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How to Be a Muslim: An American Story Paperback – June 6, 2017

by Haroon Moghul (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 113 ratings
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A searing portrait of Muslim life in the West, this “profound and intimate” memoir captures one man’s struggle to forge an American Muslim identity (Washington Post)

Haroon Moghul was thrust into the spotlight after 9/11, becoming an undergraduate leader at New York University’s Islamic Center forced into appearances everywhere: on TV, before interfaith audiences, in print. Moghul was becoming a prominent voice for American Muslims even as he struggled with his relationship to Islam. In high school he was barely a believer and entirely convinced he was going to hell. He sometimes drank. He didn’t pray regularly. All he wanted was a girlfriend.

But as he discovered, it wasn’t so easy to leave religion behind. To be true to himself, he needed to forge a unique American Muslim identity that reflected his beliefs and personality. How to Be a Muslim reveals a young man coping with the crushing pressure of a world that fears Muslims, struggling with his faith and searching for intellectual forebears, and suffering the onset of bipolar disorder. This is the story of the second-generation immigrant, of what it’s like to lose yourself between cultures and how to pick up the pieces.
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Beacon Press
  4. Publication date
    June 6, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.59 x 8.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0807020745
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0807020746
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“In sometimes heartbreaking and staggering prose laced with subtle and sardonic humor, Moghul (The Order of Light) shares what it looks like to hammer out an American Muslim identity. As Moghul loses himself and seeks himself, readers will appreciate his story as a second-generation Muslim immigrant, but also as a representative of the modern man: searching, groping, discovering, losing, loving, hoping, dreaming, and suffering. Highly recommended for its candor and relatability, this book will invite readers to fathom what it means to grasp Islam—and religion and spirituality in general.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“This personal account will appeal to fans of memoirs as well as those interested in learning more about the historical, geopolitical, and cultural roots of Islam.”
—Library Journal

“It’s the fascinating tension between what others perceive Moghul to be and what Moghul feels that results in a work of biting self-awareness.”
—Foreword Reviews

“A searing, intimate portrait of a brilliant but troubled young man struggling with spiritual, psychological and physical challenges while trying to balance a commitment to his religion’s tenets and succeed in a secular society.”
—The Jewish Week

“Rarely does a book come along that captures the complicated nature of Muslim life in the West with such probing clarity and authenticity. Haroon Moghul’s How to Be a Muslim: An American Story is perfectly titled: part memoir, part history lesson, part philosophy. It is a profound and intimate book—the story of a single American Muslim that also illustrates the fears and strengths of a community.”
—Ausma Zehanat Khan, Washington Post

“The intended audience for Moghul’s account reaches well beyond the Muslim community.”
—Saeed Khan, The Muslim Observer

“Both authentically American and authentically Muslim, Moghul navigates the perilous fault lines of each dysfunctional identity while gracefully juggling the hot-potato topics of race, religion, nerd pop culture, and awkward first dates. Between Homer Simpson and Muhammad Iqbal, Rumi and Kobe Bryant, Haroon Moghul’s profound, honest, entertaining, and hilarious memoir emerges as an important voice for our times. The title, How to Be a Muslim, doesn’t do this revealing and impressive memoir justice. It should simply be called ‘How to Be a Human.’ By showing us his warts, pain, flaws, insecurities, demons, and hypocrisies, Moghul ultimately reveals the joy, wonder, and purpose of living and being in the messy, conflicted playground that is modern life.”
—Wajahat Ali, author of The Domestic Crusaders

“How to Be a Muslim is at once a poignant spiritual memoir, a gripping tale of love and survival, and a pop-culture-infused retelling of an ancient tradition. Packed with wit, wisdom, and wry intelligence, Haroon Moghul’s story should be read by anyone who wants to understand the complexity and reality of religion in America today.”
—Peter Manseau, author of One Nation, Under Gods

“How to Be a Muslim: An American Story details Haroon Moghul’s journey from nonbelief to faith. With capacious wit and impassioned logic, this timely memoir portrays the forging of a young man’s identity. An essayist, broadcaster, and commentator on Islamic affairs, Moghul takes a personal turn describing early rifts between his inward and outward life. He was born to Punjabi parents from Pakistan, and raised as a Muslim in New England despite his lack of connection to God. Thematic chapters detail his struggle to reconcile his family’s religion with his longing for a normal teenage life; attempts at relationships; his college years; excursions to Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Dubai; bipolar disorder; divorce; and other topics. No matter the event under discussion, it’s the fascinating tension between what others perceive Moghul to be and what Moghul feels that results in a work of biting self-awareness.”
—Karen Rigby, The Forward Reviews

About the Author

Haroon Moghul builds Muslim-Jewish engagement at the Shalom Hartman Institute. He’s written for the Washington Post, the Guardian, Time, Foreign Policy, Haaretz, and CNN. He and his wife want to move back to New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press (June 6, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807020745
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807020746
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.59 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 113 ratings

About the author

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Haroon Moghul

Haroon Moghul

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Haroon is an author, public speaker, and occasional Friday preacher, who is passionate about the role of faith in building a better human future. A one-time stand up comic in New York City (literally, just that one time) and award-winning journalist and opinion columnist, his essays have been featured by The New York Times, NPR’s Fresh Air, CNN, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, NBC, TIME, Newsweek, Haaretz, and The Guardian, among many others.

He's appeared on all major US news networks as an expert commentator on Islam and the West's relationship with Muslim communities and countries. He's also the author of several books, including How to be a Muslim: An American Story (2017) and his latest, Two Billion Caliphs: A Vision of a Muslim Future. Previously, Haroon was the Fellow in the National Security Studies Program at the New America Foundation, a Fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School.

He has dedicated years to building bridges between faith communities across America and the world. His latest project is a Substack, Sunday Schooled, which helps Muslim parents and other parents of faith raise kids who love and live their values.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
113 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great, interesting, and a restorative read. They describe the story as heartwarming, moving, and deeply personal. Readers praise the writing style as good and thought-provoking. They also find the content entertaining and honest.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityHeartwarming storyWriting styleEntertainment valueHonesty
9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great, interesting, and amazing. They say it's a page-turner and a restorative read.

"Amazing book. It's level of honesty is incredible. The MLI controversy and the Shalom institute got Haroon Mogul in a lot of trouble...." Read more

"...However, this memoir turned out to be more than tolerable and is an excellent read for any one interested in understanding the religious mind." Read more

"...American Muslim or not, this is such a great read of someone dealing with bipolar disorder and juggling multiple complex identities...." Read more

"This is a very good book to read by anyone of every religious faith out there. We all share the same struggles as the author...." Read more

8 customers mention "Heartwarming story"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the story moving, amazing, and heartbreaking. They say it simultaneously touches their emotions and challenges their intellect. Readers also say the book is inspiring, draws empathy from them, and is filled to the brim with vocabulary.

"...It is also filled to the brim with vocabulary that will demand your attention and nerdy pop culture references that are oddly comfortable flags in a..." Read more

"...Hilarious and heartbreaking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it." Read more

"...Moghul's honesty to a degree and I thought that this was a good premise for a book. But it needed better composition and editing." Read more

"...He draws empathy from the reader. Highly recommended and look forward to his next masterpiece." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style good, funny, and thought-provoking.

"...it to the introduction, read chapter 1 and was like wow, this writing is so good...." Read more

"...Moghul's writing style is informal, but not in a way that works for a book of over 200 pages. Moghul seems to constantly use sentence fragments...." Read more

"I read the book in a single sitting. Such brave writing!..." Read more

"Cried amazing book. Couldn't recommend it enough. Incredible writer and incredible story. May God bless him. This is a story that needed to be told" Read more

4 customers mention "Entertainment value"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, funny, and thought-provoking.

"...and a matter of factness that the voyearetsic endeavor instead becomes entertaining, reassuring, and above all inspiring. We are messy underneath...." Read more

"...Hilarious and heartbreaking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it." Read more

"...It's funny, reads easily, and is thought provoking." Read more

"Powerful, entertaining and honest..." Read more

4 customers mention "Honesty"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book honest, amazing, and thought-provoking. They also say it's a wonderful perspective about growing up Muslim.

"Amazing book. It's level of honesty is incredible. The MLI controversy and the Shalom institute got Haroon Mogul in a lot of trouble...." Read more

"Amazing and honest reflection by Haroon on life's struggles most people would identify with...." Read more

"I absolutely appreciated the author’s honest insight into his life and struggles...." Read more

"This is a great story and a wonderful perspective about growing up Muslim in America. It's funny, reads easily, and is thought provoking." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Amin1992
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, entertaining and honest
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
Amazing book. It's level of honesty is incredible. The MLI controversy and the Shalom institute got Haroon Mogul in a lot of trouble. But this book might be his one way ticket out. I had to read him because he's been on the media frontlines defending peaceful Muslims in America for over a decade since 9/11. So I bought the book and opened it to the introduction, read chapter 1 and was like wow, this writing is so good.

Ofc I have my ideological differences, but most immigrant second generation Muslims will find truth and power in this memoir. They will find a renewed sense of inspiration for our unique and challenging circumstances. I don't want to read another book about Haroon. This book laid the foundations for a whole new type of conversation. One in which Muslims speak boldly and with the conviction that they are just as imperfect as other humans, but that what sets them apart, sometimes is that they hope and wish for a better world. That hope is the Muslim.
4 people found this helpful
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Scotty954
5.0 out of 5 stars The titel does not do this read justice...
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2017
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This read offers so much more then the title speaks to - more of a finding oneself story - I was attracted to this as I am an American (not really religious - but working to understand further Islam, Christianity and Judaism) living in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi for 2 years - Saudi Arabia for 5 months). During my time here - what has become evident is why secular societies have so much internal tension. While the intention of the United States is to have a true separation of church and state - we struggle with really following through on this - and the why has only recently made sense to me. People of faith believe the laws and rules around their given religion are God given - essentially coming from a higher power then our general ability to decide on laws here on earth - this leads religious groups (in USA - primarily Christian groups) - from doing what they can to build laws into our government based on their given doctrine. In non-secular countries - there is a bit less tension around this issue as laws simply follow religious doctrine. Let's face it - we all struggle growing up - we are all uncomfortable about where we fit into the world / our place. Also - when we are young - we really just want to fit in. Being part of any minority - religious or otherwise (purely based on in comparison to those around you) - adds to this struggle. I can imagine trying to follow guidelines that at times are contrary to what you see your friends doing make this even more difficult - and that is the struggle with not just "How to Be a Muslim" in America - but simply "How to be anything but mainstream" when growing up. Happy endings in fiction writing are overly bright - but happy endings - such as that in this book give me (us - the world) - hope. The happy ending here is not that life will be full of a bed of roses - it is the author reaching the understanding that life is full of highs and lows, wins and failures, ups and downs - but that is life. Take the good with the bad - don't sit on the sidelines - and make the best go of it that you can. To Mr. Haroon - I need to be reminded of that at times - and thank you for reminding me of just that. As a closing note - as different as we all may be - it is strange the things we may have in common - Mr. Haroon - here is to Friendly's Ice Cream, growing up in New England, striving for Ivy League but going to NYU - using meal points at Ultraviolet Café, crazy parking structure at Marina Mall, doing homework to Nirvana in high school, knowing the location of all traffic cameras in UAE, and Tim Hortons on Sheikh Zayed Road. Arriving at JFK and feeling lost - arriving at JFK and feeling at home. Here is to whomever we are, and whatever we believe - our ability to find peace and happiness in life.
4 people found this helpful
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Daniel Casey
4.0 out of 5 stars this memoir turned out to be more than tolerable and is an excellent read for any one interested in understanding the religious ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
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I heard the author interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air and really found him to be irritating. However, this memoir turned out to be more than tolerable and is an excellent read for any one interested in understanding the religious mind.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars A story of a more American and less Muslim
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
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I did not find anything which informed me :"How to be a Muslim" but a lot of things about the life of an American son of a Pakistani immigrant Muslim couple. (Not all turn out to be like the author). Of course, the author has done a good job using his education and travel experiences to capture the attention of the popular media. You will find him in Hoppost, CNN, etc . You can read the book as a contemporary novel, dwelling on a mix of issues- love., travel, history of religions , politics, campus culture, etc. At times it appeared to me that he has attempted to demolish the traditional values of Islam, e.g., we say 'peace be on him' after we mention the name of Prophet Mohammad ( Peace be on him). Or when the author mentioned God ( Allah), he arrogantly used the word 'He'. The book in its contents lacks to show 'adab' (humility), the sustaining value of a Muslim. If you want to teach your children Islam, my opinion is that this is not the book you will start with.
2 people found this helpful
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MA7000
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite a moving memoir
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018
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It's a poignant story. I could see echoes of myself, my frustrations, & my hesitations throughout his life. It is also filled to the brim with vocabulary that will demand your attention and nerdy pop culture references that are oddly comfortable flags in a meoir that is deeply personal and heart breaking. To see behind the curtain of one of your idols can be a jarring experience - but Moghul writes with such aplomb and a matter of factness that the voyearetsic endeavor instead becomes entertaining, reassuring, and above all inspiring. We are messy underneath. And that is ok.
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Ash
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and honest
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2017
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Amazing and honest reflection by Haroon on life's struggles most people would identify with. American Muslim or not, this is such a great read of someone dealing with bipolar disorder and juggling multiple complex identities. Hilarious and heartbreaking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.
4 people found this helpful
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Jaekeon Kim
1.0 out of 5 stars Yo this books is soooo dumb man.
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2017
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Yo this books is soooo dumb man...
There are "facts" are totally wrong about Christianity and Jesus.
He immediately transitions from his personal story (which was alright) to history book about Islam...
I would rather read Quran if they are just going to do a recap of the life of Muhammad.
Even my professor at UT said this book was boring.
If I could I would rate this book 1/10.
2 people found this helpful
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Bushra_B
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, insightful read
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2017
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I absolutely appreciated the author’s honest insight into his life and struggles. To be clear, this book isn’t just for Muslims, but for anyone - whether you are still going down that path of trying to find yourself or even if you have already conquered that aspect of your life and want to read about someone else’s (well written) journey. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

ethar suliman
5.0 out of 5 stars It’s a great book.
Reviewed in Germany on August 3, 2020
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It’s a great book.
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Dr Saqib
5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best prose I've come across
Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2017
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The biography of multi-level traveller, through which the author surfaces what it means to be a Muslim of the West - this is one of the most enjoyable books which I have read in a long time. Intimate, powerfully honest, insightful and highly intelligent, Mogul has crafted a wonderful manuscript. In fact, it's probably some of the best prose I've read - one delish sentence after another, strung together fluently yet with a subtlety that continuously demanded my exhaustive attention. That's the odd thing about this book - even though it's easy to read, it's not. It offers so much which forced me to ponder, reflect and absorb. Well well worth reading.
One person found this helpful
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Ismail Mohamed
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in India on August 15, 2017
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Easily the best book I've read this year. A brutally honest memoir of a man's journey to make peace with himself and his religion.
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H HASNAIN
4.0 out of 5 stars The acknowledgements will make you cry
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2018
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As a Muslim on a similar journey, I found this very relatable although equally educational. I laughed, cried ( it was the acknowledgements that did it) , shouted at the author to shut up, skipped some parts, but ultimately thoroughly enjoyed this very honest insight into the life of another human being that shares the same planet and religion as me.
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Ali
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 19, 2018
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Thank you
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