What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims

Rating:
Summary: Ver good for non-muslim and muslim
Review: Excellent book
Although this book has some grammar mistakes, it is very good
Just buy this book and I'm sure you will like it

Rating:
Summary: The Mysteries of Islam revealed
Review: I bought this book in hopes of better understanding the heritage of a friend and to dispel the common untruths and stereotypes of Muslims in the US. This is easy to read, easy to understand, and very educational. It is sorted by subject matter and Suzanne Haneef did an excellent job in explaining terminology for non-Muslims. This book answers many of my questions and inspired me to continue my Islam education by additional readings. This book has the ability to change some of the common misconceptions of Islam and Muslims.

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Summary: GREAT!!! And you wonder why Women are converting to Islam?!
Review: I have read this book numerous times and have bought so many copies that I ended up having to give away to my friends and co-workers. It is written by a White American woman who converted to Islam after being in the Christian faith all her life. That is why she gives a great perspective to non-Muslim readers because she explains it through the eyes of a non-Muslim who later embraced the religion.

I find it offensive how the earlier person wrote a perspective to make it seem that Islam discriminates against women. How untrue. Islam actually liberated women. It gave women far more rights that were unheard of at the time. Islam is pure, however followers of any religion are not perfect. God never created man as perfect. He gave them free will so that they can be judged. The items mentioned by the reviewer such as in Kuwait and Women cannot drive in Saudi Arabia and such are all items that are a result of an oppressive patriarchal culture overseas and nothing to do with Islam. Religion has always historically been corrupted by those who seek to oppress, however, there is nothing in Islam that condones such behavior. In fact, cars were never created in the Prophets time so can you explain who came up with that rule? Men did. Not Islam.

So if you have a doubt, read the book. To also get beyond the prejudices and misconceptions and to truly research the reality from the Quran try reading "Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective" by Amina Wadud. To quote from the book description: "Muslim progressives have long argued that it is not the religion but patriarchal interpretation and implementation of the Qu'ran that have kept women oppressed... Wadud's reading of the Qu'ran confirms women's equality and constitutes legitimate grounds for contesting the unequal treatment that women have experienced historically and continue to experience legally in Muslim communities."

And if you would like to understand how young American Muslims are living try reading "American Muslims: The New Generation" by Asma Gull Hasan.

I think if more people would just read, do the research, and then actually ask the many intelligent American Muslim women and converts, who have the blessed freedom to choose in our democratic country here in America, why have they embraced the religion if it is so oppressive? They will tell you it is the universal message of peace that attracted them. They are also intelligent enought to know that the oppressive regimes overseas, and the patriarchal cultures associated with it are far removed from the real message of Islam. That is why we are so very happy to be women in America and to have also been blessed with knowing the divine peaceful message of Islam.

Rating:
Summary: Simple and Comprehensive
Review: Just buy this book... you will love it
Easy, simple, breef.
highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: GOOD INTRO TO ISLAM
Review: MY BOYFRIEND EMBRACED ISLAM ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO AND I HAVE SEEN A POSITIVE CHANGE IN HIM EVER SINCE. I HAVE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT ISLAM FOR SOME TIME AND HAVE DECIDED THAT BEFORE I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO A RELIGION I WANT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND IT. THIS BOOK HELPS BREAK DOWN ALL ASPECTS OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. I, LIKE THE AUTHOR, WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP CHRISTIAN AND NEVER FULLY BELIEVED THE THINGS BEING TAUGHT BECAUSE RARELY WERE THEY SUPPORTED BY FACTS. THIS BOOK MAKES A STATEMENT AND BACKS IT UP WITH PASSAGES. I ONLY WISH THAT THE BOOK WAS BETTER EDITED BECAUSE I FOUND MANY ERRORS IN PUNCUATION AND GRAMMAR. I ALSO WISH THE AUTHOR WOULDN'T USE "BIG" WORDS TO TRY TO ENHANCE THE BOOK. I BELIEVE IT IS UNNECESSARY TO USE BIG WORDS FOR LITTLE MEANINGS. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM FOR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OR TO PREPARE THEM TO EMBRACE THIS WONDERFUL RELIGION.

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Summary: Handwaving makes it all disappear
Review: The author has projected a true picture of Islam. If somebody wants to know about Islam then this is book to read. Excellent work.

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Summary: The Number 1 Best Seller on ISLAM written for non-Muslims!
Review: This book is written by a White American woman who converted to Islam. It explains Islam in an easy to understand way for Christians and non-Muslims. It is also an excellent primer on Islam and even a help for those considering converting to Islam.

It is a great read for those interested to know what the religion is "truly" about minus media misinformation. It is helpful for those interested in research for a comparitive religion course or those seeking to understand Islam in comparison to Christianity.

It explains the history, the practice and the comparisons in excellent detail. For example, it discusses Jesus and other prophets in Islam as well as the role of women in Islam. It is really the best out there that is written from a Western perspective. In it's 12th edition I definitely feel it will continue to be a reference for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD INTRO TO ISLAM
Review: This book was truly awful. It is about one woman's experience with Islam; it is not the work of a scholar. The grammar and punctuation are so bad it made me wonder if an English speaking person had bothered to proofread it. More importantly, she lists no qualifications to write about religion and her lack thereof was glaringly revealed in her dismissal of Judaism in 2 pages and her dismissal of Christianity in 5. She brushes aside 2000 years of Christian theology in just 5 pages with a haughty and contemptous tone. Her theory can be summed up in her statement on the trinity: "a child knows that 3 does not equal 1." This sentence reflects a child's understanding of the trinity. Since she seems to have little or no understanding of basic Christianity, I doubt her claim of having been a "devout" Christian before her conversion.

If you want to read about the Islamic religion and culture try anything by John Esposito, a professor of Islamic Studies at Georgetown. His material is well-researched, engaging and does not insult the intelligence or beliefs of others.

Rating:
Summary: Ah! What a refreshing book!
Review: Yup, this book completely lived up to my expectations. It was fabulously written, drawing from many different sources and the author is very charming in the way she explains the faith. I LOVED IT but be careful, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT JUST END UP EMBRACING ISLAM, LIKE THE AUTHOR AND I DID, HAH!
love and Peace to all :)