"Sardar unravels the meaning and significance of Mecca. Tracing its history from its origins as a barren valley in the desert to its evolution as a trading town and sudden emergence as the religious center of a world empire, Sardar examines the religious struggles and rebellions in Mecca that have significantly shaped Muslim culture ... [in a] blend of history, reportage, and memoir"--Amazon.com.

Follows six young Muslims as they travel to seven key Islamic landmarks: the Grand Mosque in Mecca; the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem; the Alhambra in Granada, Spain; the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey; the Great Mosque in Djenné in Mali; the Imam Mosque in Esfahan, Iran; and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. The practice and principles of Islam are discussed by experts and adherents.