This book provides really great insight into these cities and their history, very informative and the pictures are really great.

Very nicely done book about Islam, with beautiful pictures.
Anyone wants know about islam must have this book.

Several readers have reviewed MECCA THE BLESSED, MEDINA THE RADIANT based on their negative political views of Saudi Arabia as well as the religious prohibition preventing non-Muslims from entering Mecca and Medina. Although I share these views (see my review of HATRED'S KINGDOM by Dore Gold), this is not a political book but one of photography and my review is on that basis. And on that basis, the book is very good.

The photos are exceptional. Nomachi, a Japanese convert to Islam, is well known for his pictures of obscure locales and the reason for his reputation is evident here. The pictures are lush and colorful and take the reader inside these forbidden cities as well as a photographer could.

The reader is first taken to Mecca via the gateway in the form of a Koran held towards the sky that separates Jeddah from Mecca. In Mecca, we see several shots of the Grand Mosque as well as its centerpiece, the Kabah. Most of the other photographs are of the pilgrimage to Mecca, the hajj, required of all Muslims at least once in their lives and include other points of religious interest. These include shots of Mina, where pilgrims throw stones at pillars which symbolize the devil, and also the Mount of Mercy, where much of the Koran is alleged to have been revealed to Mohammed.

The section on Medina includes numerous shots of the Mosque of the Prophet. This was the first mosque in the world and, although I am no expert on the subject, gives the Haghia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Istanbul serious competition for being the most beautiful. Some of the fascinating photos include those of the prayer-niche where Mohammed first prayed and, most interesting of all, the tomb of Mohammed himself.

Although Nomachi's pictures are extremely compelling and, of course, very professional, I do have one complaint. It would have been nice to see more pictures of the day-to-day life within these cities. Putting aside their religious significance to Muslims, Mecca is still a city of about a million people with Medina not far behind with both cities being quite old. Photos of the general architecture as well as people living their daily lives would have provided an even more intimate picture of these cities than the ones provided.

The accompanying essays by Seyyed Hossein Nasr are instructive though unfortunately not as good as the photographs. Nasr provides a solid history of Arabia, the rise of Islam and details about the hajj. However, his being a Muslim himself is a double edged sword. One the one hand, he is quite knowledgable about his subject matter. Given the prohibition on non-Muslims in Mecca and Medina, being a Muslim is likely beneficial in this respect. But on the other, he is not simply deferential but obsequious in his essays to the point of distraction. This also makes him overly vague and elliptical in his writings of Mohammed and the alleged revelation of the Koran to him. Finally, although I cannot fault a Muslim for not doing so, it would have been nice for some tips as to how a non-Muslim can sneak into the cities. Alas, I guess I am on my own on that one.

I have to say that I found this book to be very enlightning. It is truely a work of art for pictures to convey the emotions and suspenseful situation that the pilgrames who are performing their Hajj are experiencing. I had experienced and performed the Hajj about 3 years ago and truely the pictures convey the emotional and spiritual roller coaster every pilgram had felt. Unfortunately, my only complaint maybe that there aren't enough pictures!! But...kudos to the photographer who had to work through the difficult atmosphere just to get these pictures anyways.

For the person who wrote something about, "...two racist cities..." has no idea what they are talking about. How can a religion which is not bound to any one race could be racist? No religion on Earth so far has been based on Race let alone Islam for that matter. However, I personally agree that the Two Holy Cities should not allow non-Muslims in as another critic has mentioned mainly because then there would be problems of tourists trampling all over the place and having difficulties in dealing with the clothes as well as not being conscious of the different cultural norms. I sure as Hell do not want to see the Two Holy Cities turning into those sad spectacles of rampaging tourists like those seen in Burma, Vietnam, India, Thailand, The Vatican and so on.

Still, I give this book a 5 due to it's exquisite use of photography on one of the most spectacular pilgramages in human existance to date. The book is large, attractive, and makes for a great topic starter when seen on the coffee table. A great job well done on the part of the Author and the Photographer.

As many are aware of, Professor Nasr is one of the foremost intellectuals of our time. The information presented is unique in that it is coupled with wonderful pictorials of the Holy Cities of Islam. Both informative and beautiful, this publication offers and a holistic representation of two of the most intact religious sanctuaries on the planet.

Comment on "two racist cities": to condemn the policy of prohibiting non-Muslims from entering these sacred cities falls short of meaningful consideration. Firstly, Islam is not a religion of a single race. All races are welcome in Islam. Though non-Muslims are forbidden entry, it is not to imply they are less than but to protect against what has happened in most religious sanctuaries in the world today, i.e., flocked by tourists who lack understanding and therefore fail to show proper respect for practitioners. As I travel throughout Asia, I am saddened to see Buddhist and Hindu sanctuaries trampled on by noisy tourists who complain about dress codes and lack of accommodations. Many of these places have been reduced to tourist attractions and sprawls of vendors. I applaud the policy of maintaining holy sites for their intended purpose- spiritual growth and contemplation, not for sight-seers attempting to increase their photo albums.

For a great world view of Islam, see works by the British photographer, Peter Sanders. He has traveled to many countries to photograph the daily life of Muslims throughout the world, including a rare glimpse into Islam in China.

The only thing I hated so much about this book is, it is so beautiful and I am jealous. Picture paints a thousand words - my writing won't justify the beauty, ever. I don't understand how this is not on everyone's desk!

Thank you Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi, Seyyed Hossein, Aperture and to everyone who made possible, such a unique collection.

This book has 4 major sections. First is about history, geography, out skirts and some related information about Islam, Hajj and Arabia. Next 3 are covering Mecca, Medina and Arabia. The text, the history, the photographs, the geography, its not just insightful for Muslims but also for non-Muslims. Its a beautiful gift.

I dont agree with one of previous comment that "night exposure is disaster" because for me it doesnt matter that pictures were taken at night or at day, every picture has its mood and every picture is a master piece. Picture doesnt always have to be in daylight and this is very artistic that photographer captured those different times and moods. This book is like one from series of "a day in life of". Coverage was enough to make me sentimental.

In response to comment "two racist cities...", in short, non-muslims were allowed earlier but after the incident of 2 non-muslims digging tunnel underground to get the body of prophet Mohammad (PBUH) from his tomb in the time of ruler salahuddin ayyubi, its restricted now. In response to comment "Where blacks went for...", its true that that was slavery era, east west and everywhere else but mapping Islam with slavery is not right. As a matter of fact, releasing a slave from slavery was very much appretiated in Islam.