Customer Reviews

The Islamist

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4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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This is truly a must read for every Westerner. The basic story is engaging enough--how a peaceful Muslim becomes a radical Islamist and then becomes disillusioned and returns to true Islam. But the real value in the book is the education you get about the origins of radical Islam, how it is spread and why it is dangerous. I learned more by reading this book than anything else I have ever heard or read. I don't know why it isn't published in the USA. It should be required reading for all.

This book clarified for me the difference between being a Muslim and being an Islamist and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of the difference. All too often, it's difficult to separate the actual religion from what this group of people who are called Islamists practice but I can now say that after reading this book I will never ever just lump the two together.

Read this book and you will be given a lesson on the origins of radical Islam and how it is spread. In contrast, you will also be given a glimpse into how Islam is practiced and learn that the religion has a number of teachings and beliefs which are both beautiful and peaceful.

Ed Husain is also a gifted writer. His words manage to convey enough details that allows me to almost visualize what he is expressing. Highly recommended.

Ed Husain was born into a traditional Muslim Pakistani family in England. He chronicles his transformation from a moderate sufi background into the world of radical islamism where he becomes an activist and a leader. In the end he returns to an anti-islamist stance of very religious but non-political sufiism. It is fascinating and instructive to observe how a boy who appreciated Britain and whose family opposed political islamism was radicalized as a young man. And it is highly informative of the islamist strategies, practices and goals. He specifically names people, organizations, and mosques, along with their activities, inner workings, and strategems. He reveals not only the islamist attitudes and attacks on British society, but also the conflicts among competing islamist groups and between the islamists and more traditional Muslims.
The account is straightforward, detailed, and journalistically accurate, with neither ranting nor whitewashing. It is a real inside look at the real world of Islam in its various manifestations, mainly in Britain but also in Syria and Saudi Arabia where he spent time after leaving the Islamist movements. In the end he personifies and promotes a traditional sufi type of Islam that is strictly religious but non-political, and laments that this "real" Islam is in the minority.
Mr. Husain fulfills well his objective to tell "the story of my journey from the inside,...inside today's Islam, inside Britains's Muslim communities, inside my own heart."

Ed Husain has written a highly informative, personal account of his experiences as a young man who became radical, and who then saw the real consequences of violent radicalism, and changed his mind. Mr. Husain is very honest and deserves a lot of credit for how well he tells his story. He clearly has thought and felt deeply about all these issues. He shares his personal journey and gives the reader a real glimpse into the process by which people are drawn to violent radical theories about how to change and improve society. He shares many insights: for example, the ways in which radical Islam copies the methods of other radical theories, such as socialism, communism and Marxism.

His description of his parents, and of his father's spiritual teacher, whom he calls "Grandfather," and other wonderful people of Islamic faith, such as his wife, Faye, and his Sufi teachers, made me love them and feel so grateful for the opportunity to learn about these highly spiritual, sincere, wise, devout people, practicing this beautiful faith. It was an opportunity to learn about what non-radical Islam is like. I am from a Christian background, and other than some reading I have done about the Sufis, for the first time (with all due respect for everyone's religion and no disrespect of any other religion), I could see why people would call Islam "the religion of peace." I felt that there is something sublime in the sincerity of their relationship with God. It seemed very beautiful. I felt it was a privilege to read about these things.

I also appreciated the descriptions of the devoted people in Syria, and the descriptions of Christians and Muslims getting along there, and his descriptions of Saudi Arabia, which dovetailed with other things I have read about Saudi Arabia. I was so interested to read about Mecca, and sorry to learn that the strict Wahhabi Muslims destroyed the birthplace of the Prophet and threaten other Muslims who may seem too devoted to the Prophet, or devoted in some "unacceptable" way.

I learned a lot from this book. I came away feeling hopeful. He says that the parents of the young radicals he knew did not support the radical violence the young people were proposing. He said many educated people who lived in Saudi Arabia responded to the extreme repression there by making arrangements to leave because they wanted their children to have a better life. He said he learned a lot about America from an actual American he met in an Arabic language class - Kelly, the first non-Muslim American he had ever known, who now is his friend.

Many people around the world have an angry feeling toward the United States. Some of that may be justified, because the United States is not perfect and does not always do the right thing. However, the United States is meant to stand for freedom, and in some ways, the United States does successfully stand for freedom. I think if more people could get to know each other as Kelly and Ed, did, our world would be a happier place, with less anger and violence. If we could get to know one another, maybe we could like and understand each other, and maybe forgive each other and find a way to live in peace.

The Dalai Lama has said that totalitarian governments cannot succeed, in the end, because they go against what all humans want: freedom to live in safety and peace, and freedom to express ourselves, and to offer something of value to others, and to prosper in our chosen activities. That is the pursuit of happiness. Life lived that way looks different for each of us, but the desire to seek fulfillment of our deepest wishes and highest goals is in each of us. Ed Husain's insightful and honest analysis of his journey shows that we all have that in common unless we are under the influence of an "ISM" of some kind. The dictatorships are pushing in the wrong direction, swimming against the current of the human spirit. Therefore, in the end, all these efforts to control, control, control will fail.

I have heard Deepak Chopra say that when something gives you a problem, it needs your blessing. I think we humans of the East and the West and the Middle East are giving each other problems. What we need from each other is our blessing. Ed Husain has shown me portraits of real people who understand this. The beautiful descriptions of his teachers, including the Sufis, is heartening, reassuring, admirable and utterly appealing. The sincerity and devotion of so many of the people he describes is touching. I loved them.

I want to thank Mr. Husain for his courage, integrity and honesty in writing this book. It is clear that even as a radical young man, he was trying to find a way to make the world better. After he saw the results of a violent path, he changed; and yet, he continued learning and studying, on his quest to make things better, to be someone who makes a difference, to offer something of value. In writing this book, he is continuing his quest. He is offering to us what he learned, reflected in what is best in his spirit, so that we can all understand each other better, and ultimately, have a better, more peaceful world. I would like to thank Ed Husain right now. Thank you!

This book would be an excellent choice for a discussion group, a book club, a high school class, a college class. Our political leaders, or anyone interested in politics, current events or international peace would benefit from reading this book. Really, anyone interested in making this a better world would benefit from reading this book. I highly, highly recommend this book.

I've read this book last year and I really liked it.
It is sort of protest against politic Islam, based on personal experience. This is for the first time that we have opportunity to read about Islamic fundamentalism and life within radical Islamic organizations from an ex-member.

Namely Mr. Husain, British Muslim has become Muslim fundamentalist in sixteen an then years after he saw how wrong is that path. What has awaken his criticism (and opened his eyes) was personal experience with devastating Islamic ideas planted in the minds of Muslim teenagers in Britain that encourage them to be confronted with others in the name of religion.

Time Mr. Husain has spent in Saudi Arabia firmed his beliefs that rigid, old form of Islam: wahhabism joined with political Islam: islamism is causing only suffering all around the globe: Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Madrid, London, New York, Istanbul, etc he realized how that ideology is filled with anger, ideology that he once belonged to is not only a threat to primeval Islam and Muslims but to entire civilized world.
After he finished this road Mr. Husain thought it is his humane duty to speak against something that is presented in Britain as a "true Islam", because the Koran orders to all Muslims to speak the truth, even if the truth is against them.

First part of the book is little slow I must admit and that maybe because I wasn't familiar with things related with British society. Everything was new for me but there are so many information that are more/less familiar to someone who lives in Britain I guess. However, for me it from time to time it was little hard to follow.

What surprised me the most was part about Saudi Arabia. Namely, I didn't have a clue that to love a Prophet is actually forbidden and is considered as idolatry. I was in shock what treatment believers are receiving on Prophet's grave.

Mr. Husain has done amazing job in introducing us to creation of Wahhabi stream in Islam and I didn't know that precisely Wahhabism is official form of Islam in Saudi Arabia! That was really surprising. Thinking about peninsula and how huge amounts of money are coming from there to help all Islamic actions all around the world (including erecting mosques in Bosnia but also financing war and sending mujahideen and Al Qaeda forces in the same Bosnia) I would never thought that Saudi Arabia is such a racist society towards Muslims (!). It's extremely segregated and indeed the title of the chapter about it "Saudi Arabia: Where is Islam?" is perfectly chosen.

I really enjoyed in this book (enjoyed in sense I've learned a lot) but the main readers would (and should) be (young) Muslims in the Western world. This book is showing how enormously wrong picture about "true Islam" and the life in the cradle of Islam they have. Almost everything is wrong and artificially created completely ignoring the Holly Book. But the worst thing is that young Muslims in the west are accepting this radicalism thinking it's how Prophet and the Koran is telling them they should believe, think and act.
And moreover Mr. Hosain has explained entire genesis of radicalism with the names that stands behind it and the books that can be purchased in regular bookshop in London. Now comes the old question (I wrote about this in my post about "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali) Why intolerance should be tolerated? In the name of religious freedom? That's a nonsense, very expensive one! Not only because of innocent victims of radicalism but also because it produces even bigger segregation between cultures, between religions and we are all victims, on both sides of the gorge while in reality we are in our own cultures and religion much more closer then we know.

I'll finish with two quotes which are unknown to, I'm sure many Muslims and non Muslims and that are reflects how same we are:

"Beware of extremism in religion, for it was extremism in religion that destroyed those who went before you" - The Prophet Mohammed (570-632)
"Whoever kills an innocent person, it is as though he has killed entire humanity" - The Koran

Husain is a Brit, born of naturalized Indian and Pakistani immigrants in London in 1975. His childhood was deeply influenced by pure forms of Muslim spirituality, but in high school and college he was swept up into Islamism, progressing to more and more radical organizations.

With his maturity, he came to see through the pretense and treachery of political Islamism, and left on his own. Later, thanks to the influence of Sufism, he regained his own Muslim religious and spiritual identity.

Then he married and lived abroad, first to Syria, where he was overwhelmed by the way Muslims accept both their own religion and the West; then to Saudi Arabia, where he was overwhelmed by the oppressiveness of the Wahhabis and how their extremism actually suppresses traditional Islamic values.

Not surprisingly, he concludes that with the West's petroleum-fueled support of Saudi Arabia, together with European countries' tolerance of radical Islamism in their midst, there is plenty of excitement ahead and not a whole lot of hope in the short term.

He also does a good, though not entirely persuasive, job of explaining why mainstream Muslims cannot stand up to the extremists without feeling like betrayers.

In the process of growing up, he became wise beyond his years and, incidentally, a much better Brit. He is now co-founder of a think tank devoted to understanding and defeating political Islamism.

There is a brief concluding chapter on what this all means in the US and Canada, but the perspective of the book is almost entirely British.

The book showed me much more vividly than I've seen before, the astonishing complexity of the Muslim "world" and the extent to which political Islamism threatens both world political stability and, ironically, the Islam religion itself.

Of course, any author has his own axe to grind, so one must read this with an open mind - but it's an unequalled opportunity to look inside radical Islamism and how it works.

Very highly recommended.

Mr. Husain, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, describes his life searching for "true" Islam. He describes, how he became a radical Islamist, and how reality (a killing in the name of Islam, and two years spent in Saudi Arabia)made him appreciate the "Western" values of tolerance, without loosing his Muslim faith.
The writes distingues clearly between (spiritual) Muslims and (radical( Islamists - better than anything I have read before.
The writing of the book is fine, but not exceptional in my opinion - which does not affect the high value of the content!

Many of the conclusions he draws (equality of sexes, tolerance of religions...), and which he had to fight hard to find, are nearly self evident for any non-religious liberal person.

At times, it was difficult for me to understand, how such an obviously highly intelligent person would have to struggle so hard to see the value and the morality of, say, equality of the sexes.

The book is further proof, how religion (indeed any ideology) may be abused. The book also clearly shows, that our "Western" values are not self - evident, not even to highly intelligent people growing up in Britain, BUT MUST BE DEFENDED EVERY DAY.

The book, certainly written by an insider, calls for exactly that: If we do not defend ourselves and our value system it will be taken away from us!
A must for anybody who wants that his / her children will also enjoy our "Western" form of Government and Society!

All Muslims should read this book. For Westerners it's interesting too, but not as crucial.

Islam is politics plain and simple - with a marginal link to religion - it shares so much with Nazism and fascism: hatred of other races and peoples, strict adherence to pointless rules, it's own jargon and political language, scapegoating, mean spirited and joyless living and above all else - Domination of others.

George Orwell and "1984" explores similar themes.

The author, after living the lie of extreme Islam, sees the light, finds God, and bravely renounces his past life embroiled in the zealous politics of hate.

In the West, I believe, we have nothing to fear from these foolish Islamists because they hate each other more than anything - and will tear one another apart as all fundamentalists ultimately do. History is littered with the exploits of such fools.

The book did at times provide too much detail on the day-to-day running of the various political movements and the petty rivalries. But it did increase in passion as it neared the end and provided deep insights into religion,spirituality and politics.

It is simply - a tremendous and insightful book, and should be handed out free in every Mosque.

May they all see the light and renounce their futile struggle.

I did not pick up this book expecting it to be so much of (as another reviewer put it) a daily accounting of the author's life. Given the subtitle of the book, I was expecting a recounting of how the author fell into the radical Islamic movement, became a jihadi and suicide bomber, came to a different understanding of his life, and extricated himself from that violent path. That would've made for an entertaining read.

Instead, this is just the story of a guy who was persuaded by increasingly radical ideologies, and then went back to more moderate and compassionate views; hardly what I would call a riveting read. And not only was the meat of the story not satisfying for me, I thought that his writing style was not engaging at all. Very simple paragraphs, sometimes interjected with thoughts, explaining definitions of things over and over...it just got too repetitive.

Although the book gave me a little bit of a better understanding of another culture, it wasn't enough, and quite frankly for something like Islam I'd rather read a textbook (or the Koran if I could) than a story from one viewpoint.

My final point about the book is this: holy cow is it depressing to have the fact hammered into the reader that there is a very, very, VERY large contingent of Muslims in the world who absolutely and unequivocally hate anyone and anything that is not Muslim, and would at the drop of a hat kill me over that hatred.

Don't buy this book expecting to learn anything about radical Islamic beliefs. All this book offers is a daily account of the tasks the author performed while a member of different radical movements (distributing fliers, holding meetings). I did not find any deeper meaning within the book. Yes, the author does state that he adapted more peaceful Islamic teachings, but once again not very much about those teachings is explained to us, besides an enormous list of names of scholars and educators the author has studied. I picked up this book hoping to learn about the mentality and teachings of radical Islam, but all I learned was how the author spent his youth organizing meetings and distributing fliers.