Living Islam Out Loud: American Muslim Women Speak [Paperback]

Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: August 15, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0807083836 | ISBN-13: 978-0807083833

Living Islam Out Loud presents the first generation of American Muslim women who have always identified as both American and Muslim. These pioneers have forged new identities for themselves and for future generations, and they speak out about the hijab, relationships, sex and sexuality, activism, spirituality, and much more.

Contributors: Su'ad Abdul-Khabeer, Sham-e-Ali al-Jamil, Samina Ali, Sarah Eltantawi, Yousra Y. Fazili, Suheir Hammad, Mohja Kahf, Precious Rasheeda Muhammad, Asra Q. Nomani, Manal Omar, Khalida Saed, Asia Sharif-Clark, Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, Aroosha Zoq Rana, Inas Younis

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Muslim activist Abdul-Ghafur edits this book of essays and poems, all related to the experience of growing up Muslim and female in the United States. Two of the best and most absorbing essays come from African-American women: Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, who grew up in Harlem and became a successful corporate attorney and public servant, and Precious Rasheeda Muhammad, who describes her childhood in the Nation of Islam as a dynamic, educational experience. But the tone of some of the other contributors can be whiny. Many seem marked by tragedy, varying from things unrelated to Islam (having an autistic child) to tensions arising from ethnic cultures (marrying a non-Muslim, enduring abusive semiarranged marriages). Some of the authors engage in vague spiritual discussions about the omnipresence of God and compare Islam to a forest, with male chauvinism being the weeds in the forest, but their ideas are too abstract to enhance one's understanding of Islamic spirituality. As with many anthologies, there is some repetition of ideas, not only within the book itself but also echoing themes from the authors' previous writings. Although the contributions are uneven, this anthology opens the door for other writers to explore the important and understudied topic of Muslim American women. (Sept.)
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Review

made up of disparate essays dedicated to topics like love, faith, and religion, with contributions from Sarah El-Tantawi, who has appeared on Hardball and Asra Nomani, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Some essays are passionate, while others are more subdued, but all attempt to define female identity in the context of American and Muslim ties. As editor Abdul-Ghafur, a former chief executive of Azizah, a leading magazine for Muslim women, notes, this identity reflects the continuum of Muslim women in the West -evolving, spiritual, and unique. Moving essays and poems cover marriage, religious beliefs, homosexuality, abuse, American cultural expectations, and religious ecstasy in the idiom of Islamic belief. All entail some element of spiritual transformation and provide a wonderfully satisfying read. (Library Journal)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807083836
• ISBN-13: 978-0807083833
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Women in Islam

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New Voices in the Muslim World July 26, 2005

By Khabira Abdullah

Format:Paperback

Living Islam Out Loud is an extraordinary collection of coming of age stories of American Muslim Women. The stories are intense, inspiring and powerful. This book provides an intimate and honest look how out-dated cultural and religious values have an enormous impact on the self image and life choices of young women. The women in this book illustrate the courage it takes to stand out on their own and find a personal relationship with God outside of the limitations of oppression and sexism. This book is an ideal representation of many American born Muslim Women and the obstacles we must overcome to find our place in Islam. Living Islam Out Loud is a remarkable vehicle for individual and international change in the Islamic world.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars It depends on what you want from this book August 25, 2006

By lanoitan

Format:Paperback

I wanted to find out how Muslim women in the USA live their religion. For me, therefore, I didn't want to only hear from Muslim feminists rallying for their cause. I wanted to also hear from American Muslim women who were satisfied with the way they lived their religion here in the USA and what they liked about their religion and why Christianity didn't seem fitting for them. I didn't get that. And many of the chapters simply seemed like "rah, rah, let's change this and that!" It was like going to a political rally for one side. I didn't feel like I learned a heck of a lot.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - voices are long overdue to be heard July 31, 2005

By T. Sciacchetano

Format:Paperback

This is a groundbreaking compilation of stories by American women. These beautifully written essays break down stereotypes. I particularly enjoyed Y. Fazili's chapter about falling in love.