“All this saddens me. Literature moves civilizations forward, and Islam is no exception.”

—Asra Nomani decries the indefinite postponement of the publication of Sherry Jones’ novel, The Jewel of Medina, which was originally slated for publication on August 12th.  The novel — ostensibly the first in a two-book, $100,000 deal with Random House — portrays the life of A’isha, who is typically characterized as the prophet of Islam Muhammad’s favorite wife.  The novel charts A’isha's life from her engagement to the Prophet Muhammad at age six up through his death. 

Nomani, a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, argues that Random House cancelled the novel’s upcoming publication due to fears that Jones’ book would instigate an upheaval similar to that caused by Sir Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses.  Sir Salman’s 1988 novel was condemned as blasphemous, and Iran’s late Ayatollah Khomeini declared a non-binding legal opinion, or fatwa, urging the execution of Sir Salman. Nomani penned an opinion piece this past week in The Wall Street Journal that laid the blame for the book’s cancellation on Denise Spellburg, Associate Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.  Spellburg served as a consulting historian and was asked to comment on the book by Random House.

Defending herself against accusations that she derailed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, Denise Spellburg wrote in The Wall Street Journal:
 

As a historian invited to "comment" on the book by its Random House editor at the author's express request, I objected strenuously to the claim that "The Jewel of Medina" was "extensively researched," as stated on the book jacket. As an expert on Aisha's life, I felt it was my professional responsibility to counter this novel's fallacious representation of a very real woman's life. The author and the press brought me into a process, and I used my scholarly expertise to assess the novel. It was in that same professional capacity that I felt it my duty to warn the press of the novel's potential to provoke anger among some Muslims.

Random House neutrally insists that the decision was made "for the safety of the author, employees of Random House, booksellers and anyone else who would be involved in distribution and sale of the novel.”

Readers will have to judge the work for themselves. The only excerpt currently available includes Jones’ portrayal of the consummation of A’isha’s marriage to the Prophet Muhammad: "the pain of consummation soon melted away. Muhammad was so gentle. I hardly felt the scorpion's sting…”

It may be that this feat of fictional imagineering may have almost nothing in common, save for its foray into the politically and religiously sensitive, with Sir Salman’s novel.

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Comments (3)

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I think this is more of a problem with the author. Asra Nomani is not a qualified writer. I wouldnt be surprised if her book was really not researched enough. I have read one of her books, and as a Muslim i can say she does not know enough about Islam. There many reasons why, but one would that her own parents were not religious and she learned the things she wanted on her own. No one can just go and learn whatever they would like in a religion and leave out the rest. They are pieces that fall together to make sense. She seems to believe in half of the religion and leaves out so many important aspects. On top of it all, instead of saying they are merely not her beleifs she critizes them! She needs to learn more about the true Islam herself before she starts informing people about it.

A. Alkhatib | September 22, 2008

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Although the above writer is right, terrorism is not at all an option, his analogy is wrong , he talks of teh Roman Catholic church's action. Islamic scholars would never urge or engage in terrorism as an option to retaliate. It is the people. Who's emotions are so profound that they do not think clearly and react in irresponsible and destructive ways. And Ironically their own actions are in reality against the teachings of the very religion they are supposedly defending.

A. Ali | August 19, 2008

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The difference between different degrees of civilization. The Roman Catholic Church might be very upset with "Sex With the Virgin Mary" by Charles Webb and sold by Amazon.com. But they have taken the tactic of prayer and silence in the hope that it will go away. Perhaps somewhat akin to the Church's tactic with the pedophila problem. At the highest level of civilization the threat of terrorism just is not an option

Brendan Doherty | August 12, 2008

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