PRESS RELEASE:

A Meeting of Great Minds at theMakkah to Madinah: A Photographic Journey of the Hijrah Route Book Launch

Dr. Abdullah H. Alkadi travelled more than 80,000km in his 10-year quest to precisely map the Hijrah Route from Makkah to Madinah in Saudi Arabia. In London, on Friday evening, he shared the archaeological, historical, geographical and spiritual findings with more than 190 guests in just 20 minutes. Dr. Alkadi was joined at the celebratory event by luminary scholars including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, described by The Guardian as ‘the west's most influential Islamic scholar'.

On Friday 27^thMarch 2015, Dr. Alkadi, the Vice President of the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia was joined on the panel by internationally renowned photographer Peter Sanders and historian Bettany Hughes, at the Royal Geographical Society, London. For the very first time to a UK audience, Dr. Alkadi shared previously unseen photographs and personal stories of his intensive, often dangerous, and challenging research trips to map the exact Hijrah Route. He also revealed the creative research methods used to calculate this route, combining ancient maps and narrations with the very latest in GIS and GPS technologies.

Dr. Alkadi is confident that he has not only mapped the 400km route as precisely as humanly possible, but also uncovered myriad monumental landmarks along the way, some of which were revealed during his presentation on Friday evening. A selection of the vast amounts of research and discoveries were used to create the photographic book ‘Makkah to Madinah: A Photographic Journey of the Hijrah Route', as Dr. Alkadi recognises that many people do not have the time to read detailed documents.

Dr. Alkadi told the audience: "I had to provide enough evidence to prove that I have mapped the precise Hijrah Route, to the point of it taking me two years to locate and identify one particular place [al-Juhfah / The Caravan Stop]. I proved that the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) passed by there and this is the first time that has been done. On the way, I discovered 75 milestone markers: sculptures the size of people, buried in the sand and covered with ancient writing and drawings. Once mapped and photographed, we re-buried them in the sand to protect them".

Peter Sanders, who accompanied Dr. Alkadi at various times along the route, explained: "For much of the route, I had very basic tools to work with: rocks, mountains, desert and sky. At times, though, the beauty would take your breath away. I never imagined it would be so beautiful. The landscapes are like God's art galleries with incredible sculptures; all you have to do is use your own imagination".

The reception to this event by both Muslims and non-Muslims was incredible with almost 200 guests attending. The author also confirmed that another book would shortly be published, provisionally titled: The Route of the Prophets.

Bettany Hughes closed the event by saying: "By working on a project like this, you haven't just illuminated the past, you've shown us what is to come."

Biographies

Dr. Abdullah H. Alkadi

Dr. Abdullah H. Alkadi, Vice President at the University of Dammam (in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia) and a descendent of the noble Bani Hashim clan, is a highly respected scholar of religious and quantitative sciences.

Dr. Alkadi began his university career studying Architecture and Planning at King Faisal University at Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education in the United States, completing both his Master of Science Degree and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University in Oregon.

Dr. Alkadi is the Vice President for Studies, Development and Community Service, as well as being a Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Dammam.

He is the author of several books covering diverse topics such as the use of GIS applications on social development in urban areas, to analysis of the planning characteristics of urban mosques at the time of the Prophet in Madinah.

Currently, Dr. Alkadi continues to explore and expand his research not only on the Hijrah Route, but on other ancient pathways as well. A comprehensive CV can be accessed here:http://www.uod.edu.sa/sites/default/files/cv/al-kadi_cv.pdf

Peter Sanders

Peter began his career in the mid 1960s as one of London's key photographers of rock musicians. His pictures of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Who and many others performing are classics of the genre.

In 1970, he set off for India, cameras in hand. He travelled for seven months. This trip became a spiritual odyssey that led him onto Morocco and thereafter to the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, where he photographed the hajj, at a time when few professional photographers had access to Islam's holiest sanctuaries.

Continuing to travel far and wide, Peter Sanders has built up a photographic archive of well over a quarter of a million transparencies from forty countries around the world. His first book 'In The Shade of the Tree' (now in its second reprint) gives a wonderful insight into the diversity of the Muslim cultures around the world whilst his second book 'The Art of Integration, Islam in England's green and pleasant land', shows an alternative picture of Muslims integrated within British society. From Eton, Sandhurst, District Judges and the House of Lords, to supermarkets, transport workers, poets, artists and musicians.

Dr. Bettany Hughes

Bettany is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster, who has devoted the last 25 years to the vibrant communication of the past. Her speciality is ancient and mediaeval history and culture. A scholar at Oxford University, she has taught at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and lectured at Cornell, Bristol, UCL, Maastricht, Utrecht and Manchester. She is a Tutor for Cambridge University's Institute of Continuing Education and a Research Fellow of King's College London.

Media enquiries

Press images of the book, the author and a selection of images from Friday's event, plus press releases and other information can be accessed here:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/493110bjkymjkff/AADeYPgbSpd0ywhrw0nkMI3aa?dl=0

Synopsis - Makkah to Madinah: A Photographic Journey of the Hijrah Route

This eminent work is the culmination of an epic journey along the Hijrah Route by esteemed academic Dr. Abdullah H. Alkadi, Vice President, University of Dammam. Incredibly, even after 1400 years, the Hijrah Route has been traced accurately using sources as varied as Ottoman period maps, historic texts and oral accounts handed down through generations among locals, as well as state-of-the-art GPS technologies. Dr. Alkadi dedicated 10 years of his life to the creation of ‘Makkah to Madinah', which is eagerly anticipated by a UK audience following its initial release in Saudi Arabia.

Written in both Arabic and English, this recto-verso book illustrates the Prophet's (blessings and peace be upon him) Hijrah Route in exquisite detail, identifying landmarks and locations where verses of the Qur'an were first revealed. Using metallic inks and hand drawn maps, London-based agency Inspiral Design has created a premium aesthetic to complement the beautiful illustrations and photography within this must-have book.

Book details

Language: Arabic/English

UK release: March 2015

Price: £50.00

ISBN: 978-603-90160-3-8

Binding: Hardback

Format: Trade

Extent: 234 pp

Publisher: Orient East

Email: info@orient-east.com
 
We apologise if this email is not of interest to you - please let us know.