La joya de Medina

Medina #1

by Sherry Jones

La joven Aisha es hija de un mercader de la Meca, lugar en el que vive durante los tiempos de la fundación del Islam, en el siglo VII. A la edad de nueve años es dada en matrimonio al Profeta, un honor mayor que el que la niña alcanza a comprender. La difícil adaptación a su nuevo hogar hace que Aisha se vea obligada a recurrir a toda su astucia y su valor para hacerse un lugar en el harén. No todos problemas los tiene la muchacha: ahora las dificultades empiezan a envolver al Profeta y surgen los primeros enemigos. Además, el ya es mayor, y no tiene una clara descendencia.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle East, Religion, Islam, Historical, Womens

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Sherry Jones is an American journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial "The Jewel of Medina" and other historical fiction books.

Her forthcoming novel, THE FIVE WIVES OF BILLY TIPTON, explores the true-life story of transgender musician Billy Tipton and his marriages with five women, the last three of whom never knew that he was biologically female. Filled with Tipton's comic, homespun wit as well as the vibrant personalities of the colorful women he loved, THE FIVE WIVES OF BILLY TIPTON will take readers on a musical journey through the American midwest of the 1930s and 40s as well as the inner journey of a woman who lives for fifty year in disguise. In a world in which we all must play assigned roles, what must we do to live authentically. Is the price too high?

Jones's most recent novel, JOSEPHINE BAKER'S LAST DANCE (December 2018) features as its protagonist the 20th-century African-American entertainer Josephine Baker, who was born in the slums of St. Louis, made her fame on the Paris stage at 19, worked as a spy during WWII, and became an important civil rights activist in the United States. A comedian, nude dancer, chanteuse, opera diva, and film star, she was the highest-paid black performer in the world. The actress Paula Patton has optioned the media rights to this book and, in partnership with Viola Davis's JuVee production company, is seeking a studio to bring this book to the screen. JOSEPHINE BAKER'S LAST DANCE is scheduled for publication in Hungary.

Jones's 2014 novel, THE SHARP HOOK OF LOVE, tells of the forbidden, erotically-charged love affair between two of the Middle Ages' greatest intellectuals: Peter Abelard, headmaster of the Notre-Dame Cloister School and a poet whose good looks and love songs make women swoon; and Heloise d'Argenteuil, a beautiful woman scholar being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess.

Jones's other books are:

"White Heart," an e-novella about Blanche de Castille, the legendary White Queen of France, who braved sieges, scandal and heartache to protect the Crown from usurpers for her young son, King Louis IX (Saint Louis). The novella is a prequel to:

"Four Sisters, All Queens," about four sisters in 13th century Provence -- Margeurite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provence, who became queens of France, England, Germany, and Italy, also published in Serbia, Italy, and Poland.

Jones became the center of a national controversy in the summer of 2008 after Random House cancelled publication of her historical novel, The Jewel of Medina about Aisha, a wife of the Prophet Muhammad.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Random House had paid Jones a $100,000 advance for the novel when University of Texas Professor Denise Spellberg say a copy of the galleys and decided to "warn Muslims" of the pending publication of a novel that, in Spellberg's opinion, "made fun of Muslims and their history." Random House immediately cancelled publication.

Beaufort Books published the book in the U.S. in October 2008. Publishers in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Serbia, Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Albania have followed. It has been a best-seller in Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

A sequel, "The Sword of Medina," continues the story of A'isha's life after Muhammad's death and the rivalry with his cousin, Ali, which led to the first Islamic civil war and the Sunni-Shia split. It has been published in a number of countries, as well, and was also a best-seller in Serbia. "The Sword of Medina" was awarded a silver medal in the IPPYs, the Independent Publisher Association's book of the year awards.

The controversy over her books has sent Jones on the lecture circuit, speaking in the U.S. and Europe on topics including

Reviews

[Tea Jovanović · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pošto već nisam uspela da izdavača sprečim da objavi ovu knjigu "dala" sam mu odličnog prevodioca tako da stilski i jezički ova knjiga mnogo bolje zvuči u srpskom prevodu nego u originalu... :)

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somewhere in the Caribbean there is a stretch of beach lush with palm trees, with sand the color of milk, where I hope someday to go, and hurl this book into the ocean where I will never see it again.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a Muslim. However, I still found it offensive that the author portrayed one of the most influential men in history as a sex maniac who couldn't keep it in his pants and had to marry practically every attractive woman he set eyes on. The author also made Mohammed's messages from Allah seem extremely self-serving. She portrays a holy man as a selfish pig who uses "visions" to justify his wants and desires. And Aisha? Did the author intend to portray her as a selfish, spoiled little whiny brat? Because that's exactly how Aisha seemed to me. Reading this book was a waste of time. I learned almost nothing about Islam, but learned plenty about the author's prejudices. It's no wonder many Muslim people think we non-Muslims are ignorant.

[Δx Δp ≥ ½ ħ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ketika saya membaca buku ini, saya sudah bertekad untuk membacanya secara jernih, bebas dari prasangka. Tapi sejak bab-bab awal pun, saya tahu bahwa saya tidak akan sepenuhnya berhasil. Saya berusaha untuk membaca buku ini layaknya membaca novel lain, tapi ketika habis halaman prolog, simpati saya terhadap buku ini nyaris tersisa sedikit. Bagaimanapun sulit melepas prasangka dalam membaca sebuah buku jika si penulisnya sendiri memiliki prasangka dalam menulis bukunya.

Seperti halnya buku “The Satanic Verses”-nya Rushdie, buku The Jewel of Medina (TJoM) adalah novel-novel yang tidak akan pernah mampir untuk bisa diterbitkan di Indonesia. Pertama kali diterbitkan tepat semingu setelah Lebaran 2008, saya pertama kali membaca ulasannya di sebuah koran di mana aksi protes menentang peluncuran buku ini merebak luas di berbagai Negara sampai ada aksi penyerangan toko buku yang menjualnya.
Jelas, jika menggunakan jalur legal, saya tidak bisa membaca buku ini. Beruntung, ada teman yang mendapat softcopy hasil donlotan internet dan dia print. Saya yang penasaran, langsung saja membaca buku ini dengan catatan dia meminta saya membuatkan review-nya karena dia agak malas membaca bahasa Inggrisnya, dan saya membuat reviewnya dalam bahasa Inggris :D

Secara garis besar, buku ini menceritakan kehidupan rumah tangga Nabi Muhammad SAW dari sudut pandang istri beliau yang paling muda, Aisyah r.a. Seperti halnya rumah tangga yang lainnya, kehidupan rumah tangga Sang Nabi pun memiliki problematika dan lika-liku tersendiri. Temanya sebenarnya menarik. Tapi, ketika disajikan secara tidak berimbang dan sedikit bumbu hiperbolis yang jatuh pada kategori pelecehan, masalahnya menjadi lain. Apalagi menyangkut seorang tokoh suci yang diimani oleh milyaran orang.

Well, buku ini, langsung dibuka dengan prolog yang provokatif. Cerita diawali dengan kepulangan Aisyah yang telat dan terpisah dari rombongan. Sebagaimana yang diketahui, dikisahkan bahwa setelah pulang dari salah satu peperangan, Aisyah pulang terpisah dari rombongan karena mencari kalungnya yang hilang terlebih dahulu, dan ternyata beliau diantar oleh seorang sahabat yang bernama Shafwan bin al-Mua’attal. Ternyata kedatangan Aisyah beserta pengantarnya itu menimbulkan desas-desus bahwa Aisyah telah melakukan penyelewengan, dan dari percikan api kisah inilah TJoM mulai membara.

Secara provokatif Sherry Jones, sang pengarang, menulis bahwa Aisyah menjadi korban penderitaan fitnah dimana tidak ada satu pun orang yang mau membelanya. Bahkan sang suami (Nabi SAW) tidak mau membelanya karena termakan hasutan para sahabatnya. Yang bikin saya gerah, Jones bahkan menulis bahwa para sahabat itu adalah seorang ‘pembenci’ perempuan. Misalnya tentang sahabat mulia Umar bin Khattab. Jones menulisnya sebagai He was Muhammad's advisor and friend, but no friend to women. Ok, Umar memang sebelum memeluk Islam pernah mengubur anak perempuannya hidup-hidup. Tapi itu dulu. Sebelum dia bertaubat dan memang tuntutan budaya Arab purba pada masanya untuk membenci bayi perempuan. Setelah dia memeluk Islam, dia bahkan menangis tiap hari menyesali perbuatannya terdahulu. Bahkan diriwayatkan dia menjadi seorang pembela kaum perempuan, bagaimana dia membela kepentingan seorang nenek dengan mengorbankan kepentingan dirinya sendiri. Jadi Jones telah keliru.

Korban kedua kekeliruan Jones adalah sahabat pilihan Nabi yang lain, Ali bin Abu Thalib ra. Jones menggambarkan Ali sebagai A man’s hand flung open the door to my apartment. His silver ring flashed like a sword’s blade: Ali, related to Muhammad in three ways -- cousin, foster-son and son-in-law -- yet bitterly jealous of his love for me. Jones menggambarkan Ali sebagai pencemburu. Beliau cemburu karena dengan kehadiran Aisyah, Ali tidak lagi menjadi sahabat terkasih. Karenanya, ketika terjadi skandal itu, Ali paling provokatif dalam menghasut Nabi. Bahkan Ali-lah yang pertama kali menyarankan agar Sang Nabi menceraikan Aisyah. Kata Jones.

Bagi kita yang sudah membaca riwayat Ali ra, tentu saja tulisan Jones ini terasa janggal dan ‘menyengat’. Bagaimana bisa, Ali, sang sahabat utama yang terkenal bijak dan cerdas berani melontarkan ide seperti itu tanpa diselidiki terlebih dahulu. Bukankah karena kebijakannya, Sang Nabi sendiri bahkan menjuluki Ali sebagai “Pintu Hikmah”. Sekali lagi Jones keliru.

Memang, kisah yang diceritakan Jones benar-benar terjadi. Kedatangan Aisyah beserta seorang laki-laki yang bukan muhrimnya menimbulkan desas-desus buruk tentangnya. Bahkan diriwayatkan Nabi sampai tidak mau berkomentar terhadap isu miring tersebut mengingat dia sendiri tidak memiliki bukti untuk menyangkal atau membenarkan. Ayah Aisyah, sahabat utama Nabi yang lain, Abu Bakar ra, bahkan sampai menangis dan mengancam akan menyerang siapapun yang menyebarkan gosip jahat tersebut. Di lain pihak, beliau, karena malu kepada Nabi, meminta Aisyah untuk sementara tinggal dulu di rumahnya sampai gosip mereda. Desas-desus ini akhirnya mereda, setelah Allah sendiri yang membela Aisyah dengan turunnya wahyu yang tercantum dalam QS 24 : 11-19. Dan sejak itu gosip tersebut mereda dan dianggap sebagai gosip murahan yang palsu. Jadi bukan Nabi yang mengusir Aisyah.

Entah mengapa, Jones memutar fakta itu semua. Saya bingung, buku/sumber apa yang digunakan Jones sehingga dia bisa bertutur cerita dengan keliru (padahal dia mengklaim bahwa ceritanya berdasarkan karya klasik tentang Nabi, padahal tidak ada satupun seperti yang diklaim Jones). Berikut beberapa kekeliruan Jones dalam mengutip beberapa fakta yang dia tampilkan dalam bukunya,

 Jones menggambarkan para sahabat nabi sebagai biang gosip! Bahkan ditulis kalau salah seorang perempuan (Ummu Ayman) digambarkan sebagai the town gossip. Padahal pada kenyataanya, tidak ada satupun sahabat yang memfitnah Aisyah telah melakukan penyelewengan. Yang menyebarkan gosip tidak sedap itu sebenarnya adalah orang kafir musuh Nabi yang memanfaatkan fitnah tersebut untuk menjatuhkan beliau. Adapun sikap para sahabat adalah diam. Karena mereka memang tidak memiliki bukti untuk menyangkal atau membenarkan. Bukankah justru sikap ini patut diteladani? Kita tidak boleh membela/menyangkal sesuatu sebelum dicek kebenarannya. Kita harus bersikap objektif pada semua orang (bahkan istri Nabi!). Jadi tidak ada yang bergosip!

 Sebagaimana disebutkan di atas, Jones menggambarkan para sahabat laki-laki sebagi pembenci wanita. Padahal seperti yang dijelaskan, tidak seperti itu kenyataanya. Ali bukanlah seorang pembenci Aisyah. Ketika masa pemerintahan Ali, Aisyah melakukan ‘pemberontakan’ terhadap pemerintahan karena menganggap seharusnya yang memerintah adalah kalangan terdekat Rasul. Ali berhasil memadamkan pemberontakan dengan cara damai. Aisyah sama sekali tidak ditahan apalagi dicederai. Bahkan beliau diperlakukan hormat, bahkan Ali sendiri yang menjenguk dan melayani Aisyah. Apakah ini sikap yang akan ditunjukkan oleh seseorang yang benci?

 Jones menulis bahwa tidak ada satu pun orang yang mempercayai kisah pembelaan Aisyah bahkan hingga beberapa abad kemudian! Padahal kenyataanya tidak seperti itu. Ketika pembelaan dari Allah turun, sejak itu pula sikap kaum muslim pada Aisyah kembali seperti sediakala. Tidak ada yang membenci Aisyah.

 Jones mengklaim bahwa Shafwan sebenarnya adalah cinta sejati Aisyah, lebih jauh dia mengklaim bahwa sebenarnya Shafwan telah bertunangan dengan Aisyah, jauh sebelum Aisyah menikah dengan Nabi. Well, ini membuat saya terhenyak, mau tidak mau saya harus mengobrak-abrik kembali buku shirah/kisah tentang Nabi Muhammad bahkan Shirah paling otentik, Shirah Ibn Ishaq yang tebelnya minta ampun. Dan ternyata, benar kalau Aisyah memang bertunangan sebelum menikahi Nabi. Tapi bukan Shafwan seperti klaim Jones. Tunangannya bernama Jober Ibn Al Moteam Ibn Oday. Dan percaya atau tidak, pertunangan mereka terjadi saat masih bayi. Jadi bagaimana bisa itu disebut sebagai true love?

 Jones menulis kalau Muhammad SAW berkata, “I have loved her since she sprang from her mother’s womb. I have played dolls with her and her friends. I have drunk from the same bowl with her.” Indikasi pernyataan ini jelas. Muhammad SAW sudah ‘mengintai’ Aisyah bahkan sejak bayi! Tak perlu menjadi seorang filsuf hebat untuk bisa mengambil kesimpulan bahwa indikasi logis pernyataan ini adalah Muhammad seorang pedofil! Untuk kesekian kalinya Jones kembali keliru. Mungkin bukan tempatnya disini untuk membahas usia pernikahan Aisyah (silakan googling atau tanya Ustadz yang lebih kompeten), yang jelas, sang Nabi menikahi Aisyah bukan karena kehendak pribadinya, tetapi atas saran seorang sahabat bernama Kholeah Bint Hakim dan atas persetujuan Abu Bakar sendiri. Jadi tidak ada kasus pedofil di sini.

 Dan masih banyak lagi kekeliruan Jones yang jika dibahas bisa mencapai berlembar-lembar.

Sebenarnya saya tidak memiliki masalah terhadap suatu karya fiksi yang menceritakan seorang tokoh, tapi saya memiliki masalah jika tokoh tersebut adalah seorang sosok suci! ada hal lain yang mesti dipertimbangkan dalam penggambaran sosok seorang yang suci. Bahkan saya suka jengkel bahkan jika sosok suci yang diperolok itu ‘lintas keyakinan’. Makanya saya sebel minta ampun saat menonton film “Jesus the Superstar” yang secara blak-blakan melecehkan tokoh panutan iman banyak orang.

Dan dibuku TJoM, Jones telah melakukan yang menurut angapan saya berupa ‘pelecehan’ karakter. Misalnya, dia menulis :

“Summoned to meet the prophet, A’isha hesitates, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath: “My future awaited on the other side - a fate chosen by others, as though I were a sheep or a goat fatted for this day.” Her mother pulls the curtain away: “What are you waiting for? Ramadan?”

Atau
“No more fighting with sticks,” Muhammad tells her, in a bedroom filled with wooden soldiers, dolls, a jump rope and a sword. “I will teach you how to use the real thing.” As the prophet’s eyes changed, “as if catching flame,” the little girl waited for “the scuttling hands, the stinging tail…”

Apa yang Anda akan pikirkan saat Aisyah (menurut Jones) menuturkan kehidupan pribadi suami-istri seperti ini?
"This was the beginning of something new, something terrible. Soon I would be lying on my bed beneath him, squashed like a scarab beetle, flailing and sobbing while he slammed himself against me. He would not want to hurt me, but how could he help it? It's always painful the first time."

Dan masih banyak lagi ke’lebay’-an Jones dalam menulis buku ini. Tak heran jika buku ini sedemikian ditentang keras oleh umat Islam seluruh dunia.

Ok, Muhammad SAW adalah sosok suci, tapi tidak sakral. Beliau memang dimaksumsehingga terhindar dari dosa, tapi sebagai manusia biasa beliau kadang keliru. Tapi kekhilafannya bersifat khata atau khilaf yang manusiawi mengingat beliau juga manusia biasa. Tapi beliau sama sekali tidak bathil alias ceroboh sehinnga melakukan perbuatan jahat. (secara bahasa khata adalah dosa manusiawi yang tidak disengaja dan dimaafkan. Sedangkan bathil adalah dosa disengaja yang tak termaafkan. Contohnya khata adalah jika ada seorang laki-laki karena dia kebelet ingin pipis, begitu melihat ada toilet, dia langsung masuk aza. Ketika udah di luar, dia membaca kalau ternyata toilet itu toilet perempuan. Contoh bathil adalah jika laki-laki itu tau kalua toilet itu toilet perempuan tapi dia maksa ingin masuk karena ingin mengintip misalnya)

Dan, di novel TJoM ini saya merasa Jones, menampilkan sosok Nabi yang bathil seperti itu. Penggambaran masalah suami istri pun terlalu blak-blakan sehingga mendekati vulgar. Sesuatu yang tidak layak ditampilkan dalam visualisasi seorang yang suci. Makanya tak heran jika buku ini dicerca banyak kalangan. Ketika ingin menggambarkan sosok seorang suci, kita mesti berlandaskan atas bukti sahih riwayat tokoh tersebut, bukan asal comot begitu saja, bebas sesuai ambisi dan imajinasi pribadi semata sehingga jatuh ke kategori pelecehan.

Yah, gimanapun TJoM adalah buku yang menyadarkan saya kembali bahwa betapa saya masih miskin akan pengetahuan saya mengenai sosok Nabi SAW. Karena, selama membaca TJoM, saya dipaksa untuk melakukan cross check terhadap kisah aslinya apakah benar yang ditulis Jones. Kita memang tidak boleh berhenti untuk belajar.

Tapi, tentu saja sikap kita terhadap buku ini tidak boleh sinis dan menentangnya dengan kekerasan. Bebaskan semua prasangka dan sentimen negatif. Jika ada yang menjelek-jelekan sesuatu, kita mesti membuktikan bahwa hal itu tidak sejelek yang dituduhkan.

However, The Prophet is one of the greatest names in history. He is too great to be affected by the ugly cartoons or a bit-novel. To quote Lawrence of Arabia, “it is time for us to stop acting like a small people, a silly people, and start living up to our duties before history and mankind.”

PS : maaf jika berbau SARA atau flaming ini murni pendapat pribadi, okeh? :D

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anybody who says this novel is "soft-core pornography," as Islamic studies professor Denise Spellberg did, must have some sort of agenda -- there is nothing in this book that even remotely meets that standard. There are scenes where sex is implied, one scene where sexual intercouse is about to take place but does not, and one scene in which a six-year-old A'isha witnesses two adults having sex without fully understanding what she's seeing--but even that is presented in a non-pornographic way in a single paragraph.

Look, it's pretty straightforward: This is to Islam what books like The Red Tent are to Judaism: a reimagining of the historical/scriptural figures in order to give their stories additional layers of psychological complexity aimed at making them more understandable to modern readers. Yes, it portrays A'isha, the child bride of Muhammad, as a selfish brat whose attempts to assert her independence almost always end up hurting others rather than helping her until she finally develops some maturity and empathy... this is different from average teenagers how?

I suppose particularly fervent Muslims might take offense at the notion that A'isha wasn't exactly thrilled at the number of wives Muhammad took, and that on occasion she (along with other wives) was less than entirely respectful to him as a result. Or the scenes in which Jones argues that A'isha was seriously tempted to commit adultery--though she backs down from that plan at the last minute. So what? These fictional plot elements hardly seem on a par with, say, the idea that Jesus was conceived when the Virgin Mary was raped by a Roman soldier in terms of offensiveness.

Ultimately, your interest may largely depend on how much you care about historical figures reimagined as proto-feminists, although the dynamic between A'isha and Muhammad's other wives is entertaining once it kicks into gear. Also worth nothing: the story ends on a slightly frustrating cliffhanger (a sequel is already scheduled for publication). Whatever quibbles one has with the story's execution, though, it's great to see that the book found a publisher who refused to give in to malicious, ignorant threats.

[Manny]

Just ordered it.

On the one hand, the general opinion is that this book isn't very good. On the other, a couple of heavily bearded Muslim gentlemen were found guilty the other day of trying to firebomb the publisher. Well, I'm willing to be reasonable. They stop firebombing, I'll stop reading crap novels that allegedly insult the Prophet's memory. It's a good offer. Think about it.

[Biljana Janjic · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was censored/banned in my country (Serbia) when it was published and this was the only reason to read it. there was a great fuss and public outburst because of the censorship, so, luckily (and I mean luckily for my country's attempts to be democratic, not because of the book's quality), the book was very soon in the bookstores and libraries again. so, the Islam mashihat lost this game in my country. I've already read several books about Aisha and Muhammad - most of them written by Western orientalists, so "The Jewel of Medina" was not very interesting to me (in the sense of events, characters, historical developments etc), but I found it touching to learn about the young girl attempting to grow into adult woman before it was her time, to come to terms with finding where the line between something she calls "love" and real life is. There is no romance in this book (it was promoted as a love story) - there is only sad story about women's treatment in 7th century, which does not differ from the one today. I liked the author's description and Aisha's initial feelings about having sex, which is brilliantly written and I felt I was dreading with her at every page. Young girl thinking as a every child, but experiencing life of a woman. so sad. basically, that's the only thing I liked in the book.

[Alissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction, and I thought this book would be a good way to gain some insights on Muslim culture and Muhammed.

Some selections from the first page:
"My neighbors rushed into the street like storm waters flooding a wadi."

"My father's mouth trembled like a tear on the brink."

"My tongue lolled like a sun-baked lizard."

Did the author raid a fifth grade teacher's imagery lesson? My. God. The writing is just abysmal. Like an old man's intestines after $1 sandwich night at Arby's, it's about to rain shit all over you.

The heroine is an annoying little twat who thinks she's a Bedouin warrior. Muhammed is a horny old man who wants to bang everyone and everything. And this is supposed to be some great love story? He's a prophet? Bah.

I learned nothing about Islam. However, I did learn that I will avoid Sherry Jones in the future.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me get my pettiest complaint out of the way first: the cover is all wrong. A'ishah, the heroine of the piece, has red hair and green eyes, so I'm not sure who the cover is supposed to depict.

Overall, I thought Sherry Jones did a very respectful rendering of how she views the life of women in the early era of Islam. I think her narrative wasn't the smoothest (e.g. with A'isha's fight training) but I understand that she had a lot of material to cover and needed to pick and choose. I thought she made A'isha out to be a very human figure, which made her very easy to relate to, and I also think she did a pretty good job with the other figures of early Islam, making sure to depict them as other sources always have.

It was, of course, nice to see the egalitarian nature of the religion championed, even as Ms Jones shaded it to show how easily it could be taken away by the chauvinism of those surrounding the Prophet, and those who continue to do so to date. Definitely a worthwhile read, if not the most thought-provoking (at least, not for me, as I grew up with this interpretation of Islam that emphasizes social justice and personal responsibility.)

[Nojood Alsudairi]

Even historical fiction should have some credibility. It is obvious that the journalist-writer did not do her homework. She lived in Afghanistan for a year and could not get out of Afghanestan when she wrote this book. Burdah? Hatun? Do these words have any meaning for Arabs? Beduins? Maybe she meant A3rab? I could not read over the sixth chapter and had to skim through the rest. You know why this book is popular? Because it was written in the right time. It all goes back to politics. People, this is not our prophet, not our Aisha, and Ali, Oh Ali! What kind of books did the writer read about this great figure? I doubt she read about him either from the Sheits' or the Sunnis' point of view. This book has a history of its' own!
Time not well spent in reading this book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was really disappointing. To begin with, Allah has never been referred to as al-Lah, and after all the sources referred to in the writing of this book (at least the number that are listed in the bibliography)really surprising. I found that the characters were extremes rather than fully rounded believable characters. I understand that writing about religious figures is a tricky subject, but I found that the author was really trying to infer that that Muhammed (pbuh) was a weak, lustful man that twisted and manipulated his revaluations from God to suit his own needs. I found it a really interesting book, simply because should someone who had no knowledge of Islam read this, they would have a great misunderstanding of some basic facts. I wouldn't recommend it for any one looking to learn about Islam, and while it was an interesting read, and the scene was well set, I found the over all result a disappointing portrait. It almost felt at some points that it was written to be controversial. I wish the characters had been more rounded, a bit more description about the clothing, way of life and the surroundings. It was at least a bit interesting, on the fact of being purely fiction.

[Amy Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I was THERE, totally transported, inside very emotion. This is an important and controversial work to make the history books. Sherry is a brave and sensitive soul to have conceived of this story. If you've ever been curious about Islam and how it got started, the sister-wives practice and who Mohammed was and what he was like, The Jewel of Medina offers the most fun you'll ever have finding out.

[Natasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this novel extremely boring. While struggling to get through the colorless characters, aimless storyline and dull dialogue, I tried to figure out what the fuss is all about. 

[Robin Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherry Jones' novel The Jewel of Medina tells the story of the prophet Mohammad and his child bride A'isha. A'isha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, an early follower of the prophet. He offered the fifty-two year old widower Mohammad his six year old daughter to strengthen their bond of friendship and devotion. The wedding ceremony took place when A'isha was nine, but the marriage would not be consumated until after menarche.
Jones portrays A'isha as a high spirited and willful child who feels stifled by the restrictions that her community has placed on women. She longs for the priviledges of men. She longs to be free to go where she will and do what she likes. Mohammad encourages her to learn to wield a sword. A'isha would like nothing better than to wield it in battle against the enemies of Islam.
A'isha, although devoted to Mohammad and to Islam is insecure and jealous of the wives that, one by one come into the harem as Mohammad seeks to make alliances with various potential allies. Her plots and schemes create discord and havoc and, at times turn Mohammad against her. She also faces the wrath and determined opposition of Muhammad's military chief Umar, a tyrant when it comes to women, and of Mohammad's daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. It is on the advice of Umar that Mohammad decrees that women in his household be hidden behind a curtain and not allowed to be seen by men.
“You in the now, they cover with shrouds or with lies about being inferior. We, in the past, they erase from their stories of Mohammad, or alter with false tales that burn our ears and the backs of our eyes. Where you are, mothers chastise their daughters with a single name. 'you A'isha!' they cry and the girls turn away in shame. . . .The girls turn away because they don't know the truth: That Mohammad wanted to give us freedom, but that the other men took it away. That none of us is ever alive until we can shape our own destinies. Until we can choose.”
Jones' Mohammad is a sympathetic and very human character. He himself, does not pretend to be a divinity, but his devotion to Allah is total and all-consuming, and everything he says and does is with the intention of spreading the word of Allah.
In writing this book Jones hopes that her readers “will be entertained and uplifted,. . . .and empathetic to this other culture that we in the West know so little about, but that we tend to demonize because we are at war in the Middle East. Muslim, Christian, Jew, athiest, Buddhist-we are all human beings with needs, desire and fears, all 'created from the same soul.' The sooner we as a species can embrace the concept of unity the closer we will be to achieving paradise right here on Earth. Because Paradise means living continually in the presence of God, and as the Bible says, 'God is love.'”
These are noble sentiments, but it seems to me that our religions tend to divide us and stand in the way of this unity. There are no easy answers.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jewel of Medina
Sherry Jones

The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones is set in the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad’s harim and the plot consists of the battle to win his favor. The story is told entirely from the point of view of A’isha, Muhammad’s most beloved bride amongst a bevy of beautiful wives. Married at nine she is affectionately called “child bride”, and as such her position in the harim is constantly undermined. As she navigates the politics of Muhammad’s harim, she is embroiled in controversies, intrigues and betrayals. As she comes of age, A’isha tests the concepts of faith and love.

A book for Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, Jones’ subject matter is absorbing. A’isha is a strong central heroine who you can’t help but root for. For example, I’ve never rooted so hard for a pre-teen to consummate her marriage (as disturbing as that is). Jones’ admits some liberties, but also educates genuinely educates her reader about Muhammad’s times and the origins of Islam.

Though billed as historical fiction, the language leans a little flowery, and at times the story’s tension will remind you of a romance novel. And beware--some readers will find some of the subject matter offensive. But if you’re a fan of the “histomance” genre, this book is definitely recommended. But do be prepared for a cliff hanger ending, and the anticipation of Jones’ second book in the series.

[Saima · Rating 1 out of 5]

The authors lack of knowledge on the subject is obvious, plus she arrogantly writes in first person prose as if Ayesha is from 2012 generation...!!! It's inappropriate and I sure could not finish it.

[Sophia Hesari · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is getting too boring that I can't continue reading it anymore!
there's nothing special happening in the story, no character development, and not even a strong literature.
sadly, I'm not gonna waste more time on it! :/

[Mita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a Muslim, it's hard to not be overly critical when reviewing the book even when I try to keep an open mind. The premise is admittedly very promising, but the execution is mediocre at best, even poor at some places.

I would call this book a romance/historical novel than literature. It is easy to read and entertaining to an extent, but it lacks plot and direction, and is often too simplistic in its mini-plot resolutions.
The characters are predictable and one-dimensional; in her attempt to add substance to characters, she seemed to only manage to make everyone but Aisha looks flawed and unlikeable.

I can see how this book would offend some die hard Muslim fanatics, and for good reason too, but at the end of the day, it is fiction. Comparing it to a religious history where every aspect is hold sacred would of course turn this book into a sacrilege, and would result in nothing but offense. But I guess seasoned readers would know better than to fall into that trap...

Back to the book itself - two stars for a promising premise and enjoyable read, but it stays just on the two stars because had it been written by another writer, it probably would've been better than how it is now!

[Shomeret · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the course of reading this book, I felt that I could see similarities between Islam and Judaism in their origins as desert tribal religions. The roots of these traditions can still be seen in current practices.

Sherry Jones showed Aisha going through a process of growth. I admired the Mother of the Poor and the role she played in helping Aisha to mature. It is indeed a feminist book. This isn't only because of Aisha's independence and desire for equality, but because of the alliances between women that were established in this novel.

I can't say I liked this version of Mohammed. He may be very authentic, but it seemed to me that he was more of a ruler focused on political needs than a spiritual figure. The author implies that there was a time in his life when his emphasis was more spiritual, but that was not the Mohammed of this novel.

I would love to see a similar novel dealing with the period when he was married to Khadija, his first wife. She was evidently quite an extraordinary woman.

[Tamara Rebeka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my freaking Allah, this sucked.... So I got this for my Bday from a friend and he chose it because he was told it was a love story and because of all the controversy surrounding it so naturally I had to read it and I was so bored I had to read it in a couple of segments. First of I found nothing controversial in the book but I did find it unbelievable that Mohamed will marry a 9 year old girl and fall in love with her and take her opinions on everything... I'm not quite sure about the truthfulness of this story but I just plane and simple, didn't like it... couldn't find anything to attach myself to during reading it. And not to mention that I just can't get over a harem.... maybe someone likes it, and I am not here to judge, I am just stating that I don't like it.
So if someone wants to read about tortured souls and Muslim religion, this is the book for you...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the religion of Islam as told from the point of view of one of Mohammad's wives. Mohammad was quite a lady's man with many wives and at least two concubines. Sherry Jones gives the reader an inside look at Islam's Prophet through the eyes and thoughts of Mohammad's youngest bride, A'isha , who is promised to Mohammad at age 6 and marries him at age 12.Definitely worth reading in our modern world threatened by Islamic extremists and for anyone interested in one of the human stories behind one of the world's major religions.

[Chrissie]

I really should remove this book, but instead I have decided to put it on a shelf entitled - "do not read". Too bad, this sounded like a great idea for a book, but it seems to offer so little, no real substance, and only a superficial romance story. This shelf will help me keep track of books that I don't want to read, so that in the future I don't pick them up by mistake.

[Sybele · Rating 1 out of 5]

This theme, and historical background could give a masterpiece. Unfortunately it was chosen just to bring attention to the author, to prove me right her another book came up. I guess we will have to deal with many things of Medina till the author develops vocabulary and style and hopefully becomes less pretentious.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A'isha bint Abi Bakr has known the prophet Muhammad all her life; in fact, he was present at her birth. When her father, a close ally to Muhammad, decides to cement his loyalty and friendship to the prophet by betrothing A'isha to him when she is just 6 years old, her fate as his "child-bride" begins. Though A'isha will not be married to Muhammad for three years, her betrothal to the prophet brings many unusual changes into the life of the young girl. Beginning with an unusually early purdah (forced segregation from the opposite sex), A'isha discovers that life as Muhammad's favored wife will not be an easy task. Not only must she give up her freedom and taste for adventure, she must navigate a path to her husband's heart among a plethora of other women who also call Muhammad "husband," and forsake the man who is her true heart's desire. As A'isha grows from child to woman, the new religion of Islam, under Muhammad's care, grows with her. The Jewel of Medina is the little-known story of the woman behind Allah's chosen messenger; Here are A'isha bint Bakr's desires, disappointments and dreams for all to see, woven amongst the inception of one of the worlds most formidable and misunderstood religions.

After hearing all the hype surrounding this book, I was expecting a tome filled with controversy. I wasn't sure what it would deliver. Would it be a blasphemous portrayal of the foremost man of Islam? Would it be slanderous or rife with sexual impropriety? What could possibly be so contentious about this book? So, I read it, and what I found was a bit disappointing. The book, although interesting and timely, was a bit heavy-handed and trite. It seems that the elements that were most upsetting must have been Muhammad's taking so many wives. His appetite for women and marriage seemed at times almost comic and unbelievable. If a new woman was described in the narrative, chances are that in a few pages Muhammad would take her as a wife. This portrayal made Muhammad seem like an unscrupulous and lewd old man. I believe that was one of the reasons it was so hard for me to see this character as a great leader to many people. I just couldn't believe a man who had such tremendous sexual appetites was a holy and revered man. In a way, this depiction made Muhammad look manipulative and crafty. For example, when he heard the voice of God commanding him to take more wives, he claimed his need for more women only had to do with strategic alliances for Islam. But tied up in these protestations was the story of a lusty man amassing a harem of women. Which brings me to my next point: This unabashed parade of new wives seemed to be the center of the story.

Instead of character or story development, it seemed that the story was about many women fighting over one man. The story had no other underlying plot than the jealousies and competitions of A'isha and the rest of the women. Instead of relating the story of one woman's love and relationship with a charismatic leader, what I got instead was a novel full of infighting, insecurity and envy. When I realized that this book was not going to be the serious piece of semi-history that I had hoped for, I was able to take it for what it was and begin to enjoy the ride. As far as historical romance goes, this wasn't a bad book. The problem is that with all the attention surrounding this book, readers may be expecting a more factual or enlightening interpretation of Islam and it's first lady, when in fact this is more of a book filled with unrequited romantic intrigue.

I also felt that the book contained a weak interpretation of Muhammad. As a reader, I never saw him as a forceful personal leader. In fact, he seemed a bit wishy-washy and irresolute. Without belaboring the point, the fact was that he was so busy with all of his wives that he was never seen in any other capacity. Another thing that I noticed was that the book also had almost no atmospheric touches, so it seemed that there was a scarcity of historical or cultural flavor in the narrative. The effect of this void was that it made the story more bland and forgettable than other historical novels that I have read.

Although this review paints a somewhat bleak picture, The Jewel of Medina was not a terrible book. At times it was entertaining and exciting, if only to answer the questions of the romantic quandaries in the story. The book also had a nice flow, with little to no awkwardness in the elements of the storytelling. Though I felt that the story was a little common and corny, I also thought that it was executed fairly well. While I did end up somewhat enjoying it, that was only after a huge adjustment in my expectations. The main problem was that I just couldn't lose myself in the story because it seemed farcical and unimportant. I thought the book would be inspirational and moving, but in the end it wasn't. I think that is one of the problems with books that are just so hyped: there is bound to be disappointment unless the book is absolutely brilliant. After all this, I would still recommend this book to those who like historical romance and wouldn't mind taking a chance on a first time author.
Po

[Sherry]

This is the ebook version of this beloved international best-selling novel about the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam. Originally slated for publication by Random House/Ballantine Books, it lost that publisher due to fears that Muslim terrorists might attack the publishing company. Beaufort Books published it in Oct. 2008 without incident; however, my British publisher Gibson Square, was targeted, and three men arrested in connection with that attack.

The love story between A'isha and Muhammad went on to win the hearts of readers around the world. THE JEWEL OF MEDINA was the number-one best seller in Serbia; its sequel, THE SWORD OF MEDINA, debuted at number three. It was also a best-seller in Germany, Italy, Hungary, Albania, and Spain, and was published in 20 languages.

THE JEWEL OF MEDINA and THE SWORD OF MEDINA are now out of print, and I've self-published them on Amazon and Bookshop.org. But I've got lots of original hardcopies, and plan a giveaway of signed copies of both books to celebrate their coming out!

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh boy. Where to even begin. This novel was stunningly bad. Only my inability to stop reading a book once I start it caused me to finish it. I imagine most normal people don't finish this book. Everything was terrible - the plot, the character development, the dialog, the pacing - even the cover, as another reviewer pointed out, is wrong. The main character has red hair - something the author mentions dozens of times (her fiery red hair oooh la la).

I got this novel from the library hoping it would be similar to The Red Tent. Sadly, no. While I learned a lot about early Jewish culture and the history of the middle east from The Red Tent, I learned next to nothing about Islam. Seriously, five minutes of reading the Wikipedia entry on Muhammed taught me more than this whole stinking book did.

The dialog was breathtakingly hokey. It was like something out of a bad B movie. Or maybe a play that the characters in the movie Waiting For Guffman would put on. I actually imagined the dialog being spoken by a talentless actor in a regional theater production.

The cardboard characters! Aisha, the protagonist, was entirely without charm. And what a cliche of the tempestuous redhead. None of her motives were believable at all. AT ALL. As for Muhammed, I got no sense of why an entire religion would be founded upon his words and actions. He just seemed like a confused old man who liked having sex.

Run, run far away from this book. Unless you need an example for a writing class for what not to do in a book. Two thumbs down, waaaaaaay down.

[José Luís Fernandes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually I like books of historical fiction, but this isn't the case. It isn't because of the treatment given to Profet Muhammad (quite sensitive and shows a very humane side of that person), but instead because of the historical accuracy of the book, which is what I prefer in historical fiction. Many events are distorted and that has a huge impact ito the story. For instance, Aisha, who was born in 613 and is the protagonist of the story, lost her virginity to Muhammad when she was 9 or 10 years old (622-623), but Sherry Jones places it (perhaps to avoid modern shock) in 627 after the accusations of adultery against her and creates a whole story of fights for the dominance around the "hatun" position in the "harim" system, which existed only in Ottoman times. Now that I'm mentioning this, it really looks as if she's mixing the Arabia of the 7th century AD, the Ottoman Empire and modern Islamic societies in her depictions of the status of women in the times of Mahomet and that's revealed in her bibliography (many books are about modern Muslim women)

The literary quality is also relatively poor and the only redeeming features of this book are its treatment of Muhammad (although it always shocks some prudish people) and its bibliography.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmmm. Told from the point if view of a child bride to the prophet Muhammed. Yet again, first person POV ruins what might have been a very good story. The first and last seventy-five pages or so seem to hint at real depth in the characters, but everything in between is pretty flat. Muhammad comes off as lustful, power-hungry, and self-serving throughout most of the book, with no hint as to why anyone would even follow him, other than his growing military might. Was this simply because the author chose to write through the eyes of a young, impetuous, jealous girl? Or is that the author's take on Islam itself? In the interview at the end of the book, she talks about her "huge regard and respect for the Muslim faith", but it doesn't come through in the novel at all. I do understand that imagining things through the eyes of his youngest wife is an interesting exercise, but I think writing in the third person would have allowed her to craft a more nuanced story. As it is written, it reads more like a soap opera, when it could have been a compelling story set in an interesting time and place.

[amorporlalectura.2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

La joven Aisha es hija de un mercader de la Meca, lugar en el que vive durante los tiempos de la fundación del Islam, en el siglo VII. A la edad de nueve años es dada en matrimonio al Profeta, un honor mayor que el que la niña alcanza a comprender. La difícil adaptación a su nuevo hogar hace que Aisha se vea obligada a recurrir a toda su astucia y su valor para hacerse un lugar en el harén. Una novela que evoca la belleza y la difcultad de la vida en un tiempo de guerra, aprendizaje e iluminación, y que conjuga una historia de amor y una lección de historia. La publicación de esta novela histórica ha desatado una gran polémica en todo el mundo, sobre todo cuando su publicación en EE UU fue censurada por temor a las represalias de los grupos musulmanes radicales.

Un apasionante relato sobre un personaje mítico, que sin duda agradará a lectores de novela histórica en general, y a aquellos interesados en conocer más de cerca el mundo árabe y los orígenes del Islam. El mundo que se recrea en las páginas de La joya de Medina parece vivo y real. El lector es transportado en el tiempo y el espacio de manera efcaz y efectiva, y es testigo de una inigualable historia de amor.

[Paitsgreekgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I love historical fiction I thought this book would help me understand Islam and the Muslim faith. I had started reading it months ago and put it down because I was bored to tears but my obsessive compulsive behavior made me pick it back up and finish it. I'll admit it got better and I wanted to get to the ending but it didn't teach me much. The way the author portrayed Mohammed made me really wonder how this religion ever took off. He seemed to be a sex crazed maniac with many wives and concubines and many of his prophecies seem to have formed to indulge his personal needs. I'm sure that wasn't the case in reality, at least I hope not. Truly books like this will never help to bring more peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity but puts an even larger when between them.