Customer Reviews

Even Angels Ask: A Journey to Islam in America

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Jeffrey Lang has presented the mercy and compassion of Allah, in particular, so persuasively that I, another former atheist, have followed him to Islam -- I was interested in learning about the religion but had not thought I would actually convert. For other potential converts it might be the way he describes the logic and intelligence of the Qur'an which would do it, or his obvious sincerity and honesty in telling why and how he converted, with many of the emotional components of his experience.

In my opinion this book is better than his other book, Struggling to Surrender, and I'm glad I read this one first. I wonder if those who have been Muslims all their lives have any idea how many converts this book is likely to produce. It is too bad it is not better known.

Dr. Lang bravely bares his soul for the benefit of American Muslims. His journey through various spiritual stages is inspiring - especially the difficulties he faced as a convert to Islam. He tackles many of the challenges/obstacles/controversies that face Islam in America: how to separate Islam from culture, tradition, and politics. He is not afraid to expose what he believes to be the shortcomings of the Muslim ummah. But he turns the same sharply critical eye on his past and admits to his own mistakes. His criticism though, is meant to show where American Muslims need to progress and grow. Though I do not agree entirely with Dr. Lang's practice of Islam (since he places a great deal of emphasis on the Quran but is less heedful of Hadith/Sunnah), he inarguably has some very important things to say. His book will appeal to young American Muslims because Dr. Lang explains the basis of his faith in a very logical, realistic, and *American* way. And certainly this book is a very important resource for new Muslims who may be feeling lost in a new world. Dr. Lang uses very clear, simple language to express himself so the book is very easy reading.

I am not sure this book would be comprehensible to a non-Muslim who is unfamiliar with the internal dynamics of Muslim communities (not knowing the differences between sects, nationalities, cultures, age groups, political inclinations, etc). If one has a new or casual interest in Islam, this book is too focused to be a good starting point. It might be interesting reading for someone with a core knowledge/understanding of Islam and the Muslim world.

Written by an ex-atheist who accepted Islam almost twenty years ago, the book is an account of Jeffrey Lang's struggle to find answers to the various issues he has faced since his conversion. This makes the book a post-conversion, not conversion story.

Lang recounts the two-fold difficulty of being a "Westerner" and a "Muslim". On the one hand he or she is a member of a faith that, in a Western context, is hardly considered a viable intellectual alternative. This prejudice, points out Lang, has deep historical roots: Islam was the only major force that seriously threatened Christian Europe. This led to the emergence of biases that continue to loom in the Western psyche's Subconscious. You can become Buddhist and your decision is respected - perhaps even admired - but becoming Muslim is almost like treason since it means joining the "other", the age old-enemy. Lang relates the story of his Catholic mother who was more at ease with his atheism than his Islam. Lang's other difficulty as a Western Muslim comes from the Muslim side. He finds that many Muslim immigrants to the West bring their "version" of Islam, failing to realise that their's is just one version among others. Often these various "Islams" have grown on very different social and cultural soils and are inseparable from the contexts from which they emerged. What Lang argues for is the need for a "Western Islam", one which caters to the particular psychology of modern Westerners. This, he feels, is the only way Islam can survive, and even flourish, in the West. To deny the West in toto while dogmatically holding on to everything from their own Eastern culture on the part of immigrant Muslims is dangerously counter-productive -- dangerously because the sour fruits of such an approach can be seen in the number of Western Muslims (born into Muslim homes or converts) who have apostazised or simply stopped practicing. The most distinctive feature of this Western Islam should be its ability to the meet the demands of the spirit of inquiry that dominates the contemporary Western mind. But this spirit of inquiry, argues Lang, doesn't go against Islam, since "even angels ask".

Although the book is written primarily for Muslims, anyone with some basic knowledge of Islam can benefit from it. The work is essentially a loose collection of almost random reflections, which is why Lang deals with such diverse subjects as the status of women, the practicality (or impracticality) of jihad, and interpreting the Koran. The second half of the book -- my favourite -- makes an excellent resource for those interested in a sociological analysis of Islam in the West. Here Lang relates some humorous (and not so humorous!) anecdotes, not all of which are positive. Some Muslims may take offence here since he airs a lot of dirty laundry. In short: if you want a book that goes ra! ra! for Muslims, this is not for you. But If you want a book that forces you to reflect over the paradoxical predicament of Muslims in the West, and the tremendous challenges they face -- culturally and intellectually -- you've come to the right place.

A wonderful Book! A must-read!.It put me to tears.I could not put this book down.I highly recommend it. Beautifully written. It is a wake up call for all of us immigrant muslims,who do much disservice in the spread of Islam in North America. For new converts,and non-muslims who are are interested in reverting to Islam, this book lays the ground to what you would expect in your journey.Stay steadfast and God will guide you.As a muslim immigrant, I was ashamed to see that a convert muslim was more jealous, and understood Islam better than myself, and others I know, who were born and raised as such. Dr Lang, may God bless you with his mercy.Not only will I recommend this book to my muslim friends, but God willing I will be more involved in my community mosque and Islamic Center.

Jeffrey Lang has ingeniously expressed the essence of the convert's experience. I wept tears of joy at having discovered that my feelings, difficulties, and apprehensions were not unique. I especially liked how Jeffrey Lang warns against some of the common pitfalls of converts. He is a remarkable author that is quite sensitive and candid.

Even Angels ask helped me tremendously in understanding Islam. Jeffrey Lang is clear and logical and has a Western way of understanding things, which I believe is the best when it comes to explaining Islam for Western people. Reading the book was a fabulous experience for me, it eased my mind and answered my questions.

This is one of the best books for an atheist to get introduced to islam, written by an ex-atheist and a mathematician. It is an exposition of the Quran that carefully and convincingly argues the many crucial questions of life that have defied so many Americans for centuries. The meaning and purpose of a man's life and the many other questions that follow are answered in such a compelling account that you would barely put the book down until you finish it.

This book is a living experience of an american who struggled to surrender. It's a must read to new converts, particularly to those who live in USA.

It is an excellent, most IMPRESSIVE book I have ever read. Dr lang have the most wonderful way of describing every aspect of islam with such perfect reason and logic that it touches the readers heart to its very core. He has such an interesting way of saying things that you dont want to stop reading the book until you finish. Its a must read to all, especially the young muslim americans. I would request Dr Lang to please write some more books like this one, you are helping tremendously not just the non-mulims or the converted muslims but muslims like me, because the way you explain everything is simply beautiful. This is a gift you have from Allah(SWT). May Allah bless you with all His favors.

This is one of the best books I've read on tough issues and questions that Americans have in regards to Islam. Dr. Lang does an excellent job of separating what is culture and what is religion. He is candid, forthright, critical, yet hopeful about the nascent Muslim community here. He outlines and exposes the issues that Muslim community will have to tackle in order to survive in America. Issues that most of us are unwilling to acknowledge.