Mecca is the heart of Islam: the birthplace of Muhammed, the direction towards which Muslims pray and the site which annually draws some three million pilgrims from all corners of the world.Yet Mecca's importance goes beyond religion and what happens there continues to have a considerable influence on world events.
In this illuminating, lyrical and witty blend of history and memoir, Ziauddin Sardar unravels the significance of Mecca. Tracing its history from its origins as a 'barren valley' to its sudden emergence as the religious centre of a world empire, and interweaving stories of his own pilgrimages with those of others, he offers a unique insight into the conflict between heritage and modernity that has characterised the city's history.
