Customer Reviews
Freedom of speech - By: Ken Towl, 21 Nov 2008 
Judging by the response that this book has provoked, it should be at least worth the read. I can't review it; I haven't read it. I look forward to being able to reading it & reviews of it.
Any book that investigates the roots of one of the great religions, if well written, is, surely welcome. Or am I missing something here?
Freedom of Speech Does Include the Freedom to Disagree - That's the Whole Point - By: Peter Hawthorne, 15 Nov 2008 
I bought this book for the same reason as I bought the first edition of
Rushdie's Satanic Verses. Attempts to murder Rushdie seemed to me to be
an attempt to kill off the right to freedom of speech. Setting
fire to the home/office of the London publisher who decided to publish
the Jewel of Medina isin a similar category. Buying the books
is the best way of preserving the freedom.
Satanic Verses as a work of literature took some reading
andin the end I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.
At first glance The Jewel of Medina seems far more light weight
a novel. Not something which God is likely to be too bothered
by, any more than he is by say "Father Ted" or the "Life of Brian".
I shall try to read it & may be post again but buying the book
is the best response to those who under the guise of religion,
seek to bully, using threats of violence & even death.
a freedom of speech does not necessarily mean a freedom to insult - By: Ashfaaq A. Ismail, 31 Oct 2008 
I am a sunni muslim & I write this review simply to voice my objection to this novel. I do not wish to proclaim any kind of a threat or voice any anti-western propagandain any form whatsoever. I am simply writing this review to peacefully offer my condemnation of this novel. I will be honest. I have not read this bookin full. I had found & only read the prologue of the novel. In the prologue, it portrays aisha (may god be pleased with her), the wife of the prophet muhammed (may peach be upon him), kissing another man & another individual accuses her of being a xania (commiting fornication, adultery, etc). These 2 individuals endured much hardship to spread the word of Islam, with many examples of peaceful behaviour & avoiding certain practices to follow strict obedience to god. These 2 individuals are therefore regarded with high esteem & respect by muslims across the world. It is therefore an integral part of Islam to revere them with love & respect. This is the reason why I offer my objection. It is a part of taking the faith of Islam seriously, & not light-heartedly. We livein a multi-cultural society today. I am not trying to say to suppress an individual's right to write & publish literature, but a certain level of respect & consideration for communities should be maintained. If I was to write literature & portray someone who was alive as a xania, would that person be happy-happy joy-joy, thinking that "oh, it's ok, he is exercising his right to freedom of speech"? The chances are that I would be sued for libel damagesin a civil court for slander. This book portrays the beloved wife of the last messenger of Islam as commiting what is regarded as a major sinin Islam, something that she never did & something she would never considerin a billion years. It defames her reputation/name, so I offer a peaceful condemnation of this book. There will be objections from other muslim communities & protests, no doubt. These objections worry me though, because whilst the majority of them will be peaceful, there will be a small minority who will act completely out of order & resort to violent action. This agressive action by only a small minority will be blown out of all proportion by the media & give the wrong image of Islam. This is never to be even remotely consideredin Islam & I urge all muslims who read this review, if you know someone who is considering violent action of any kind or if you are considering aggressive action, PLEASE DON'T. The prophet (may peace be upon him) & his family were attacked & insultedin their lifetime, but by & large, their response were 2 things that won over everyone, patience/calm & education. Please go to others & tell them why it is that muslims do not condone this book.
Call Islam peaceful.... - By: David Smith, 28 Oct 2008 Call Islam peaceful, or we'll kill you (or firebomb the publisher's house, as the case may be).
These people do not understand irony.
Worst literary piece ever - By: M. I. Abdur Rahman, 25 Oct 2008 This book is not worth the read. This book has no substance whatsover let alone calling it a novel. I have read children's books that uplift the imagination & are of good works.
`The Jewel of Medina' & was described by one US academic as making "fun of Muslims & their history" & a "very ugly, stupid piece of work".
The writer should no better than to attack the belief & customs of Islam.
The author claims it is based on detailed historical research. I would like to see which, if any part of this book she is talking about.
If she believes that by slandering the prophet of Islam & his wife that would give her status among the novelists, she needs to wake up & smell the roses.
