What's Right with Islam : A New Vision for Muslims and the West

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Summary: Islam viewed from a Muslims eyes
Review: Unlike most of the books out on Islam nowadays, this is one written by a Muslim, one who is in the west, and not only that, but a leader of Western Muslims. Imam Rauf takes an earnest look at the situation of current politics and reaches some interesting and important conclusions. This book is very important and should be read by all those who are interested in Islam, and even more importantly, but Muslims across the world.

Rating:
Summary: What's right with this book
Review: What is right with Islam, is what is right with Religion, it is what is right with America, and it is what is right with this book. A book which should serve as a prerequisite to anything you ever read about Islam from this day forward.
For Muslims, this book will trigger a collective sigh of relief for unleashing the traditionally muffled moderate voice. Christians, Jews, and people of every religious and secular persuasion will sigh in relief at its rather straightforward message of hope and invitation to peace. Aspiring fundamentalists in every camp, who are too ill equipped to reach an end to their fanatical rationalizations and justifications, should sigh, that this book will put an end to extremist interpretations on their behalf. You cannot read this book and still retain any delusions about the middle east or modern west. It is a wake up call to both the cultured mind and the over zealous heart.
No matter how you set out to read this book, whether as an academician, or as a politician, or even a devout Muslim, you will surely conclude its reading as a humanitarian devoid of any academic, political, or religious aspirations. You will, against your own will, abort any preconceived notions you bring to its reading.
I suspect It will attract a wide audience, given its appeals to both our prudent sensibilities, while simultaneously advocating for a psychology of love without categorically yielding the final say, to either perspective. It is less an endorsement of a religion, then it is a plea to recognize and celebrate the commonalties which have united all religions in the past and can unite us once again. The frustrating irony which begs advertisement and public notice, is that Islam and western democracy are ideologically compatible.
Imam Abdul-Rauf reminds us that no one is immune to the compelling pressures which mobilize people to commit atrocities in the name of God. Pressures which are mediated less by religion and more by economic and sociological developments. In an effort to explain the motivations behind the prevailing trends towards fundamentalism In the Muslim world, Imam Abdul- Rauf, answers, with great clarity, those questions that many have been tempted to explain away as the fanatical rage of the disesteemed. Explanations which lend themselves to blanket generalizations about Muslims here and abroad. Generalization which have done nothing to facilitate our campaign towards attaining security and peace.
His is not a mission to justify, but rather to rectify the current circumstances which have plagued our nation. And he does so by arming the reader with a crash course education that is a culmination of both his scholarship and invaluable first hand experience. It is not based on rhetoric and flimsy assumptions, but on the forgotten precedence for pluralism and peace that was established by forefathers, prophets and messengers.
The scenario he paints demands representation as the most viable alternative to the "get them for they get us" mentality. Iman Abdul- Rauf, does not rely on conventional means of persuasion to demonstrate the conciliatory nature of Islam and democracy. He substantiates his claims with concrete examples, and more importantly, with suggestions for developing various mechanisms of implementation.
If it was not so heavily peppered with superb analogies and historical insights, this book would read like a peace manifesto for moderates in every faith tradition. It is not only a voice of reason and moderation, but of authority and much needed objectivity. It is the voice of an American who loves his country, and of a Muslim who loves his faith, and of an advocate of a brand of democratic capitalism which caters to the best parts of both these identities.

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Summary: A Deeply Insightful Book!
Review: Years ago my father told me that the spirit of Islam lies within the hearts of the Sufis and not the actions of the fanatics. Years later Reading this book I find out that my father was correct. The Sources that the author quotes, proves his points in ways that no fanatic nor any so called 'islam expert' or 'talking head' can dispute. It's amazing how going backl to the original source, a man like Abdul Rauf was able to get back to the heart of Islam.