Sharma - A sinner in Mecca: a gay muslims hajj of defiance

Parvezs heroism is rare and his courage well documented. Putting his own life at risk, he takes us on a surprising and compelling journey through the frontlines of his much-contested faith. A brilliant follow-up to his films, A Jihad for Love and A Sinner in Mecca.

Reza Aslan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zealot and host of CNNs Believer

In our lives, we face a choice of whether to live with judgment or reach deep within ourselves to find an inner moral compass that leads us to a metaphorical Mecca of unconditional love. With his powerful, brave book, A Sinner in Mecca, Parvez Sharma takes us on his heros pilgrimage, teaching us of an ethereal truth: the Qibla, or direction of Mecca, resides within each one of our hearts.

Asra Q. Nomani, author of Standing Alone

Sharmas gripping journey unfolds with cinematic splendor, giving those of us who will never experience the Hajj firsthand the next best thing. This book examines modern Islams beauty and its ugliness with an unflinching gaze and a hopeful vision for its future.

Cole Stryker, author of Hacking the Future

Parvez Sharmas Hajj pilgrimage is not only a journey to Mecca but to his deepest self. Both a Muslim and an out gay man, Sharma writes bravely and brilliantly. His religion is ancient. His story is timeless.

Kevin Sessums, New York Times bestselling author of I Left It on the Mountain

As a gay man and a Muslim, Parvez Sharmas unique personal journey is reflected in this powerful examination of faith, sexuality, and gender. In a divided world, Sharma fearlessly crosses the boundaries and barriers that separate us from each other and finds common ground in the search for love and truth.

Cleve Jones, author of When We Rise

The New York Times Critics Pick:Mr. Sharma has created a swirling, fascinating travelogue and a stirring celebration of devotion... we emerge from his film more enlightened.

The Hollywood Reporter:Wrenching... gritty... surreal and transcendent; visceral and abstract... an undeniable act of courage and hope.

The Los Angeles Times:Challenging his own faith in the face of adversity.

The Washington Post:Complex... Revelatory...

The Village Voice:Next time you hear politicians or right-wing broadcasters asking why moderate Muslims dont denounce terrorism, show them this movie.

Thompson on Hollywood:Combines the political, personal and spiritual in a remarkable way.

The Guardian:With poetic simplicity... a delicately personal story and a call to action.

NBC News:The talk of the documentary circuit...

New York Daily News:Takes its audience where no movie has gone before.

The Daily Beast:Goes undercover... A rare look... Sure to be controversial.

Vice:Brilliant... Rare... Takes aim at Wahhabi Islam...

Slant Magazine:A work of vital political and social import.

Paper Magazine:Surreal... Bold... An incredibly rare insight...

Yahoo News:A rebuke of Saudi Arabia.

Indiewire:Powerful, illuminating... a remarkable examination of contemporary Islam.

BBC Persian:Shocking and courageous.

Screen International:Unprecedented... surreal.

Globe and Mail:A first-hand look at the Amazing Muslim Race...

The Toronto Star:A deeply personal film about faith and forgiveness.

DocGeeks:Moving... Brave... Visceral... Insightful...

Screen Daily:Meaningful... A testament to courage...

The Daily Mail:Powerful.

Jahan News (Iran Govt.):An attack on Islam.

* Also visit http://nyti.ms/1gRQPhl for a full-feature profile on the filmmaker in the New York Times.

All the events and people in this book are real and told accurately to the best of the authors memory and ability. Many names and identifying details have been changed for the individuals safety and mostly per their request.

Copyright 2017 by Parvez Sharma

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

BenBella Books, Inc.

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First E-Book Edition: August 2017

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Sharma, Parvez, author.

Title: A sinner in Mecca : a gay muslims hajj of defiance / Parvez Sharma.

Description: Dallas : BenBella Books, Inc. 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017008521 (print) | LCCN 2017021631 (ebook) | ISBN 9781944648404 (electronic) | ISBN 9781944648374 (trade paper : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Sharma, Parvez. | Muslim pilgrims and pilgrimages--Saudi Arabia--Mecca. | Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Islam. | Wahheabeiyah--Saudi Arabia.

Classification: LCC BP187.3 (ebook) | LCC BP187.3 .S5155 2017 (print) | DDC 297.092 [B] --dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017008521

Cover and insert photography Yousuf Zafar

Copyediting by Brian J. Buchanan

Proofreading by Kimberly Broderick, Amy Zarkos, and Rachel Phares

Text design and composition by Aaron Edmiston

Cover design by Sarah Avinger

Printed by Lake Book Manufacturing

Distributed by Perseus Distribution

www.perseusdistribution.com

To place orders through Perseus Distribution:

Tel: (800) 343-4499

Fax: (800) 351-5073

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For Dan, my very life, and for a magician called Andy Tobias.

Whoever performs Hajj and does not have sexual relations with his wife nor commits sin, nor disputes unjustly, then he returns from Hajj as pure and free from sins as on the day on which his mother gave birth to him.

A hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad and compiled in Sahih Bukhari, arguably the most influential book in the Sunni canon

Whats his name? I asked my more-awake husband on a Sunday morning as he told me about the carnage in Orlando, Florida. It was a little less than five months, almost to the day, before America would elect Donald J. Trump to the presidency of the United States.

Americas largest mass shootingand it was a deranged lone-ranger, again. The target? A gay nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando. Odds were it was yet another psychopathic white male with the typical easy access to guns Americans unfortunately enjoy. But my instincts were different this time.