what is called the Holy Land extended beyond doubt, as we shall see, far enough South to include that ancient sacred city to which this little volume is consecrated.

About the Author:

Martin Lings (born 1909) studied at Oxford and was a pupil and then friend of C S Lewis. He went to Egypt and taught Shakespeare at Cairo University. He then joined the British Museum and was Keeper of Oriental Manuscripts from 1970-74. He has written many books and contributed to the Encyclopedia Britannica and the New Encyclopedia of Islam.

About this edition

• Publisher: Archetype
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1901383075
• ISBN 13: 9781901383072
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 84