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| What the Americans are reading |
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| amatullah |
| 02/15/03 at 18:25:19 |
ARTICLE: What the Americans are reading By Mumtazul Islam The terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the WTC on September 11, 2001 proved to be the proverbial coin with two sides. While the horror of the act which resulted in a colossal loss of life and property left America shaken to the core, it also revived the Americans' interest in religion. The whole nation turned to the Bible. As a consequence, the Bible was published in large numbers than ever before. Books on Christianity were also published. What was interesting though, was a general interest the people felt in learning about Islam and the Quran. People thronged bookstores and libraries. This led to the publication, in an incredible number, of the Quran and, also, books on Islam, the American Muslims, and Muslims around the globe. A random survey indicates that, during the calendar year 2002, over 400 titles were published in the US on Islam and its various aspects. Approximately 245 titles were published in the category of religion and spirituality. Presented below is a bibliography of thirty-five titles which, as of this writing, are the only top-selling books in America. Most of the authors are non-Muslims, Muslims-converted from Christianity; a couple of them are Christians-converted from Islam, and Muslims. These books would give the readers an idea of how the Americans look at Islam in the aftermath of 9/11. As the freedom of expression is the norm in book publishing in the US, people who write do not necessarily have the credentials. Every writer has his/her own views. A book with the title, President G.W. Bush is a moron: Islam is NOT peace, written by Solomon Tulbures, has recently been published here. It indicates that even a person who does not agree with what President Bush thinks of Islam has the freedom to articulate his views. The President, in one of his earlier speeches, announced that what America is doing is directed against terrorism and not against Islam. "Islam is not terrorism," he had said. Five special reports, produced by certain government/scholarly organizations, have also been listed at the end. They might be of interest to researchers and scholars. The age of sacred terror by Daniel Benjamin, Steven Simon. (Random House)[Two former directors of the White House's Counter Terrorism Programme offer material on radical Islam's war against America] The assassins: a radical sect in Islam by Bernard Lewis. (Basic Books) [On the Ismailis] The complete idiot's guide to understanding Islam by Yahiya Emerick. (Alpha) [A beginners' guide to the history and development of Islam and the Muslim faith] Demons in the smoke of the World Trade Center: the invasion of evil spirits and the blight of Islam by R. L. Jr., Hymens [et.al]. (Hearthstone Publications) [Emphasizes that the current battles are spiritual wars and not of ideologies and principles] The everlasting hatred: the roots of jihad by Hal Lindsey. (Oracle House Publishing) [On the origin of Islamic fundamentalism] Face to face with political Islam by Franois Burgat. (R.B. Tauris & Co) [On Islam, modernity, women and violence] The heart of Islam: enduring values for humanity by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. (HarperSanFrancisco) [Islamic history, essence, genius, nature, sufism] Inside Islam: the faith, the people, and the conflicts of the world's fastest-growing religion by John Miller and Aaron Kennedy, editors. (Marlowe) [A discussion of Islam in all its complexity, with reference to Middle Eastern authors and thinkers - essays] Is the father of Jesus the God of Muhammad; understanding the differences between Christianity and Islam by Timothy George. (Zondervan) [Comparative religion] Islam: a short history by Karen Armstrong. (Thorndike Press) [Traces development of Islam throughout the world, from the founding of the first mosques] Islam and terrorism: what the Quran really teaches about Christianity, violence, and the goals of the Islamic jihad by Mark A. Gabriel. (Charisma House) [The author who was formerly a Muslim and converted to Christianity, draws negative conclusions about Islam] Islam at the crossroads: understanding its beliefs, history, and conflicts by Paul Marshalls, Roberta Green, Lela Gilbert. (Baker Books House) [Explores differences between Muslim militant groups and the peaceful majority of Muslims] Islam explained by Tahar Ben Jalloun. (New Press) [Question/answer between a father and young daughter discussing the challenges that the Islamic world faces today and the failure of Muslim regimes to follow the teachings of Islam in the modern world] Islam unveiled: disturbing questions about the world's fastest-growing faith by Robert Spencer. (Encounter Books) [Comparative study of Islam and other religions - controversial literature] Jesus and Mohammad: the parallel sayings by Joyce Green, ed. (Ulysses Press) [Compares the parables of Jesus with the teachings of Mohammed to show that Christianity's values, love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and repentance mirror the main tenets of Islam] Muhammad (critical lives) by Yahiya J. Emerick. (Alpha Books) [Biography] Muslim child: understanding Islam through stories and poems by Rukhsana Khan. (Albert Whitman & Company) [Islamic religious education for children] New world war by John Clark Mead. (Xulon Press) [Discusses militant Muslims] 101 questions and answers on Islam by John Renard. (Gramercy) [An introduction to Islam] Passions for Islam: shaping the modern Middle East - the Egyptian experience by Caryle Murphy. (Scribner) [20th century Islam, religious awakening in Egypt] The place of tolerance in Islam by Khaled Abu El Fadl. (Beacon Press) [Discusses tolerance from the religious point of view] September 11: religious perspectives on the causes and consequences by Ian S. Markham. (Oneworld Publications) Sword of the prophet: history, theology, impact on the world by Serge Trifkovic. (BHB International) [Biography] Taking back Islam: American Muslims reclaim their faith by Michael Wolfe. (Rodale) [Religious awakening of American Muslims] Two faces of Islam: the house of Sa'ud from tradition to terror by Stephen Schwartz. (Doubleday) [Islamic history, 20th century Islam, Wahabism in Saudi Arabia] Understanding the Hadith: the sacred traditions of Islam by Ram Swarup. (Prometheus Books) [Criticism, interpretation - previously published as Understanding Islam through Hadis, (New Delhi, 1983)] Understanding Islam and the Muslims: expanded to include The Muslim family and Islam and world peace by T.J. Winter and John A. Williams. (FonsVitae) [20th century Islam, history] Understanding the Islamic experience by John Renard. (Paulist Press) [Biography of the prophet of Islam] Unholy war: terror in the name of Islam by John L. Esposito. (Oxford University Press) [On terrorism, Islam, and anti-Americanism] Unveiling Islam: an insider's look at Muslim life and beliefs by Ergun Mehmet Caner, Emir Fethi Caner. (Kregel Publications) [Islam vs. Christianity] What everyone needs to know about Islam by John L. Esposito. (Oxford University Press) [On Islam, its essence, genius, and nature] What the Koran really says: language, text, and commentary by Ibn Warraq, ed./tr. (Prometheus Books) [Criticism] The wisdom of Islam: an introduction to the living experience of Islamic belief and practices by Robert Frager. (Barron's) Women in Muslim family law: contemporary issues in the Middle East by John L. Esposito, Natana J. Delong-Bus. (Syracuse University Press) Women's rights, the Quran and Islam by Lisa Spray. (BSM) [The author, who converted to Islam in the 1970's, gives a piercing reading of the Quran on women's rights] Special reports: Islam and democracy by David R. Smock. (US Institute of Peace) [Special report, 93 - on the concept of democracy in Islam] Islamic extremists: how do they mobilize support by Judith Marie Barsalou. (US Institute of Peace) [Special report, 89 - on radical Islamists and their expertise] Islamic perspectives on peace and violence by David Smock. (US Institute of Peace) [Special report, 82 - challenges for the Muslims and the West] Lords of the silk route: violent non-state actors in Central Asia by Troy S. Thomas & Stephen D. Keiser. (USAF Institute for National Security Studies) [INSS Occasional paper, 43 - on Central Asian warlords and their influence in politics] Tangled web: international networking of the Islamist struggle by Reuven Paz. (Washington Institute for Near East Policy) [On the globalization of the Islamists struggle, history and activities of Islamic jihad groups of Arabia and the Middle East] |
| Re: What the Americans are reading |
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| se7en |
| 02/17/03 at 03:49:53 |
| as salaamu alaykum, oh man, I soo want to write a book that calmly and scholarly analyzes every false notion Ibn Warraq spurts forth. I'd call it "why I am not an idiot - reasons why I doubt Ibn Warraq's hate-filled rhetoric and spurious scholarship" a girl can dream can't she? *sigh* alhamdulillah, happy to see br. yahiya emerick's books on the list. wasalaamu alaykum |
| 02/17/03 at 04:00:27 |
| se7en |
| Re: What the Americans are reading |
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| Halima |
| 02/18/03 at 02:34:05 |
| I used to react so strongly to any criticism on Islam. But I have learned that criticism makes Islam grow stronger. And the worst critics become the strongest Mulsims. Not only in America, Europe, etc. but there are more converts to Islam now around the world. Hence, I say, ALHAMDU LILLAH RABIL ALLAAMIN. [slm] Halima |
| Re: What the Americans are reading |
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| jaihoon |
| 02/18/03 at 04:03:01 |
| [quote author=se7en link=board=kabob;num=1045488278;start=0#1 date=02/17/03 at 03:49:53]as salaamu alaykum, a girl can dream can't she? *sigh* [/quote] Become a speck of dust and destiny will hand over you to the winds Become a stone and destiny will strike you against the glasses - Allama Iqbal :) |
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