» posted on Thursday, February 8th, 2007 at 6:46 am by Andy D
Book Review : American Islam
American Islam by Paul M. Barrett is the story of Muslims in America before and after September 11, 2001. The book follows the lives of seven different individuals and how their lives are affected by Islam and the United States.
Mr. Barrett’s book is divided into eight chapters. Each of the individuals he follows gets their own chapter. They come from a diverse spectrum as one can tell from reading the Chapter Titles: The Publisher, The Scholar, The Iman, The Feminist, The Mystics, The Webmaster, and The Activist. His last chapter presents his conclusions from the book, and to some degree, outlines a way forward for Islam in America.
Each of the stories contained in American Islam are very well written. Some of the individuals I agreed with, some I didn’t. Regardless, I found myself caught up in the story of each of the Muslim’s in this book. The only exception is the chapter entitled The Webmaster. This chapter chronicles Sami Omar al-Hussayen who was tried under the Patriot Act. Mr. Barrett does a good job of presenting a balanced view of each of these people, again with the exception of al-Hussayen. This one chapter I found to be frustrating as it jumps around, and doesn’t seem to have any real flow to it. This doesn’t help the overall feel of the book because this is the longest chapter of the book and it is towards the end.
Of all the individuals, I found The Feminist the most interesting. This is the story of a Muslim woman in West Virginia who is fighting for equal rights for women within Islam. I was truly fascinated by her story and the trials she and her family have gone through in order to get where they are today. Ms. Asra Nomani has been able to make giant leaps at her local Mosque. It remains to be seen how the rest of the Muslim Society within America will respond to her desire for change.
I was very disappointed by the Conclusions section of Mr. Barrett’s book. According to Mr. Barrett, if Islam is to become more moderate in America, there are things that the American Government and Israel will need to do and sacrifice. Are there actions Muslims should take within Islam, like Ms Nomani? Are there organizations, actions, and sects that are trying to perverse and corrupt Islam that should be condemned? Are there Muslim groups within the US that should be condemned, and groups that should be protected? Mr. Barrett doesn’t talk about those issues.
In order for our Country to continue to survive, these questions need to be answered. Our government must protect all its citizens, regardless of faith. Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others are all the target of those who would kill in the name of Islam. Mr. Barrett’s book gave me a greater understanding of the diversity of Islam within our country. But there are tough questions that many Muslims must answer. After reading American Islam, I was left with the impression that many Muslims and Mr. Barrett aren’t ready to address those questions.
filed under Book Review · Islam | 2 comments
Gerrit said:
Dec 02, 11 at 3:31 pmIn Europe the same issues occur: public misunderstanding of Islam leading to a certain discrimination and fear against Islam, which some Muslims react wisely upon and some others react irritated and provocative. This is like a vicious circle: a once foreign culture tries to integrate and become a newly added part of European culture, which some people on both sides (Muslims and non-Muslims) find difficult to get used to while others welcome the integration.
The answer if, to avoid radical Islamic movements and encourage succesful integration of moderate Islam, the initiative should come from within Muslim society or from governments of western nations? I think a healthy mixture of both.
We already see that some Muslims set up initiatives promoting respect for the values of the western countries they moved to, integrating well through good education and good jobs, promoting a moderate Islam with respect for freedom and worshipping in one’s desired way, ….
We sadly enough also see some other more radical movements within Muslim circles in the western nations. These are condemned often enough by both western governments and moderate Muslims alike. I have seen many modern Muslims disassociating themselves from more radical branches.
I think initiative has to come from both sides to work towards a well functioning multicultural environment.
Whenever religious sects violate laws or cannot operate within society without hindering others, they should not be tolerated neither by the countries they operate in nor by citizens, including moderate Muslims.
Initiatives promoting respect for other religions and promoting Islam while integrated within western society, should be welcomed and applauded by non-Muslims, giving a clear sign that for Muslims willing to integrate and respect there is room in our society and that we will welcome them.
I think it is essential that moderate Muslims judge extremist fellow believers, and that non-Muslims openly welcome those Muslims who have well integrated.
If both Muslims and non-Muslims make efford to respect one another, we can all live side by side with mutual respect. That should be the common aim to strive for.
In the end there is no reason why churches, temples, synagogues and mosques cannot exist within the same city boundaries, and why people worshipping in different ways cannot do so in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In the city where I live, we have a large Islamic minority as well as a smaller Jewish minority and Hindu minority. The majority are (relatively secular) Christians while there is also a fair amount of atheists.
One of things I like most about my current home town, is how well they’re all integrated and the atmosphere of mutual respect. Religion-based violence in other parts of Europe often hits the news, but here I have yet to see any serious incidents. Most people live in harmony despite the different cultural and religious backgrounds. If it can work here, there’s no reason why other cities couldn’t make it work.
Gerrit said:
Dec 02, 11 at 3:40 pmPS: I have lived in a Muslim country, Turkey, and adored it. People saw clearly that I was not a Muslim, that I was foreign. One of the things I loved so much about the people was their solidarity, their tolerance and respect, even towards someone coming from a totally different background. They were very respectful, helpful and solidary. Something which I sometimes miss in some European countries.
One of the things I experienced there was that the things religions have in common outnumber the differences. Weither we talk about atheists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, … In the end most people strive for happiness, caring about their family, spending quality time with their friends, and live in harmony and peace. That is a very strong desire that unites people from different religions. The more time I spent in Turkey, the more things I saw that were not that different at all from what I saw in “Christian” Europe.
Mutual respect should be a common goal to aim for, for everybody regardless of faith. I’m sure we can learn from each others’ cultures, and that living side by side with mutual respect is really not that hard. Am I wrong in saying politicians often abuse religion to try to justify their agenda and create fractions and tribalism within society? Very often, I have the impression that respect between people of different religions, is far more common than one would think. Many problems are on political level. Israel may be a good example: within Israel there are several jewish-lead NGO’s aimed at supporting Palestine and helping to establish a proper infrastructure and economy in Palestine. Why do such initiatives never make the mainstream news and why do we only see those politicians trying to provocate? I don’t have the feeling these politicians represent the sentiments of society.