September 16, 2007

By Muzaffar Iqbal
Al-Qalam Publishing, Canada
ISBN 978-0-9732333-0-8
224pp. Price not listed

DAWN in Madinah: A pilgrim’s passage contains two parallel narratives that are set in two eras — one narrates the historical events that sanctify the Hijaz environ; the other breathes in present times when the author visits those holy places. It is a blend of the present and past memories. The historical accounts contained in the book mostly relate to the revelation of Islam and its immediate consequences, specifically the atrocities the people of Makkah inflicted upon the early followers.

Dr Muzaffar Iqbal set on a journey to the holy land after he found his mind in a deadlock over a decision about his future; his sojourn also helped to quench his spiritual thirst. Books like Dawn in Madinah are an account of achieving spiritual solace and sharing the moods and experiences gained during the journey. Such books are a result of an urge to share with others the joy of spiritualism over the materialism.

Dr Iqbal’s purpose seems to be to impart the lesson that man is fickle, so are his decisions; their stability and long-term satisfaction cannot be guaranteed. Ultimately, one has to find a recluse away from the hubbub of mundane affairs. What he means to emphasise is the inevitable supremacy of spiritual satisfaction over reason. The author has lectured and written extensively on spiritualism and science. The fact is that emotions and reason compliment a human.

Those who come from far-flung countries have many pious expectations from the Arab land, but when they visit or live there, they come to know the realities. Dr Iqbal is witnessed to the obvious disparity. Many South Asian Muslims eagerly rush to Saudi Arabia for high pay scales and religious appeal, but the menial work rendered from them is highly degrading. The author tells of the various non-Arab people he regularly meets who complain of the ostentatious desires of the ruling Arabs.

The distinct difference in the very ‘air’ of Makkah and Madinah is interwoven in the moods of the people dwelling in the two cities. As the author visits the significant historical sites, glimpses from the past are presented as flashbacks. This makes the account selective and precise.

The organisation of the book however, does not live up to expectations. The pace of the two eras is imbalanced and asymmetrical — many times the essence of the book is lost in the author’s own experiences, which overshadow the historical implications. Most of the incidents that the author evokes from the past are textbook-driven, very well known to many Muslims. There is a disharmony of time and length between the events and his experience, many times the writer is guilty of providing redundant information. This may be a result of the author’s deliberate attempt to not fictionalise the material. But then, the author’s recollections are not straightforward facts. The author seems to have overlooked his reader’s requirements in his desire to immortalise his journey.