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Yours faithfully!

First-time author Razia Grover has just compiled a coffee-table pictorial essay on mosques across the world. She tells ZIYA US SALAM how it all came about

PRAYER A scene of Jama Masjid as depicted in Razia Grover's book, "Mosques", brought out as part of the Sacred Sites series by Roli Books

This is the season of Haj, the time when the faithful across the world head to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage they are required to perform at least once a lifetime, health and resources permitting. However, only a handful make it to the arduous journey, rest have to wait their turn. Offering them some consolation is Razia Grover, an unlikely author who has just finished her author-husband, Satish Grover's cherished project on mosques across the world. Haram Sharif, Kaaba, community feast... Roli Books' "Mosques" has them all in some splendid visuals, and a commentary that ranges from the simple to ignorant.

Says the first-time author, "It was very much difficult to put this book together in three months. It was plonked on to me in an emotional moment after I lost my husband. The project was started by my late husband, Satish. I always encouraged him to do this book. He wanted to do one on mosques in India. The publishers insisted that we do it about the mosques across the world. It was not intended to be a heavy academic exercise, just a coffee-table book with nice visuals and an essay to accompany. I had been into architecture in some way, so I had a smattering of the subject. I built from there."

Inaccuracies

Just open the book, and you get a beautiful insight into Makkah and Medina, the twin cities, central to the Haj pilgrimage. As indeed is the case with Arafat. There is a beautiful depiction of the cubic stone, the Kaaba, the sacred stone believed to have been laid by Prophet Abraham, rather outrageously called as the first prophet of Islam in the book.

Defends Razia, "I have written the entire thing. I have borrowed the Indian section from Satish's earlier work and added to it. I did research several books, and it was the conclusion I drew from my readings. I am not a historian. I don't know Arabic. I found differences in certain interpretations and I took what appealed to me."

However, there are glaring omissions and inaccuracies in terms of meaning of certain terms. Says Razia, "For something like Juma Masjid, I went with Friday mosque rather than Jama used for congregation." Incidentally, the book tells us, rather innocently, that Muslims come together to pray "only on Fridays"! And that "minbar" is used as a pulpit!

Indian touch

However, the book is not just about the Saudi mosques, important as they are in running any commentary on mosques across the world. Or even an interpretation of any technicality or historical detail. It has small notes and wonderful visual support on mosques across the world, including Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Syria, U.K., Indonesia, and of course the Indian subcontinent. Of course, there is space devoted to Quwwatul Islam Masjid, the first mosque the Sultanate dynasty gave to the country. There is, predictably, Shah Jahan's lofty Jama Masjid, said to be among the largest mosques in this part of the world. And sundry other mosques in Agra, Mandu, etc. Says Razia, "The book has some lovely pictures, but the publishers deserve credit for that. They chose the pictures. They may not always be consistent but they convey the message. The mosques relate the chronological story of their development in countries and kingdoms across the world."

How come the book was not released to coincide with the annual Haj pilgrimage that concluded this week? "That is because of international requirements. However, I do feel it could have struck a better chord had it been released alongside Haj."

So, how does the debutante feel about her work?

"The book just fell into my lap. I am scared of the response. I am nervous. There is not another book happening in the near future for sure."

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