The great Madrassa of Qom signifies the best in contemporary Islamic education has to offer for Shi’a Islam. It produced the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini The great Madrassa of Qom signifies the best in contemporary Islamic education has to offer for Shi’a Islam. It produced the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini who was able to produce an Islamic revolution only in Iran. The madrassa education is deeply influenced by the Persian cultural tradition which precedes Islam by a few thousand years at least. That is why the Islamic revolution of Iran has not been able to export its vision anywhere apart from Iran. The proud Islamic Shia scholars are unique within Islam, no Sunni school is able to match their stature and achievements. All of the Sunni revolutionary movements like Al Qaida and the Islamic state are led by non-religious leaders, and I think that is why they remain on the fringe. The Islamic revolution would probably never have occurred if not for the brilliance of the Islamic scholarship of Qom. Any successful religion has to have the innate quality of regenerating itself, keeping itself relevant with the challenges of time. Islam has achieved this goal by incorporating philosophy so that most major ills of life can be explained in the light of Koran. The author has quite brilliantly managed to explain this phenomenon using Iranian characters set in a story juxtaposed with the politial history of Iran....more
An excellent book presenting a complete picture of the Al-Qaida years of exile after the infamous 2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York. The bookAn excellent book presenting a complete picture of the Al-Qaida years of exile after the infamous 2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York. The book fills a lot of gaps between the capture of many Al-Qaida leaders but does fail to address two fundamental questions. Why was Al-Qaida able to command so much loyalty when the booty against its leadership so lucrative? What were the real reasons why America hasn't chosen indict these horrible terrorists if it has overwhelming evidence against them?
I do agree with the authors that this war against terror is far from over. Revolution is inherent in the genesis of Islam, so as long as there is perceived injustice there will be young men taking up the mantra of jihad sponsored rich older Muslims harbouring a romantic notion of Islamic resurgence.
The book has exonerated Pakistan's role in the whole war to a great degree though. At no stage was the Pakistani army harbouring Osama or any of the other leaders like the Iranian government which housed and feted Osama's family for years. Pakistanis have generally cooperated even when they disliked what they were being asked to do.
The book is a must read for all Pakistanis so that they can understand their country's real role and position in the War against terror. ...more
It's a survivor's tale, set in 11th century Europe, the so-called dark ages. With Rob Cole I had a glimpse of dark and ignorant cultures of Europe andIt's a survivor's tale, set in 11th century Europe, the so-called dark ages. With Rob Cole I had a glimpse of dark and ignorant cultures of Europe and then traveled with him to the relatively richer and prosperous autocratic culture of Persia coming all the way back to Scotland. I realized that Rob Cole needed the surviving skills honed in England in order to tackle many changing situations he faced in his epic quest for medical knowledge. The comparison between Christian, Jews, and Muslims around that period is very interesting indeed. Jews are despised by both Christians and Muslims but tolerated because they choose the non-martial, non-threatening lifestyles of traders. With so much polarization between the Christain and Muslim worlds, Jews were able to survive on the well-known trading routes, establishing comfort colonies.
This glorious story has clearly established the transfer of knowledge back from the Muslim world to Europe. I loved the rich cultural descriptions of Persian Isfahan. This tale is a must read for all educated Muslims.
And the movie does not detail the intricacies of the novel. So I would recommend reading the novel instead of watching the movie. ...more
Cities continue to fall, crumbs in the way of the mighty Khan as his band of wolves hunt across the wide planes with fury the world has yet to see. GeCities continue to fall, crumbs in the way of the mighty Khan as his band of wolves hunt across the wide planes with fury the world has yet to see. Genghis has to be the world's most successful conquerer to date. He does not lead a paid army, instead his troops are whole volunteers which fight for glory and honour with little regard for material wealths. No wonder Genghis never built any city or chose to settle in one. His death depiction was a bit of an anticlimax though. I felt the author didn't do enough justice to his last moments. But the battle scenes are fantastic narrations....more
Loved the way Jamie was able to objectively portray his travels in the much demonised Axis of Evil state of Iran. Makes me want to get on the next plaLoved the way Jamie was able to objectively portray his travels in the much demonised Axis of Evil state of Iran. Makes me want to get on the next plane there.
Iranians come across as friendly, hospitable, trustworthy and generally polite people. The fact that Jamie travelled as an ordinary backpacker and not someone like Naipaul who effectively went into Iran in order to prove his own prejudice makes this book invaluable. After all it's the ordinary people, their actions, their behaviours make up a culture and not its corrupt government or intellectual leaders....more
Its a wonderful story, written in a simply and flowing manner set in the troubling times just before the Islamic revolution in Iran. By the end of theIts a wonderful story, written in a simply and flowing manner set in the troubling times just before the Islamic revolution in Iran. By the end of the very moving story I could feel the pain and grief of the protagonist family as their lives are turned upside down. The simple hierarchy of the Iranian social fabric is broken and twisted to fit into the new rigid Islamic regime. Old masters and leaders are replaced by the new ones who were once considered fools and outcasts. Nothing worst than a village idiot disguised as the Imam of the mosque. I felt the pain of the people after having read this wondrous story....more
The much lavished mistress who had been unfaithful all along…...
The book is a beautifully crafted account of the Reza Shah Pahlavi's life and times. EThe much lavished mistress who had been unfaithful all along…...
The book is a beautifully crafted account of the Reza Shah Pahlavi's life and times. Every revolution is unique in nature but the Iranian one has always intrigued me as the Iranian people were not exactly famished either financially or physically , which is a common factor almost mandatory in most revolutions. The author pitches the same question; how could the people hate Shah so much, even after the Shah did so much for them?
The attention to context details personal life of the Shah and his immediate family in a very vivid detail. The author has blended the art of Eastern story telling with Western detail to produce a real page turner.
The book offers the best story of the Islamic revolution right from its inception to its peak in 1979. It seems that the Shah did not defend monarchy in modern state of Iran, choosing instead to counter the external threat of communism with counter propaganda, thus delivering the common man to the mosque and its clergy, making the Islamic revolution inevitable. It is pretty strange that the Shah although educated in Europe failed to follow the example set by a number of European monarchies as they successfully transformed from ruling absolutely to reigning in name only. How did the Shah see his own rule? He portrayed himself as doing a thankless job almost like some sort of humanitarian philanthropic endeavour which must have further enraged the young Iranians.
I loved the gradual manner in which the author brought the Islamic revolution to a crescendo in the last chapters with many astute observations of the some of the contemporary players. This biography presents a unique and whole picture of the Shah, from a humble beginnings to the height of his career to his end as an international pariah.
The book left a strong feeling of compassion for the Shah, like a true lover spurned by his beloved who ultimately paid the ultimate price for his true love.
The only question left is the main reasons for the Islamic revolution in Iran. As the author points out, none of the major reasons for a revolution were present. There was no poverty, jobs were aplenty, democracy in some way and form was there. It isn't still clear to me what prompted the Iranians to revolt. The most ardent followers of revolution were from the new urban class, the peasants uprooted from their villages living in cities. The Shah choose provide more economic and personal growth to try and assuage threat from the new class instead of providing them with their own political representation which is the common practice among most third world sham democracies. But unfortunately this move only provided an already frustrated class further reasons for blame and impetus for revolution. Further during the lean period of democracy clerical figures like Khomeini were able to proclaim their democratic credentials. The Shah was also dumped by the Americans right towards the end who seemed to be more than happy to deal with the new revolutionaries giving credence to the new Islamic regime.
So I guess the Islamic revolution was hardly a revolution but a takeover in reality, by a very shrewd Islamic clergy, the only resort to democracy in an era of political vacuum. ...more
Absolute masterpiece, must read for every Muslim wanting to retain some level of sanity intact when approaching Islamic mythology.
Belief can blunt humAbsolute masterpiece, must read for every Muslim wanting to retain some level of sanity intact when approaching Islamic mythology.
Belief can blunt human reason and common sense, ideas that have been inculcated into the human mind in childhood remain in the background of his/her thinking. Consequently he/she will have the propensity to make facts conform with inculcated ideas which have no rational validity.
Dashti clears the fog and rationalises Islamic folklore which is a must if Islam has to remain relevant in this day and age. I still think that Islam can retain its brand value if more rationalising is allowed and accepted by the mainstream incredulous Muslims, otherwise it may whither into obscurity like its sister religions Jewism and Christianity. I think Dashti knew that his rationalistic narrative may stand a chance after his death, therefore made sure that his work be translated only after his death, not before.
Dashti has produced a critical piece of study on the genesis of Islam, its strong propensity for 'end justifying the means' in the quest of power which suddenly explains the actions of fundamentalist movements like the Taliban very clearly.
The following questions were raised in me as I went through the book.... How long will we (pious Muslims and their erstwhile apologists) let our prejudices blind us? How many more clever justifications will we require to defend logical discrepancies in the Quran? Isn't it time really present a rational commentary of the Quran before it too joins the ranks of the obscurity like old and new Testaments? Or maybe it is too late already? When a community has succumbed to fever, it cannot be claimed with words and proofs. (Dashti) But then again on reflection afterwards, I could not help wonder of the great achievements Islamic based cultures did manage to achieve. Regardless of of the alleged subjectiveness of the Quran, it remains a fact that Islamic folklore based culture did grow and glow, managing to carry the torch of knowledge and development during the dark ages in Europe. This was only broken convincingly by the indomitable Chengez Khan who obliterated the great culture of Baghdad. Maybe this is the fear which Dashti is alluding to which stops the Muslims from rationalising?...more
As a Pakistani, I find the Iranian revolution fascinating. It is a lesson for all Islamist apologists in what can go wrong. Dowlatabadi does a fabouloAs a Pakistani, I find the Iranian revolution fascinating. It is a lesson for all Islamist apologists in what can go wrong. Dowlatabadi does a faboulous job in presenting a very dark picture of post revolutionary period where everything is breaking down, chaos; and among this chaos the protagonist a nameless colonel is trying to live an ordinary life, pruning himself, dealing with all issues as normally as possible. It's the portrayal of human nature at its most vulnerable state. This quest for normality surrounded by unimaginable chaos is a very real but never spoken about human trait. This evolutionary ability to strive to be normal represents the spirits quest for survival. The spirit deludes itself, with lies and justifications in order to keep on living. Dowlatabad presents it beautifully. Than there is the immortal Khowaja Khizer, which for me was the most intriguing character of this very dark tale. For me he represented another set of human traits, justification/reason and quest for power. Quest for power justifies reasoning any injustice. This is a difficult and complicated force which has no right or wrong but it is very real palpable and real entity, which we all experience on almost a daily basis.
The only reason I gave 4 stars to this absolute masterpiece was because a lot of context is needed before the book can be fully enjoyed. I have been lucky as I have a few Iranians in my study group who have guided me through its confusing parables and historical contexts....more
This is a great book on Iran if you have been keeping pace with what has been happening there, politically since the Islamic revolution, otherwise cerThis is a great book on Iran if you have been keeping pace with what has been happening there, politically since the Islamic revolution, otherwise certain sections might became a bit of a drag. The author has the singular advantage of being a British man married to an Iranian lady and living in Tehran, giving him pretty unprecedented coverage of the insides of a very proud but wounded country. Proud because of their culture and wounded because despite their tall claims they were routinely overlooked when the new world powers were busy collecting prize lands for themselves, places like India, Sri Lanka, Africa etc.
I was a bit disappointed in that the author chose to present an Iran by interviewing people of substance and not choosing to present the life's and impacts of the ordinary people. Because of this route, every time he presented a new character, a quick historical context had to be established which proved pretty tedious to me as I had little background of the ground politics of Iran....more
Book reads like a long newspaper article on the subject. I like the way in which the relationship of all four countries was briefly discussed relativeBook reads like a long newspaper article on the subject. I like the way in which the relationship of all four countries was briefly discussed relative to US. Ataturk and Reza Shah, Ibn Saud were also profiled. It could be a way forward for peace in the Middle East if US changes it's policy....more