Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women [Paperback]

Miriam Adeney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2002

Their clothing is often distinctive. Their values are strongly held. They love their families. They comprise nearly one-tenth of the world's population, and they live everywhere around the globe. These are women of Muslim background. Many still belong to Islam, but some now belong to Christ. In Daughters of Islam Miriam Adeney introduces you to women like Ladan, Khadija and Fatma. You'll learn about their lives, questions and hopes. You'll learn how they are both representative of and unique among their Arab, Iranian, Southeast Asian and African sisters. And you'll discover what has drawn them to Christ. Adeney explores the many interwoven threads that make up daily experience for Ladan, Khadija, Fatma and their sisters, including

• sexuality, singleness and marriage
• children and extended family
• finances
• religious tradition and practice
• teaching and learning styles

As you enter into the lives of Ladan, Khadija and Fatma, you'll gain insight into how to relate to other women of Muslim background--and how to introduce them to Christ.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083082345X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830823451
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful and Applicable Book, August 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women (Paperback)

I read this book as an assignment for a missions class in college. I was not expecting to actually enjoy reading the book, however, I was very surprised to find this book an easy read. This book is written in a very informational style and it tells many stories about various obstacles which Islamic women face. It also provides many ways in which Christian women can relate to Islamic women. I would recommend this book for any Christian missionaries who will be working in Islamic areas of the world. I would also recommend this for women who would like to know how to effectively witness to their Islamic neighbors.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fair, compassionate, and honest., April 26, 2006

By 

David Marshall (Seattle area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women (Paperback)

I am not sure what book the critics below have been reading, but it is hard to believe it was this one. The most recent reviewer has nothing at all to say about the book. Another complains that Adeney has "cherry-picked" problems in Islamic societies: "I can also list all the ills in the Western society and blame it on Christianity . . . " But Adeney specifically admits that "Muslims are appalled at Western family life," with good reason, and that "millions" of Muslim women enjoy loving families. So who is this critic arguing with? (As for the critic's claim that Christianity had nothing to do with the high status of women in "Christendom," see my Jesus and the Religions of Man for detailed evidence to the contrary.)

A third critic calls Daughters of Islam "misleading and offensive because it "generalizes" Muslim women by telling "a few sad stories and makes it seem that all Muslim women are oppressed, stupid, and in need of God." This is ridiculous. Miriam Adeney has got to be about the last person on earth
to portray Muslim women as "stupid." "Oppressed?" Again, she explicitly denies this is true of "all" Muslim women; but who can honestly deny that it is true of many? A 1988 UN survey of the status of women around the world that made no explicit reference to religion, yet the countries it found had the lowest status for women were mostly Muslim. It is one thing to decry over-generalizations; another to pretend that generalizations have no force at all.

Daughters of Islam is an honest book written by a kind and personable anthropologist. It's primary audience is Christians who want to "reach Muslim women for Christ," as they put it. The book is well-written and engaging, full of lively stories. The author does not begin with ideology, but from the grass-roots, with stories, with people whose lives she describes. Miriam Adeney is the last thing in the world from an ideologue, but she does think Muslim women can profit from meeting Jesus. If that offends you, it may take a special effort to be sure the book you read is actually the one she wrote.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare insight into Muslim Women Who Follow Jesus, January 19, 2010

By 

Kristopher Skye "Kris" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women (Paperback)

I was introduced to this book by a speaker at a Harvard University class. What struck me was the compassion that the author, who is an anthropologist, has for these women whose stories she tells. These are women who hail from a bevy of countries, continents, and cultures, a veritable feast for the spiritually and culturally interested.

If you're a Christian or Jew or agnostic or missionary or atheist or anthropologist (or whomever) who wants to learn more about women with Muslim backgrounds, or a Muslim who wants to understand more about Muslims in other countries who look for meaning to Jesus, this book is a treasure.