In only a few declarative sentences that pass quickly, Aslan does say unequivocally that the CIA and the United States government, up until 1992, supported Osama bin Laden as well as the Taliban’s “freedom fighters” in Afghanistan against Wahhabism, a virulent and violent strain of Islam.
The rise of Osama bin Laden (first mentioned on page 86) and terrorism in Islam’s name Aslan puts at the feet of the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeni. Hizbullah and Hamas quickly came to life only to murder.
Reformation
All the historical background of how Muhammad intended Islam to be is irrelevant if the extreme factions become the majority or as the minority are allowed to define the religion.
This is the author’s overarching point. As the time following the prophet Muhammad’s death was a time of transformation for Islam, it is now, too. But it is a transformation that must come from within, not forced on it by a revisiting of the shadow of colonialism, which helped cause the chaos.
The author will have some disagreement with his interpretations of events but he has an extensive list of “works consulted. “As well as that, 14 pages illustrate his interpretations, chapter by chapter. The glossary is useful, too.
With no great stretch of the imagination it brings to mind the discussion for Catholics today about how their church needs to modernize and “get with the program.” And it raises the question whether a religion’s set rules can be changed by man without violating the will of God.
What Islam became through the years, the author says, was a twisted interpretation from people whose main interests lay with money, not faith. This was especially true against Jews and against the meaning of Jihad.
But this twisted interpretation is what dominates and shapes world events today.
Even later after Muhammad’s death and right up to today, the vagaries of poor translation have been visited upon the perception of Islam through followers who read into it what they want. These interpretations are the shame but also the inevitability of man. Today it is called spin. Often that spin twists easily into willful, deliberate ignorance on all sides.
In a book that is a narration rather than a presentation of history, Aslan challenges that ignorance.
TempleStark.com is my personal Web site.
Article comments
1 - Bennett Dawson
Great review Temple. Although there are years of work, and thousands battles (big and small), I am allowing myself a small ray of hope that the messages in this book will be embraced by an increasing number of people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
2 - SFC SKI
Your book review is very well done, and a fitting companion to the interview with Reza Aslan published in the BC a few weeeks ago.
3 - alienboy
Indeed a good review Temple, but as a person who believes in people not imaginary creations I cn't help observing that a better Islam is only a less bad thing, not a good thing. Religion is a tool of repression not enlightenment.
4 - Georgio
Excellent review...I wish you would do an article on how all religions are corrupt and how people follow their religion with blinders on because they where taught their religion from childhood ...I am not an Atheist..
5 - Temple Stark
AB, You left out a word In my humble opinion
Religion is BOTH a tool of repression AND enlightenment.
But thanks. I have no idea what kind of pressure it was to write the history of Islam in a relatively slender volume (it helps I imagine to know the subject matter inside and out but sometimes that can be stifling due to too much information).
but I knew I wanted to do it justice in my review. I wanted to see if you all agreed that I had or ... ???? So far - thanks very much.
6 - Eric Berlin
Important subject, great review, Temple.
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places at Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
7 - Ray
Great review,
I read the book and I don't think I could have summed it up like you did.
8 - Andrian
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