A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Taking Back Islam |
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| Halima |
| 10/24/02 at 02:25:10 |
| Topics include: "Is Islam Violent?" "Muhammad's Legacy for Women" "Halal, Haram and Sex in the City" "Jews Through a Muslim Lens" "American Muslims' Special Obligation" "How Muslims Can Combat Terror" "The Fight for the Soul of Islam in America" Dear Beliefnet Reader, President Bush has said that Islam is a great religion that has been "hijacked" by terrorists. As a Muslim, and as an American, I fear that he is right. As a result, it's become important for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to spend the time to understand this faith--not only what it has been but would it can and should be. I, and many other Muslims who believe in both Islam and democracy, are tired of seeing Islam defined by others. That's why I've worked with Beliefnet to create this book: Taking Back Islam. Between its covers, we gathered 35 leading American Muslims not only to explain their faith, but also to talk about its problems, and propose solutions. Publishers Weekly has called this book "the thinking person's guide to Islam in a post-9/11 America," and an "eye-opening survey of the minds and passions" of American Muslims who "grapple with the complexities and paradoxes of Islam." Taking Back Islam includes essays by Karen Armstrong, the best-selling author of History of God, Yusuf Islam, the musician formerly known as Cat Stevens, Khaled Abou el Fadl, one of America's leading Islamic thinkers, and Ingrid Mattson, for three years the highest-ranking female Muslim leader in America. Rather than listening to pundits, apologists or bigots, I urge you to listen to the honest and eye-opening voices of these American Muslims. Best Wishes, Michael Wolfe Editor of Taking Back Islam and author of One Thousand Roads to Mecca |
| Re: Taking Back Islam |
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| Kashif |
| 10/30/02 at 05:30:23 |
| assalaamu alaikum I read through the authors list and there are some who in previous writings have expressed some rather incorrect ideas. Unfortunately, i find that a feature of the group often termed as "leading American Muslims" often espouses an Islamic line that seems really subservient and almost apologetic for what Islam really is. Either they're like "we sooo love America and we sooo love democracy and isn't this all so great???" or its just plain ignorance masquerading as a "Muslim thinker." For instance, we have Asma Gull Hasan who says about Mut'a marriages "As for me, I look at it this way: Whether the use of muta is right or wrong, whether halal dating is indeed halal or not isn't the issue. In the end, we Muslims believe that God will decide, as He is the final judge of us all." ???? Kashif Wa Salaam |
| NS |
| Re: Taking Back Islam |
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| UmmZaid |
| 12/31/02 at 03:01:49 |
| [slm] I'm responding only b/c I am one of the "35 Leading Muslim American thinkers" included in this (or whatever they dubbed the contributors). (I for one, would never put myself in the lead of anything! I did not know the title of the book or anything like that when I signed the contract.) Speaking for myself, my initial reaction was similar to Kashif's. I was extremely dismayed to see Asma Gull Hasan included (but should have expected it, since B-net seems to love her)... and while Karen Armstrong may be a good cheerleader for us (sometimes), I can't understand why a self-proclaimed atheist is included three times in a book that is about American Muslims "taking back Islam." (Unless she's changed her mind...Allahu 'Alim) (BTW, what does that mean? If it means, as it seems to from what Wolfe wrote, that we are "taking back" defining Islam from the non Muslim media and political hacks who've been doing it for a year, ok. But the implication and the general impression I've gotten thus far (no I've not read the whole book) is that "we" are supposed to be "taking back Islam" from some others... I don't know, I just don't like that whole sub-title. People I've spoken with say that they get the impression that it is sort of a dividing oneself from the rest of the Ummah type of thing. Maybe that is a wrong impression though... but the inside sleeve says that we (Muslim Americans) are "reclaiming the core values of Islam." Well, who ever took them to begin with? No terrorist ever took from me what Islam is all about...) That said, while there are a chunk of essays that I really, really disagreed with, the book is valuable and some of the writers (I'm not including myself) present valuable insights. Halima Toure, Daniel Abd al Hayy Moore, Yusuf Islam, Kabir Helminski's essay on Ramadan, and the section on African American experiences are ones that I have enjoyed so far. Some of it though, is frivolous, or downright out there / offensive, and I'm not sure why it was included. I don't know why I was included, though I am grateful to God, to whom all praise is due, for allowing me this opportunity. But there are many coherent, eloquent Muslim American voices of leadership not included; then again, perhaps they turned Rodale / B-Net down. I also want to add that the ad letter says that we (the writers) present solutions, but that the editors (M. Wolfe, or perhaps someone at Rodale or B-Net) edited out all of the solutions I proposed in my original article. I was also upset that they omitted the Salawat on the Messenger that I originally wrote in full (and told them, if it's too much in the text, make it a footnote or something), but they did not do this to Br. Yusuf Islam. Nor did an introduction or text note in the beginning make mention of the fact that many Muslims do write or say this, but that it was ommitted for the sake of textual flow (as Jeffrey Lang says in his books). I wouldn't want anyone to think that I did not write these salawat and was being cheap with them! Audhu billah. In conclusion, buy the book, then write them and tell them you liked me the best. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haha. ;) :-) |
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