The first part of The Muslim Next Door describes the basics of Islam. The author outlines what living as a Muslim is like by providing personal stories of her childhood and of her time as a Muslim teenager growing up in California. The stories are moving and amusing, revealing a heart and soul that is keen for truth and full of life.
Ali-Karamali then delves into the details of Islam, discussing the Qur’an, Muhammad, and how the religion of Islam flows into the Judeo-Christian tradition. She debunks some common myths and decries the quotation of the Qur’an out of context. Ali-Karamali is fittingly upset when an antagonistic approach is taken towards Islam, such as when Qur’anic surahs are quoted in bits and pieces.
She takes special note here of the popular verse (surah 2, verse 191) that reads “And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away wherever they drove you away.” Often used as fuel for decrying Islam as a violent creed, this verse is most often used to vilify the faith. The only problem is that the quotations often exclude the end of the sentence, which reads “for oppression is even worse than killing.” And the verse that comes before the “slaying” verse is also omitted, which states “But do not attack them if they do not attack you first. Allah loves not the aggressor.”
Ali-Karamali takes a similar path throughout the book, highlighting many contemporary misconceptions about Islam. When the Islamic community is derided for not having denounced the actions of a particular group of followers or terrorists, she notes that there is no central leadership (no Pope, for example) in Islam and reveals scores of Islamic communities that do indeed stand up to terrorism. The fatwa against Salman Rushdie is explored, as is the Danish cartoon incident.
One of the areas in which Ali-Karamali really shines is in her descriptions of women in Islam. She denounces the big-headed notion that Islamic women are subjugated, highlighting instead the progressive character of many Islamic teachings. Using lessons from Islam’s history to examine how women in the religion were treated at its birth, the author illuminates how the teachings of the Qur’an elevate women like few other religious teachings. Before Islam, Arabian women had no right to divorce and no possibility of inheritance, for instance.
Article comments
1 - DAVID
This site on Islam is a brief illustrated guide for non-Muslims who'd like to understand Islam, Muslims (Moslems), and the Quran (Koran). May ALLAH let all of us live in peace and harmony.
2 - Alamgir Hussain
Quran 2:191: "And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for "tumult and oppression" are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith."
The term "tumult and oppression" stands for not following Allah's guidance or creed--that is Islam. In Arabic it is 'Fitnah' which means rebellion/disobedience against established order. In Muslim thought, Allah is sole authority and law-giver in the universe. Not following his law--i.e., Islam or Quran--constitutes the highest degree of fitah.
Muhammad first attacked a caravan of his opponents of Mecca in Dec-623 killing one attendant, taking two captives (later ransomed) and driving away the plunder. In Islamic history, at this time, there was no report of any violent clash with the Meccans; no report of any Muslim killed.
It is also silly to equate oppression with worse than slaughter, genocide; when they are not even equal.
3 - Ruvy
Jordan,
Good try at a review. And kudos to you for trying to read the Qur'an in Arabic. Arabic is harder than Hebrew, in that it has more verb constructions to it, but because of this characteristic, it is probably a more supple and expressive language.
You'll see many points of view on Islam aside from the standard "Moslems are all hateful bastards" line I hear (and so strongly disagree with).
Unfortunately, every time every time an Arab woman throws acid on an Israeli soldier's face the argument that all Moslems are hateful bastards gets harder and harder to refute. Read the whole story before you jerk your knees in response, Jordan.
4 - Jordan Richardson
Ruvy, I have studied Islam for about 15 years now. Your statements simply don't ring true and, not only are they offensive to Muslims around the world that do not play by your stereotype, but they are uncalled for. I do not dare stereotype Jews or Israel in the same fashion.
5 - Ruvy
Boy, are you dense, Jordan. I have not stereotyped Moslems at all. I've pointed out why others, whom I disagree with, do, and why Arab terrorists make those stereotypes stick in people's minds more and more strongly. Evidently you didn't look at either of the links I provided.
And evidently, you do not give a damn either.
Newsflash for you. I stand by what I have said. If you think the truth is offensive, then you have my pity. It's just too damned bad. Jews and Israelis get stereotyped daily in the Arab (enemy) press, and nobody in North America - aside from Jews - gives a damn. Jews and Israelis get sterotyped and lied about in the mainstream media daily too, and again, it up to Jews to keep a sharp eye out - or live with the lies and the stereotyping.
The other option is to declare our independence from the lot of you, and give you all the middle finger you all deserve - no matter where you are.
That is my solution.
This is the last time I bother complimenting you for anything you do.
6 - Jordan Richardson
In Arabic it is 'Fitnah' which means rebellion/disobedience against established order.
That's one way to interpret this difficult word, yes, but certainly not the only one. It is essentially a catch-all term that refers to upheaval, anarchy, etc. It can also refer to division and dissent within Islam. It also directly translates to mean "test."
7 - Jordan Richardson
Ruvy,
In your original post, you say:
the argument that all Moslems are hateful bastards gets harder and harder to refute.
(I'll not even touch the rather condescending "Good try at a review" like this is my first review here).
Now to say that "the argument that all Moslems are hateful bastards gets harder and harder to refute is, indeed, hateful in and of itself and is based on a stereotype that includes the notion of the Palestinian woman throwing acid in the face of an Israel Defense Forces soldier. A terrible incident, yes, and doubtless a type of incident you grow tired of hearing of.
I grow tired of hearing violence in the world, too, but that doesn't mean I suggest support for an argument that characterizes a people group as hateful on one hand while on the other suggesting that they aren't and that I don't agree. It's the same as your perplexing stance on Obama; you trash him relentlessly on one hand, even backing the ridiculous myth that he's a Muslim, and then hope to wash it all away by saying "oh by the way, I support him." Forgive me for not finding much solace in the consistency of your words, Ruvy.
I have not stereotyped Moslems at all. I've pointed out why others, whom I disagree with, do, and why Arab terrorists make those stereotypes stick in people's minds more and more strongly. Evidently you didn't look at either of the links I provided.
I looked at both, although I'm learning my lesson in regards to clicking "Ruvy's Links." We all know what Arab terrorists do. We also know what Israeli terrorists do. And what American terrorists do. But the day I grant terrorists that much control so as to suggest that the argument that all Moslems are hateful bastards gets harder and harder to refute won't be coming. It's hard to quantify your hateful stance on most (if not all) things Arab with an open mind sometimes.
The other option is to declare our independence from the lot of you, and give you all the middle finger you all deserve - no matter where you are.
I didn't realize that you needed to ask in your independence from a freelance writer in Canada, but if it helps your sense of drama, go right ahead and flip that bird, Ruvy.
This is the last time I bother complimenting you for anything you do.
I'm sure I'll get by somehow, Ruvy. I've written almost 200 articles here and haven't done too badly without you up to this point.
8 - Kamala
As Jordan Richardson writes, we need to fight misinformation.
Here are 10 questions for the "Muslim Next Door"
9 - Kamala
See Robert Spencer's take as well.