Mecca, the blessed, Medina, the radiant
Subtitle: the holiest cities of Islam
By: photographs by Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi ; essay by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Contributors: Nasr, Seyyed Hossein.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Aperture
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 192
Subjects: Islam -- Pictorial works; Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Saudi Arabia -- Mecca -- Pictorial works; Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Saudi Arabia -- Medina -- Pictorial works; Mecca (Saudi Arabia) -- Pictorial works; Medina (Saudi Arabia) -- Pictorial works
Other titles: Mecca, the blessed; Medina, the radiant
Description: Mecca the blessed, Medina the Radiant is a remarkable achievement by Japanese photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi, who is a convert to Islam. These never-before-seen images provide an opening to the mystical places and scenes of Islam from breathtaking aerial photographs of the Arabian terrain, to vistas of teeming crowds of worshippers surrounding the Ka'bah, to intense portraits of faithful Muslims in prayer, to the magnificent architecture reflecting the faith of the believers.

Despite Islam's position as a powerful religion, many aspects of Muslim thought and belief remain an enigma to non-Muslims. One reason may be that Mecca and Medina are restricted to Muslims, and photographing the sites requires special permission, rarely given, from the Saudi Arabian authorities. With their support, photographer Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi has been able to accomplish this unique mission.