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Monday, February 13, 2006

Excuse me?

Yesterday I was reading the Zahir by Paulo Cuelho, when I was stopped by something in page 198... He is talking here about a conversation with the director of some museum, who -as he mentions- is a devout Muslim. Take a look at this:
 
"He (ti.e the director) says this is just part of my illness; there is only one prophet, Mohammed..."
 
Since when do we, Muslims, believe that Mohammad -peace be upon him- is the only prophet? It's true that we believe that he is the last of God's messangers, but we also believe that there have been many prophets and messangers before him... and 25 of them were mentioned in the Holy Qur'an...
 
Back to the Zahir, I can't say that I really liked the book, at tiems I was impressed, sometimes annoyed, sometimes bored and sometimes I was like Oops
 
I think the writer has some interesting thoughts and a good style in storytelling, but I also find his thoughts sometimes fuzzy, exaggerated and sometimes the info he provides is inaccurate.
 
posted by Ola Eliwat, in Books and Literature @ 2:07 PM, ,
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(7) comments


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Nas
February, 13, 2006 9:34 PM
the book bored me to death so i never finished but that might be in the context of believing that mantra "there is no God but one and Mohammad is His prophet"

in english though it sounds out of context from the reality in arabic and islam
lizard of oz
February, 14, 2006 2:21 PM
I'm still grappling with that book! it got really boring... But I can't start a book and read half through it then just leave it...

Maybe it's like you said, but that makes me think: do some people really think that Muslims believes that Mohammad -peace be upon him- is the only prophet? If yes then this is a very dangerous misconception! And we absolutely don't need more misconceptions about Islam!
Sugar Cubes
February, 14, 2006 7:25 PM
I didn't find it thaaat boring, sometimes it was but mostly it was a good read except for the last chapter, extremely boring and absurd.
lizard of oz
February, 15, 2006 2:13 PM
Didn't reach it yet! and already bored!
Batir Wardam
February, 15, 2006 6:39 PM
It is a basic principle of Islam to recognize the other prophet, so Mr Coelho's expression is not correct, although he is one of the best "orientally knowledgeable" writers. This book in particular is very popular in Europe. In December 2005 I saw it between the hands of hundreds of people in Italy and France, and then in Bucharest airport when Air France sent me there in my route back to Amman for 12 hours after a missed connection!!
Shaden
February, 15, 2006 11:40 PM
Ola, don't tell me you've bought it because you asked me and I recommended it lol
lizard of oz
February, 16, 2006 12:02 PM
Batir: I sense Coello's interest in the orient but I don't think he gets his info right! The book is too romantic (as opposed to realistic) maybe that's why I found it boring.

Shaden: lool no no! I had already bought it when I asked you :D