Red, White, and Muslim: My Story of Belief [Paperback]

Asma Gull Hasan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2009

An Inspiring Account of One Woman's Journey to Reclaim Her Spiritual and Cultural Identity

For Asma Hasan, being a Muslim is not merely a matter of birth, but a matter of choice and faith. Hasan's personal relationship with her religion was, and continues to be, a defining element of her life, and through her writing she inspires a new understanding and appreciation of a frequently misunderstood tradition. This is her American story.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Americans looking for a strong, moderate Muslim voice that publicly condemns terrorism and the second-class status of women should consider it done—not once and for all, but nonetheless consistently and fiercely. Hasan, an American Muslim woman whose efforts to inform others about the Islam that she practices and to correct narrow-minded extremists have earned her regular appearances on Fox News and MSNBC, has revised Why I Am a Muslim (2004), adding fresh material. Its arguments, based in Hasan's personal experience and religious knowledge, are as relevant now as they were five years ago. The book is directed primarily at non-Muslim Americans to show them Qur'anic texts and Islamic beliefs and practices that challenge unfavorable stereotypes. But Hasan also takes on her fellow Muslims, urging them to distinguish cultural mores from religious orthodoxy, especially concerning the treatment of women. That she continues to face such oppressive interpretations of Islam by other Muslims undermines her arguments that Islam is "not like that." But readers will wish that she and others continue with such courageous correctives. (Mar. 1)
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Review

“Asma passionately shares with us her personal story and through her compelling voice, the reader connects to a convincing universal Muslim story of belief.” (Ranya Idliby, coauthor of The Faith Club )

“Hasan’s version of Islam would have appealed to America’s founders with its advocacy of human equality, religious tolerance, property rights and self-improvement. It harmonizes just as well with 21st-century America’s spiritual inclinations...This is do-it-yourself American religion at its most appealing.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Americans looking for a strong, moderate Muslim voice that publicly condemns terrorism and the second-class status of women should consider it done...” (Publishers Weekly )

“With passion and humor and wisdom, Asma Hasan compellingly explains why the seeming contradictions of her life as a traditional Muslim and a modern American are no contradiction at all. Asma Hasan not only loves Islam; she embodies the Islam of love.” (Yossi Klein Halevi, author of At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew's Search for God with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land )

“...lively and authentic...At a dark hour, this book is a piece of bright and cheering news.” (Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography )

“The life and reflections of this bright, talented, dynamic young Muslim woman are an excellent example of the fact that for many Muslims today Islam is a source of meaning, guidance and joy in their lives.” (John L. Esposito, professor, Georgetown University and author of What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam )

“Hasan makes for a disarming spokeswoman.” (USA Today )

“In her last lively book, Asma Hasan called herself a ‘Muslim feminist cowgirl’ — referring to her years in Pueblo, Colorado. In this follow-up work that mixes autobiography with feisty insights into Islam and the many misconceptions people have about it, the author demonstrates the spiritual practice of enthusiasm...” (Spirituality & Health )

“Hasan’s writing is a useful beacon for American Muslims who may be struggling to articulate their identities as both Americans and Muslims.” (Religion News Service )

“Asma Hasan will rock your stereotypes about Islam in this refreshing book. Here is a young woman who embraces Islam, modernity, America, her family, and her friends -- all with enthusiasm and commitment. She sees no contradictions between them and, after you have read this book, neither will you.” (Fareed Zakaria, Editor, Newsweek International, and Author of The Future of Freedom )

“A warm, witty, wonderful story about what it means to be both Muslim and American in a post-9/11 world. This is a book that every American should read.” (Reza Aslan, author No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam and How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror )

“Hasan offers here another much-needed voice from Islam, one that is clear, rational and profoundly American.” (Kansas City Star )

“With insight, integrity, passion, and eloquence Hasan shares her personal journey as a proud American Muslim and in doing so breaks our stereotypes, melts our fears, nurtures our hopes, and enlightens our minds and hearts.” (Rabbi Irwin Kula. author of Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life )

“A refreshing book showing Islam through the eyes of a bright Muslim woman in America. Asma is sincere in expressing her own vision with eloquence, integrity, and passion for her beliefs.” (Dr. Maher Hathout, senior advisor to the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Interfaith Alliance Board of Directors member )

“Honest, disarmingly open, and sparkling with the author’s radiance and intelligence, Red, White, and Muslim opens a window to a world of faith, reason, and questioning that is distinctively American and Muslim at the same time.” (Noah Feldman, Bemis Professor of Law, Harvard Law School and author of Fall and Rise of the Islamic State )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; Reprint edition (February 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061673757
• ISBN-13: 978-0061673757
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm Sorry but I am not a Cheerleader, September 9, 2009

By 

K. Himed "Truth Seeker" (Oakland,Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red, White, and Muslim: My Story of Belief (Paperback)

I like Asma Hasan, not in a sexual way, but as a decent respectable Muslim. I think she is a smart lawyer who knows how to put words together and knows how to wear makeup too. I am not a relative or friend reviewing this book but I hope that my words can reach Asma as honest criticism.

I read some of the stories in the book and I nodded with approval such as when she talked about verses in the Quran being read out of context. She mentioned the verse that says Muslims should not take Jews and Christians as friends. Asma says the word "friends" should have been protectors but since the Pakistani Quranic translator Yusuf Ali was not an Arab, he did not consider the difference and made the verse appear as if Muslims could never be friends with Christians or Jews.

She also said a few things that made my right eyebrow go up as I frowned such as on page 125 when she said that abortion might be allowed in Islam within the first trimester and this is according to some Islamic scholars. She also says Islam is "totally against the murdering of a child after she has been born." Islam is totally against the killing of babies before they are born and the scholars Imam Al-Gazali and Ibn Jawziyyah are in agreement on that. The only exception is in the case of a mother's life being in danger if she gives birth or in cases of a woman being raped. I could not even find a verse in the Quran that says a soul is breathed into the womb after 90 days, but even if it existed, I still don't think that would give a woman the right to abort her baby because her career has not taken off yet.

The thing that I think Asma fails to do and the reason why many Muslims may have animosity towards her is her failure to criticize American foreign policy. As I type this, I see the American flag moving in the wind behind me. I can understand how an American can have a bias towards his country and not want to consider the fact that his or her country has made policies that has and continues to inflict harm on other people. I cannot understand how a Muslim can do the same thing. I tried searching for something critical of the U.S. in Red, White and Muslim, but I could not find anything.

When I saw the chapter titled We Are All Imperfect, I thought this has to be the chapter where she criticizes policies of the U.S. such as the uneven-handed relationship to Israel or the Invasion of Iraq or the support of dictators in the Middle East and then says we are all not perfect. I didn't find that but I did find something interesting. She talks in the chapter about Shah Jehan and how he built the Taj Mahal and purposely left a black mark on one of the walls to show that he is a "faithful Muslim" who does not compete with God. Yet I have also read that Mr. Jehan cut the hands of the people who built the Taj Mahal to ensure no other building could resemble the Taj Mahal. I am not sure if that is true, but Asma should have been mentioned it but she did not. I suspect that she did not want to consider the negative aspects of Jehan in the same way she does not want to consider that her country has caused the death and destruction of people's lives and homes in the Muslim world.

I also noticed that when she mentions the Prophet Muhammad, she never says "The prophet" but merely says his name. I hate to say it, but this gave me the impression that she was addressing or even pandering to a Western audience.

The U.S. is not just a piece of apple pie and we need to know all the ingredients of whatever it is. Go watch The Fog of War by former Secretary of Defense McNamara or read a book by Noam Chomsky if you want to taste the side of America that Asma does not show. Let's be more honest and upfront about issues including terrorism and the 9-11 attacks in our next book. Maybe then you will be more respected Asma.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 23, 2009

By 

John J. Curtin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red, White, and Muslim: My Story of Belief (Paperback)

This book will enlighten and help dismiss the stereotypical understanding most Americans have of Islam and its holy book, the Qur'an. It is well written and an engaging composition which draws upon the author's personal life and her committment to Islam and its teachings - a much more progressive and free-thinking religion than one might have expected.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Red White and Muslim a Great True Story., March 20, 2009

By 

Dude (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red, White, and Muslim: My Story of Belief (Paperback)

ACLU of Colorado presented Asma Hasan at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver.
Asma excited the audience with her stories and her views on Muslim Women.The story about her grandmother and how it related to her present day life was touching and inspiring.
The book has been reviewed by Fareed Zakaria,Reza Aslan,Jack Miles,Rabbi Kula,Noah Feldman and John Esposito.All have written thoughtful comments and have highly reccomended the book.
I think people will enjoy this powerfull yet simply stated book about moderate muslims and american muslims.