The Jewel of Medina

Random House signed Sherry Jones to a two-book contract in 2007, offering her an advance of one hundred thousand dollars,{{cite news |first=Asra Q. |last=Nomani |author-link=Asra Nomani |title=You Still Can't Write About Mohammad |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121797979078815073 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2008-08-06 |access-date=2008-08-09}} with The Jewel of Medina scheduled to be released on August 12, 2008.{{cite news |first=Sherry |last=Jones |title=Censoring "The Jewel Of Medina" |url=http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/islamsadvance/2008/08/censoring_islam.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher="Islam's Advance: PostGlobal" blog |date=30 December 2009|access-date=2008-09-08 }} The novel was to be featured by the Book of the Month Club and the Quality Paperback Book Club.

File:Sherry Jones.JPG, Denmark, 15 March 2009]]

Prior to publication, the Random House publicity department solicited comment from Denise Spellberg, professor of history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas. She reportedly described the book as "incredibly offensive" and a "very ugly, stupid piece of work," suggesting that its "explosive" content could inspire violence among radical Islamic groups and thereby represent a threat to national security. Random House responded by canceling the publication run.{{cite news |title=Book on Prophet Muhammad's wife dropped |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080060474&ch=8/7/2008%2012:26:00%20PM |work=Press Trust of India |publisher=NDTV |date=7 August 2008|access-date=2008-08-09 }}

The Washington Post,[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082103104.html Random Error, Editorial, Washington Post, August 22, 2008] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08244/907791-44.stm Censorship never goes out of style] by Bob Hoover, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 31, 2008. and Las Vegas Review-Journal[http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/27343729.html Islamic intimidation trumps liberty again], Editorial, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 25, 2008. printed editorials critical of the cancellation. Irshad Manji wrote in The Globe and Mail that preemptive censorship was offensive to Muslims.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wcomanji23/BNStory/specialComment/home Pre-emptive Censorship is Offensive to Muslims] by Irshad Manji, The Globe and Mail, August 22, 2008. Adam Kirsch criticized Spellberg and Random House for depriving Muslims of the freedom to reimagine their religious tradition through the eyes of a novelist.[http://www.nysun.com/opinion/freedoms-gift-to-religion/84637/ Freedom's Gift to Religion] by Adam Kirsch, The New York Sun, August 26, 2008 Carlin Romano argued that Spellberg's "aggressive act" was tantamount to advocacy of censorship.[http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i04/04b00501.htm 'The Jewel of Medina': Anatomy of a Ruckus] by Carlin Romano, The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 19, 2008. Spellberg said that she did "not espouse censorship of any kind" and that she had "used [her] scholarly expertise to assess the novel...."{{cite news |first=Denise |last=Spellberg |title=I Didn't Kill 'The Jewel of Medina' |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121824366910026293 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |date=2008-08-09 |access-date=2019-09-14 }}

Salman Rushdie derided the decision as "censorship by fear."{{cite news |first=James |last=Bone |title=Salman Rushdie attacks 'censorship by fear' over The Jewel of Medina |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article4543243.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616123121/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article4543243.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |work=The Times |location=London |date=16 August 2008|access-date=2008-08-18 }} Andrew Franklin of Profile Books labeled it "absolutely shocking" and branded Random House editors as "cowards."{{cite news |first=Alison |last=Flood |title=Call for compensation after shelving of Islam novel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/aug/12/islam |work=The Guardian |date=12 August 2008|access-date=2008-08-18 | location=London}} Bill Poser decried what he perceived to be suppression of speech deemed potentially offensive "out of fear of violence by religious fanatics."{{cite web |url=http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=525 |title=Rushdie 1, Fish 0 |access-date=2008-08-27 |last=Poser |first=Bill |date=25 August 2008|publisher=Language Log}} Geoffrey Robertson argued that the publisher should pay Jones "substantial compensation" and recommended that the book be placed on a website "so everyone can read it."

Stanley Fish disagreed with the characterisation of censorship, arguing that as a nongovernmental entity, Random House had simply made "a minor business decision" and that no free-speech concerns were implicated.{{cite news |url=http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/crying-censorship/index.html |title=Crying Censorship |access-date=2008-08-27 |last=Fish |first=Stanley |author-link=Stanley Fish |date=24 August 2008 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826070319/http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/crying-censorship/index.html |archive-date=26 August 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} For her part, Jones insisted that she had approached her topic "respectfully," envisioning the novel as "a bridge builder."{{cite news |first=Edith |last=Honan |title=Random House pulls novel on Islam, fears violence |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0736008820080807 |work=Reuters |date=7 August 2008|access-date=2008-08-10 }}

File:The cover of Serbian release of "The Jewel of Medina".jpg

The Jewel of Medina was published in Serbia in August 2008.{{Cite web |title=Serbs Halt Sale of Controversial Novel on Islam |url=https://pluralism.org/news/serbs-halt-sale-controversial-novel-islam |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=pluralism.org |language=en}} After strong reactions from the Serbian Muslim community, Serbian publisher Beobook withdrew it from stores{{cite news|title=Book "offending Muslims" withdrawn|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=08&dd=17&nav_id=52760|publisher=B92|date=17 August 2008|access-date=2008-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917184235/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=08&dd=17&nav_id=52760|archive-date=2008-09-17|url-status=dead}} but returned it to shelves shortly thereafter to forestall widespread piracy.{{cite news|title="Islam offending" book back on shelves|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=15&nav_id=53485|publisher=B92|date=15 September 2008|access-date=2008-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607053729/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=15&nav_id=53485|archive-date=2011-06-07|url-status=dead}} It remained the number-one bestseller in that nation for at least two months.

On September 4, 2008, British publishing house Gibson Square announced that it would publish The Jewel of Medina in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, with founder Martin Rynja calling for "open access to literary works, regardless of fear."{{cite web |url=http://www.gibsonsquare.com/ |title=Once Feared Historical Novel Finds Home in Britain |access-date=2008-09-08 |publisher=Gibson House website |date=8 September 2008 }} Alvaro Vargas Llosa praised the firm's "willing[ness] to run the risk of not letting the threat of violence inhibit free expression."{{cite magazine|url=http://tnr.com/story_print.html?id=6c96c81a-63d0-4bcd-8d06-fcfb9b84fccd |title=The Freedom To Publish |access-date=2008-09-21 |author=Alvaro Vargas Llosa |author-link=Alvaro Vargas Llosa |date=10 September 2008 |magazine=The New Republic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006123034/http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=6c96c81a-63d0-4bcd-8d06-fcfb9b84fccd |archive-date=October 6, 2008 }}

The following day, Beaufort Books announced plans to publish the novel in America, signing Jones to a contract with a smaller advance but higher royalties.{{cite press release |title=Beaufort Books Secures Deal to Publish Once Feared Historical Novel The Jewel of Medina |publisher=Beaufort Books |date=8 September 2008 |url=http://www.jewelofmedinabook.com/Jewel%20release%20web%20version.htm |access-date=2008-09-08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081202000853/http://www.jewelofmedinabook.com/Jewel%20release%20web%20version.htm |archive-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=usurped }}

On September 27, 2008, Rynja's London home was firebombed.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/sep/28/muhammad.book.attack|title=Firebomb attack on book publisher|access-date=2008-09-28|author=Jamie Doward and Mark Townsend|date=28 September 2008|work=The Guardian | location=London}} Three men were arrested on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism and ultimately convicted of conspiracy to recklessly damage property and endanger life.Adam Fresco, "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6295795.ece Radical Muslims guilty of firebomb plot on publisher of Prophet Mohammed book]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}", The Times, 15 May 2009. Radical Islamic cleric Anjem Choudhary warned of further attacks.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3097350/Radical-Islamic-clerics-warn-of-further-attacks-after-publisher-is-firebombed.html|title=Radical Islamic clerics warn of further attacks after publisher is firebombed|access-date=2008-09-28|author=John Bingham|date=28 September 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}} Gibson Square postponed publication of the novel indefinitely.Sherry Jones, [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/12/will_2009_be_another_bad_year.html Real Clear Politics (31 December 2008)]

As of 2009, the book had been published in Germany, Denmark, Serbia, Italy, Spain, India,{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Controversial+book+on+child+bride+of+Prophet+released/1/17510.html|title = Controversial book on child bride of Prophet released| date=13 October 2008 }} Hungary, Brazil, Russia, North Macedonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.{{cite news|first=Edward |last=Nawotka |title=UT professor's complaints lead to cancellation of book about Muhammad's wife |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/13/0813spellberg.html |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=13 August 2008 |access-date=2008-08-18 |url-status=dead |id=http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/5495 alternate archive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080816043447/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/13/0813spellberg.html |archive-date=August 16, 2008 }}{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Lyall |author-link=Sarah Lyall |title=Attack May Be Tied to Book About Muhammad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/world/europe/29jewel.htm?_r=1&oref=slogin |work=The New York Times |date=2008-09-28 |access-date=2008-09-29 }} It has been translated into 20 languages.

Marwa Elnaggar criticized the book's portrayal of pre-Islamic Arabic culture, suggesting that Jones was influenced by "the idea of the exotic and mystical Orient."{{cite web |url=http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1218650312355&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |title=When Sherry Jones Writes About 'A'ishah |access-date=2008-08-18 |last=Elnaggar |first=Marwa |publisher=IslamOnline}}{{cite web|url=http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1220346186581&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |access-date=October 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010172044/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1220346186581&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |title=When Sherry Jones Speaks Out - IslamOnline.net - Art & Culture }}{{cite web|url=http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1221720687208&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |access-date=October 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218001145/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1221720687208&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |title=A Second Look at Jewel of Medina - IslamOnline.net - Art & Culture }} Ethar El-Katatney critiqued the book as "flawed."{{cite web|url=http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/10/07/the-flawed-jewel-of-medina/#comment-4066 |title=The "Flawed" Jewel of Medina |publisher=Muslimahmediawatch.org |date=2008-10-07 |access-date=2013-10-12}}{{cite web |url=http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8171 |title=Flawed Jewel |access-date=2008-10-07 |last=El-Katatney|first=Ethar|author-link=Ethar El-Katatney |date=October 2008 |work=Egypt Today |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009012723/https://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8171 |archivedate=2008-10-09 |url-status=dead}}{{cite interview |last=Jones |first=Sherry |subject-link=Sherry Jones |interviewer=Ethar El-Katatney |title=Sherry Jones (by Ethar El-Katatney) |type=Telephone interview |url=http://boomp3.com/listen/c1mtb74b8_g/sherry-jones-by-ethar-el-katatney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009024239/http://boomp3.com/listen/c1mtb74b8_g/sherry-jones-by-ethar-el-katatney |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2008 |format=MP3 |access-date=2008-10-07}}{{cite web |url=http://muslimahmediawatch.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/sherry-jones-transcript.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=muslimahmediawatch.files.wordpress.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521100841/http://muslimahmediawatch.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/sherry-jones-transcript.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}

Farzana Versey dismissed the writing as "chick lit . . . rather treacly."{{cite web |url=http://www.stateofnature.org/whoSaysYouCantWrite.html |title=Who Says You Can't Write about Muhammad? How Liberal Fiction Dictators Play with History |access-date=2008-09-09 |last=Versey |first=Farzana |author-link=Farzana Versey |date=Summer 2008 |work=State of Nature}} The New York Times Book Review scathingly described Jones as "an inexperienced, untalented author" of "lamentable" prose.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/books/review/Adams-t.html?_r=1 | work=The New York Times | first=Lorraine | last=Adams | title=Thinly Veiled | date=2008-12-14}}

Anjem Choudary and Omar Bakri Muhammad condemned the novel as "blasphemous" and Jones as "an enemy of Islam," denouncing the story as "yet another chapter in the continuing war against Islam and Muslims."{{cite web

|url = http://www.islam4uk.com/current-affairs/world-news/45-world/198-the-jewel-of-medina

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208084107/http://www.islam4uk.com/current-affairs/world-news/45-world/198-the-jewel-of-medina

|archive-date = 8 December 2008

|title = The Jewel of Medina

|access-date = 13 July 2019

|date = 2 October 2008

|publisher = Islam for the UK}} Jones retorted that she was offering "the hand of peace with a book that is respectful" and urged Muslims to read the book and judge it for themselves.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

A sequel entitled A'isha: The Legacy of the Prophet internationally and The Sword of Medina domestically was published in October 2009.{{cite book|title=The Sword of Medina: A Novel: Sherry Jones: 9780825305207: Amazon.com: Books |isbn = 978-0825305207|last1 = Jones|first1 = Sherry|year = 2009| publisher=Beaufort Books }}

{{portal|Novels}}

• Aisha
• Pre-Islamic Arabia, the historical context of the novel
• The Cartoons that Shook the World, a similar case of pre-publication censorship
• Religious censorship

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.beaufortbooks.com/jewel-of-medina/}}
• [https://www.foxnews.com/story/prologue-from-the-novel-the-jewel-of-medina Prologue From the Novel 'The Jewel of Medina'] at Fox News (August 19, 2008)
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425230313/http://ias.umn.edu/2013/09/26/biographical-novels/ |date=25 April 2016 |title=Discussion with Anita Diamant and Rebecca Kanner}}

{{Depictions of Muhammad|state=autocollapse}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jewel Of Medina, The}}

Category:2008 American novels

Category:American historical novels

Category:Books published after being cancelled

Category:Censored books

Category:Censorship in Islam

Category:Chick lit novels

Category:Cultural depictions of Muhammad

Category:Islam-related controversies

Category:Islam in the United Kingdom

Category:Islam in the United States

Category:Novels set in Saudi Arabia

Category:Obscenity controversies in literature

Category:Orientalism