Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An introduction to many Muslims' political views, September 29, 2004
The book is based on a series of essays that convey many of the discussions among intellectual Muslims in the USA after 9/11. These essays may enable the non-Muslims in the US to get a glimpse of some of the arguments, discussions and logic of many of the Muslims in America. This book provides the some of the Muslim's outlook on local and international issues. However, the text needed to be presented in a friendlier format and language to the native English-speaker. The author also presented may thoughts and ideas preceded by verses translated from the Quran. The depth of many of the essays did not reach the thought-provoking point, and in most parts was not supported by a comprehensive research, which may have been consistent with the nature of such collection of essays that are usually oriented to the newspaper reader. However, it was more expected from a philosopher in this book format to be able to provide more rigorous discussions and deeper attempt to connect the concepts to the quranic texts.
The author describes many aspects of American Muslim political thinking with a connection to the history, political science and geopolitics. However, his focus is on the first generation of immigrants. It is useful to perceive the depth of the impact of these factors on the daily life, the thought process and decision making of the first generation of the immigrant Muslims and to some extent the second generation. The American Muslims as a minority are much more influenced by their cultural and country of origin background. The focus on international issues like the status of Jerusalem, Hindus in India, Kashmir and Muslims in different countries around the world (e.g., Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia) may not necessarily impact the thoughts of any lay American, however, American Muslims, regardless of their background, are highly influenced by the World geopolitics.
Some of the described political issues are local, for instance the divide between the immigrant Muslims and the African American indigenous population, and the stand against the Bush's faith-based initiative. The author comes across as an honest scholar in his criticism of the Bush's Administration bigotry against American Muslims and present controversial figures in the eyes of the US administration (e.g., Hassan EL Banna and El Moudodi) as moderate mujadid (renovator) Muslim scholars. The author describes the political organizations for Muslims in the US and classifies those that are interested in studying Muslims. The author neither addressed the demographics of Muslims in the US (e.g., geographic distribution, age, occupations) nor the social problems, habits, economic or diverse cultural backgrounds.
Some of the bright spots in the book are the focus on the great stand of the US in support of the Muslims in Kosovo and the description of the Muslim model as an ethnic and population minority in Malaysia.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Courageous and Timely Book, September 21, 2002
A courageous book that points to political and social directions for the American Muslim community, arguing at the same time, for the compassionate interpretation of faith. Topics discussed include the following: achieving political unity among Muslims, bigotry against Islam, American foreign policy and American Muslims, shura and democracy, the September 11th attacks and much more. The book points out the needs of American Muslims that the majority population must address and finally conveys a message of interfaith tolerance and understanding for everyone to practice.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising and Refreshing, November 5, 2002
I approached the book with the fear that this was another apologetic attempt by a Muslim intellectual to ignore the realities of the Muslim World and focus only on the ideals of Islam. But I found Khan willing to discuss the underbelly of the Muslim World. In the last chapter of the book -- An American Muslim Perspective of the Muslim World -- he examines the authoritarian regimes of the Muslim World and the failure of Muslims to reform their societies from within. In the first chapter, American Muslims, Khan admonishes American Muslims for living in America yet remaining focussed on "home" which is no more their home. His ideas about how American Muslims should live and interact in America are revolutionary and liberating. I hope Muslims in Britian would also read Khan's book. I was also impressed with his willingness to challenge the current understanding of Islamic laws that undermine women's rights. His scathing commentary on America is a treat to read. Khan is a wonderful writer and writes with a puishing logic as well as biting sense of humor as well as irony. A treat and must read.
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