In Alem’s world-view, one might expect to see objects morph into people, animals writhe in henna tattoos, and stones grant bearers restoration or doom. There are no rules of physics in this vision of Mecca and the city springs up like a character itself, imbued with its own sacred significance.
Saudi Arabia
My Thousand & One Nights by Raja Alem and Tom McDonough
by Elinor Teele
December 10th, 2007

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