Customer Reviews

The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
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For those unfamiliar with Isalm, Abou El Fadl cracks open the tradition. You can see Islamic reasoning at work as he compares sources, uses the ancient writers and parses out conclusions. Read especially his deconstruction of alleged authorizations for violence against women in Islam and his defense of the tradition of women scholars. You can also feel his anguish at how much of Islam has turned its back on reason and the core belief that God commands the just and beautiful in favor of a narrow-minded fundamentalism. Christians struggling to defend against Christian fundamentalism will find an ally here.

Even a single chapter on a "fatwa on dogs" shows how real intellectual inquiry operates and how fundamentalists distort it.

And, if you love books, you will rejoice in his loving invocation of the conference of books, the collected wisdom of centuries, that swirl around him each night as he studies. It is a beautiful image, of books talking to each other over the years, and of each of us now joining that conversation as we read and think. My only complaint is that I would wish to have had more of this book: more Islamic analysis of issues.

Abou El Fadl has been accused of being a `sympathizer' of terrorists by Pipes; reading this book will show the total absurdity of that claim since his opposition of extremism is woven into his entire world view.

This is the most beautiful, moving and life-changing book. It will open your eyes to an Islam that you have not seen anywhere else. It defies the ugliness that people associate with Islam today and gives you the substance of what beauty is and is supposed to be in Islam--how to seek it, live it and aspire to it.

This is an exceptional collection of essays articulating a profound mixture of legal and spiritual inquiry. There are 2 ways to experience being human: male and female, and Khaled Abou el Fadl has a remarkable and attentive regard for the female experience. A main theme presented is the necessity for Muslims, especially now, to recollect and find ways to revive and express their legacy of beauty and refinement. This is a book that can be appreciated by thoughtful people of any faith perspective.

A great change from all the other religious books. Great for anyone who is searching for beauty anywhere, anyhow.

Rarely have I read a book written in modern times about Islam that is so beautiful and truly delves into the matter that this book talks about. You need not to believe in everything Abou El Fadl believes in nor to even be Muslim to truly grasp the beauty of this book. This book is not a book about the nuances of Sharia or the arguments for or against a certain opinion but rather the author's heartfelt emotions that guide him through his life. After reading this book I promptly bought one myself.

i have fallen in love with Dr. Khaled's words and thoughts. please, please, please read this man's book and support him with all your might. he is the bright shiny light at the end of the tunnel for all Muslims who thrive on intellectual theological discussions.

5 billion stars for Dr. Khaled!!!

One of the BEST books I have ever read. I normally enjoy fiction much more than functional non-fiction, but this flows in a way that is an engaging tutorial on the intricacies of Islamic jurisprudence and misconceptions. READ IT with an open heart :)

DON'T LET THE "PIRATES OF THE INTELLECT" WIN THE BATTLE!
Based on actual cases, these original essays present an honest and critical evaluation of the problems and challenges that confront Muslims in the contemporary world. Using the Muslim experience in the United States as a lens, the author examines what he identifies as a pervasive alienation suffered by Muslims over their place in history, source of identity, and moral foundations. The author imagines himself sitting in a conference of Islamic books-- the Conference convening to examine the contemporary Muslim condition. Various influential intellectual trends are represented in this Conference, and the author is an active participant who reacts with introspection and critical moral insight, positioning himself on a bridge between the intellectual heritage of Islam and the oppressive Muslim present, arguing that the salvation of one is intricately linked to the other, and attempting to reclaim a core moral value in Islam-- the value of beauty. From "The Pirates of the Intellect" to "On the Beating of Wives" to "Dial-a-Fatwa", these 62 highly readable essays are must reading for anyone with some knowledge of Islam and the present Muslim condition. Rescue this exciting work from obscurity and see why the "pirates of intellect" don't want you to read it!

Teachers/Librarians: 9th grade to adult - Pirates of the Intellect are everywhere. . . wield your power and order a copy now!