The way to Mecca

The book "Mohammad Asad: The Road to Mecca" is an exceptional biography, as Mohammad Asad, the Austrian Jewish, converts to Islam and immerses himself in Islamic culture and the Muslim world as much as he can, in order to preserve his new feelings and thoughts with minimal loss. The book was published in a translation by Rifaat Al-Sayed Ali, by Al-Jamal Publications, as part of various and diverse biographical books. About the book "The Road to Mecca": Due to a disagreement with one of his friends, Austrian journalist Mohammad Asad (formerly Leopold Weiss) begins writing his autobiography to tell us about his journey and how he converted to Islam. This book took him two years, during which he talked about his early life and upbringing in Europe, and how he wanted to achieve his dream of becoming a prominent journalist. He achieved this dream by traveling to Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. During these trips, he met many kings, ambassadors, and politicians such as Iran’s King Reza Pahlavi and King Abdulaziz Al Saud. In "The Road to Mecca," Mohammad Asad talks about how Islam entered his heart, how he viewed this religion, and how he compared Islam with his Jewish faith, noting contradictions in some rulings that his mind could not comprehend. He converted to Islam with full conviction after witnessing several situations and dialogues during his time in Arab countries, and he wrote about many political events shaping the Arab world at that time. He participated in some of these, such as his jihad with the Libyans against the Italians and some missions assigned to him by King Abdulaziz Al Saud. His neutrality in his opinions towards Muslims, Islam, kings, and peoples is evident; as much as he highlighted the virtues of some, he also pointed out their flaws. He did not stand with anyone but supported raising the banner of Islam and Muslims in all countries. Strikingly, this book, with its eloquent words and good insights, was not written by a religious scholar or a literary figure but by a journalist who wanted to document his personal experiences. Therefore, I consider it important for those interested in the history of that period, which was often not documented neutrally. I also find it suitable for those who want to read about the experiences of someone who was previously Jewish and his understanding of Islam, and it is also appropriate as a gift for Europeans, as it contains a European perspective on Islam and some history of the Arab world. This book was originally written in English and then translated into many languages, and it was translated into Arabic under the title "The Road to Mecca." From Mohammad Asad's "The Road to Mecca": What I narrate in this book is not a biography of a person proud of his role in public life, nor is it a recounting of adventures I experienced—although I encountered strange adventures—these events were no more than incidental and accompanying what was happening inside me and what I encountered. Beyond all that, it is not a story of a man searching with purpose and intent for deep faith or doctrine itself; that faith came to me over the course of years without me seeking it.