Minarets in the Mountains: A Journey Into Muslim Europe (Bradt Travel Guides (Travel Literature))

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Apart from his family, who travel with him, and a couple of Airbnb keyholders, he doesn’t talk to any women. It is accepted by you that Daunt Books has no control over additional charges in relation to customs clearance. He is the creator of Britain’s first Muslim heritage trails and has produced award-winning radio for the BBC on America’s earliest mosques and Muslim communities. The many mentions of Sinan the architectural genius of the 16th century Ottoman really made my read more enjoyable. If you’re planning to explore Muslim Balkans then this book is an essential and even if you’re not, this is a great introduction to Islamic history and how rich the history of Islam is and how far it reaches.

There are plenty of humorous cultural references as well: Pokemon Go, The Gilmore Girls, Game of Thrones … but my personal favourite was the hat tip to Castle Greyskull (really showing his age there). Although some of the heritage was damaged and demolished, it has been rebuilt by local communities and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), who are keen to preserve Turkish history. All too often we're led to believe that Europe has only Judeo-Christian heritage, maybe with a sprinkling of some paganism, and apparently Islam has had nothing to do with the evolution and development of Europe,” says Tharik.

Tharik Hussain travels through the forgotten cities/towns of the Balkans to explore the historical Islamic monuments, too often disregarded when thinking of Europe. Each of the countries is home to sizeable Muslim populations – communities that were first established centuries ago, during the reign of the Ottomans. Great subject - with 5 star expectations I ended 1 star review - I didn’t like Tharik’s political standing and his attitude. The final anecdote that stood out for me was the ‘accidental’ tour guide Haris, who more than compensated for the initial disappointment of his having been a last-minute replacement; proof that everyone has a story to tell, and there are always hidden depths to be discovered.

He visits the Mostar Bridge that was rebuilt after it was destroyed during the Croat–Bosniak War, prays in mosques that are older than the Sistine Chapel and talks to many different factions of Muslims from Sunni’s to dervishes. Tharik follows in his footsteps, often visiting the same sites as Çelebi, thereby providing the reader with a perspective from the past, when the Balkans were very much a part of the Ottoman empire. This is a wonderful and truly heartwarming travelogue by the creator of The Woking Trail and The Muslim Cemetery Walk, which is a Muslim herotage trail in the UK. While reflecting on the tragedy during his visit to the country, Tharik also highlights the cultural achievements and historic legacy that that survives today – something that often goes unnoticed in the long shadow cast by war. The Empire at its peak was powerful and wealthy with superior government, social and economic systems.Liam Neeson is Islamophobic for negative criminal portrayals of Albania in film, but ten pages later Hussain walks away from an Albanian Airbnb over a nebulous suspicious feeling about the hosts.

A deep dive into the historical roots of European Islamophobia, and the places where Muslim Europe still exists make this one of the most compelling books for readers who wish to see the world through a wider lens.Through travel’s most talented storytellers, you’ll face adversity along the Congo’s raging River Lulua, make new friends aboard Iraq’s night train, and embark on life-changing pilgrimages from India to Saudi Arabia. So much of history gets glossed over because it gives the viewpoint of the "losing side," or the non-wanted side. The first, the Arap Mosque was built in 1528, while the second, a 16th century building, was designed by Ottoman architect Muslihudin Abdulgani. There are Ottoman-built mosques and architecture, some attributed to the Chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who lived in the 16th century. With thoughts and advice on staying positive in Ramadan, this little book will be a source of strength, offering spiritual support and guidance as you venture on a journey of reflection and purification.

An interesting, little-written-about part of the world (Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro) where I’ve spent some time travelling myself in recent years. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There were a few good stories that were different and not focused on architecture as well as a few random acts of kindness. It reminded me of my first trip to Morocco, in which a kindly hotel owner took pity on my friends and me and allowed the three of us to stay in a twin room, which afterwards we realised was, more than likely, his way of granting hospitality to the musafir; and through Tharik’s book, I feel I have developed a greater understanding of this tradition. Relating his encounter with an indigenous Muslim of Romania in the minaret of a mosque in the coastal town of Constanta, Tharik's chapter reminds readers that Romania, like many parts of modern day Europe has a hidden and long Muslim heritage; one often lying in plain sight.We use Google Analytics to see what pages are most visited, and where in the world visitors are visiting from. His family accompany him on his journey, and this imbues the prose with a sense of warmth and humour. Tharik and his family learn lessons about themselves and their own identity as Britons, Europeans, and Muslims. He also meets Muslim communities living in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro, places you would not normally link with Muslims. He visits historic Muslim towns in the mountains, long forgotten or barely known by most Muslims today.