Customer Reviews

American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom

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The book is based on a series of essays that convey many of the discussions among intellectual Muslims in the USA after 9/11. These essays may enable the non-Muslims in the US to get a glimpse of some of the arguments, discussions and logic of many of the Muslims in America. This book provides the some of the Muslim's outlook on local and international issues. However, the text needed to be presented in a friendlier format and language to the native English-speaker. The author also presented may thoughts and ideas preceded by verses translated from the Quran. The depth of many of the essays did not reach the thought-provoking point, and in most parts was not supported by a comprehensive research, which may have been consistent with the nature of such collection of essays that are usually oriented to the newspaper reader. However, it was more expected from a philosopher in this book format to be able to provide more rigorous discussions and deeper attempt to connect the concepts to the quranic texts.

The author describes many aspects of American Muslim political thinking with a connection to the history, political science and geopolitics. However, his focus is on the first generation of immigrants. It is useful to perceive the depth of the impact of these factors on the daily life, the thought process and decision making of the first generation of the immigrant Muslims and to some extent the second generation. The American Muslims as a minority are much more influenced by their cultural and country of origin background. The focus on international issues like the status of Jerusalem, Hindus in India, Kashmir and Muslims in different countries around the world (e.g., Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia) may not necessarily impact the thoughts of any lay American, however, American Muslims, regardless of their background, are highly influenced by the World geopolitics.

Some of the described political issues are local, for instance the divide between the immigrant Muslims and the African American indigenous population, and the stand against the Bush's faith-based initiative. The author comes across as an honest scholar in his criticism of the Bush's Administration bigotry against American Muslims and present controversial figures in the eyes of the US administration (e.g., Hassan EL Banna and El Moudodi) as moderate mujadid (renovator) Muslim scholars. The author describes the political organizations for Muslims in the US and classifies those that are interested in studying Muslims. The author neither addressed the demographics of Muslims in the US (e.g., geographic distribution, age, occupations) nor the social problems, habits, economic or diverse cultural backgrounds.

Some of the bright spots in the book are the focus on the great stand of the US in support of the Muslims in Kosovo and the description of the Muslim model as an ethnic and population minority in Malaysia.

A courageous book that points to political and social directions for the American Muslim community, arguing at the same time, for the compassionate interpretation of faith. Topics discussed include the following: achieving political unity among Muslims, bigotry against Islam, American foreign policy and American Muslims, shura and democracy, the September 11th attacks and much more. The book points out the needs of American Muslims that the majority population must address and finally conveys a message of interfaith tolerance and understanding for everyone to practice.

I approached the book with the fear that this was another apologetic attempt by a Muslim intellectual to ignore the realities of the Muslim World and focus only on the ideals of Islam. But I found Khan willing to discuss the underbelly of the Muslim World. In the last chapter of the book -- An American Muslim Perspective of the Muslim World -- he examines the authoritarian regimes of the Muslim World and the failure of Muslims to reform their societies from within.

In the first chapter, American Muslims, Khan admonishes American Muslims for living in America yet remaining focussed on "home" which is no more their home. His ideas about how American Muslims should live and interact in America are revolutionary and liberating. I hope Muslims in Britian would also read Khan's book.

I was also impressed with his willingness to challenge the current understanding of Islamic laws that undermine women's rights. His scathing commentary on America is a treat to read. Khan is a wonderful writer and writes with a puishing logic as well as biting sense of humor as well as irony.

A treat and must read.

For a person like myself who was not familiar with the views and/or problems that the Muslim community faces everyday, this book was very enlightening. I believe a lot of Americans choose to simply ignore minority groups in hopes that in time they will go away. In reading American Muslims, I learned a lot about what challenges Muslims face in coming to America and fitting into a democracy. This book is a great read for anyone who wishes to take a real look at our society today.

This book is very well written. This complication of essaies brings together a well thought out solution to an ongoing problem. I enjoyed the overall nature of the book. Its purpose is well stated and given the fact that he man who wrote it is knowledgeable on these subjects. I take the things that he says in this book seriously. Any reader should also.

American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom advances a liberal vision of Islam, critiques Islamic Extremism and American Foreign Policy in the Muslim World. The author seeks to promote democracy, freedom of thought and human rights by showing how Islamic sources are not only compatible with these values but actually see them as desirable. It is also a facinating account of the struggle of American Muslims to accomodate the imperatives of faith and the challenges of a free society.

This book is a very important and timely contribution to Islamic thought. It not only advances a genuinely compassionate understanding of islam but also provides a scathing critique of the wide spread authortarianism and growing extremism in some small pockets of the Muslim world. The book is a combination of Islamic philosophy and political analysis. It seeks to reinterpret Islam based on a rational approach to the Quran while providing excellent analysis of the politics of Islamic activism in the West and the Muslim World.

Three chapters stand out and deserve special mention:

The chapter on Islam and Democracy is an outstanding discussion of the compatibility of Islam and Democracy and provides a constitutional theory of the Islamic state.

The chapter on American Muslims is a passionate attmept to guide the American Muslim community in amore liberal direction.

The seventh chapter deals with the agonizing experience of September 11th. This chapter provides an understanding as well as critique of the radical tendency among some Muslims. It contrasts this tendency with the compassionate and peaceful dimensions of Islam and then advances a framework for a dialogue of civilizations between Islam and the West.

As John Esposito, the famous scholar of Islam says, this is a must read for Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.

I pray the Muqtedar Khan is rewarded in this life and the next for his bold and reflective, compassionate and passionate work.

Afzalunnisa Begum
Duluth, MN.

I was lucky enough to take several courses taught by Dr. Khan while an undergrad. I am just now purchasing his book, and without having read it, I would like to recommend his work. Currently, I am completing a MA in Islamic Studies and I believe that my level of preparedness is do, in great part, to Dr. Khan. He has published numerous articles and on his syndicated website he has written on a variety of topics in internaitonal affairs and more specifically on issues in Islam. He is already gaining in International recognition as a top scholar in his field and I believe he will continue to garner glowing praise. Again, if you wish to gain a clear perspective on the issues, read Dr. Khan's work, I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

For a person like myself who was not familiar with the views and/or problems that the Muslim community faces everyday, this book was very enlightening. I believe a lot of Americans choose to simply ignore minority groups in hopes that in time they will go away. In reading American Muslims, I learned a lot about what challenges Muslims face in coming to America and fitting into a democracy. This book is a great read for anyone who wishes to take a real look at our society today.

You do yourself a disservice if you do not read Dr. Khan's brave exposition of a Muslim dilemma. He has put forth the facts so honestly that in a Mosque recently taken over by the subversive Wahhabi lobby, great effort was made to censor this work. Radicals are invariably threatened by truth.

To arise out of the mud they have heaped upon an noble religion, one must be willing to search for truth. This is an excellent place to start.