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Islamic Books

  • 08-03-2009 05:23PM
    #1
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭


    There are so many books written about Islam, it's difficult to distinguish the genuinely informative and insightful from those with ulterior motives, so I thought it'd be nice if we could post about really great books about Islam that we've read recently. Hopefully through this both Muslims and non-Muslims will be able to gather more knowledge on Islam- after all, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) constantly emphasised the need for both males and females to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave

    "Love in a Headscarf" - Shelina Zahra Janmohamed
    This book gives a really personal and insightful look into the life of a modern day Muslim woman who is learning to establish her identity as a Muslim, an Asian and a British citizen. She has a really impressive knowledge of Islam and her interpretations of its values are really uplifting and inspirational. She is not only pious, but an extremely modern thinking, humorous and well balanced woman. She chronicles her search for a husband through an arranged marriage and her search for her dream husband, but it is in no way like the 'chick lit' books out there where women are devoting all of their time and energy simply into hunting down their Mr Right- the love she's looking for is the love of her family, a husband and also her love of Allah. Most importantly, it proves to people that Muslimahs are every bit as much of a woman as any other female and that they too experience the same trials and tribulations in finding love. However, it is Shelina’s dedication to her faith which really shines through and gives her the strength to know that there is someone out there who is meant for her, which is brilliant.

    Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West" - Benazir Bhutto
    Of course, the author of this book is widely known as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan whose assassination in December '07 came as a huge loss to the entire Muslim community, as she contributed so much to both her homeland and people's perceptions of the role of women in Islam. Some of my favourite parts are when she talks about ijtihad which is the interpretation of the Qur'an in order to apply its principles to our current age, her explanation of Sharia laws and of how Islam and democracy are not only compatible, but inseparable. Her views on how an Islamic country can be run successfully without compromising its principles are remarkable and it's definitely well worth a read.

    "Teach Yourself Islam" - Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood
    This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn more about the Islamic faith and its practices, as it explains all areas thoroughly, including many topical and controversial areas that some books tend to shy away from such as FGM, female Imams, Wahhabism and fundamentalism. She is extremely diplomatic in providing information and gives very good Qur'anic quotes to back up her points. A really great book for anyone who is either beginning their journey into Islam or who wants answers to their criticisms of Islam.


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Filan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 703 ✭✭✭Filan


    Have you reverted to Islam Jannah?


  • #3
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    No, I suppose you could say I'm still in the process- still gathering information, learning more about it and evaluating my life. It seems such a huge decision! Also, there's the worry of what my parents will say, but I feel that's secondary to how much I have been inspired by Islam, especially the women- there really is no better role model than a muslimah


  • #4
    Filan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 703 ✭✭✭Filan


    I wish you fulfilment regardless...the heart is always a good compass and if it takes you to Islam then I recommend that you follow it...what exactly is it about Islam that you find inspiring? ....


  • #5
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    Thanks Filan! :) It's so great to hear a positive response!! Usually when I tell someone I'm considering Islam they look horrified!
    I think Islam has a lot to offer, especially in our modern society. It's beliefs are simple and logical- the belief in one God, who one acknowledges and keeps in mind throughout the day. It's not a weekly chore that a person can simply forget about and start to do wrong once they step out the door, but a lifestyle and a constant reminder that we're here to do good by one another. It's freedom- freedom from the pressure to drink, from the belief that success means materialistic wealth and from the need to be 'sexy'. I really do believe that it's a happier and more fulfilling life and it's got so many layers, you can always learn something new and insightful all the time.

    I'm finding it really hard though- it's like a one woman mission lol. While a don't mind learning about Islam on my own, it would be nice to know Muslims who I could get some kind of support or companionship from as well as a different perspective on all sorts of issues, but sadly the Muslim community in Cork is limited.


  • #6
    toomevara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,772 ✭✭✭toomevara


    Virtually anything by Charles Le Gai Eaton..All provided me with a unique insight into Islam and the muslim world, and made me fundamentally reconsider my relationship with God;

    My Favourites; King of the Castle
    Islam and the Destiny of Man
    Remembering God: Reflections on islam

    But perhaps my absolute favourite of the many books I have read on Islam is Hamza Yusuf's Purification of the Heart...an amazing book.


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  • #7
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    Oooh thanks for those Toomevara! I'm dying to find good sources- there are quite a few out there which get a bit boring. I'm trying to plough through Karen Armstrong's biography of Muhammad's life and it's heavy going


  • #8
    toomevara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,772 ✭✭✭toomevara


    Jannah wrote: »
    I'm trying to plough through Karen Armstrong's biography of Muhammad's life and it's heavy going

    If you're finding Armstrong a wee bit turgid (it is), try Tariq Ramadan's The Messenger.


  • #9
    getz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,255 ✭✭✭getz


    Jannah wrote: »
    No, I suppose you could say I'm still in the process- still gathering information, learning more about it and evaluating my life. It seems such a huge decision! Also, there's the worry of what my parents will say, but I feel that's secondary to how much I have been inspired by Islam, especially the women- there really is no better role model than a muslimah
    not all in islam is good to know the downfalls ,look up the web site answering -islam,this is the kind of thing that lets it down


  • #10
    Frank Grimes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,735 ✭✭✭Frank Grimes


    Take a read of anything Muhammad Asad wrote; specifically The Message of the Quran and The Road to Mecca. You don't to be religious to enjoy the latter, it's an amazing book that covers his spiritual journey as well as his physical journey around parts of the Muslim world in the 20s.

    Martin Lings' biography of Muhammad is very good, been a while since I've read it - it was heavy going in parts from what I remember but worth the read. Try The Conference of the Birds too for some Sufism. I'd second Islam and the Destiny of Man by Le Gai Eaton, it's another amazing book.


  • #11
    Hobbes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭Hobbes


    getz wrote: »
    not all in islam is good to know the downfalls ,look up the web site answering -islam,this is the kind of thing that lets it down

    As pointed out in the warning on the forum Answering-Islam is not a good site to get your information from, also appears to be offtopic to this thread.


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  • #12
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    toomevara wrote: »
    If you're finding Armstrong a wee bit turgid (it is), try Tariq Ramadan's The Messenger.

    Oooh will do! Thanks! Yeah, Armstrong is just a constant narration of defending Islam by showing up other religions (suppose she's a little bitter being an ex-nun and whatnot) but it's not a defence but information that I'm looking for. It really does help if the writer is a practicing Muslim- they have the emotional connection to the religion and are able to talk about it in a more personal way, which is really lovely. That's why I love "Love in a Headscarf"- her insights of what she personally gets out of religion are second to none
    Frank Grimes wrote: »
    The Road to Mecca. You don't to be religious to enjoy the latter, it's an amazing book that covers his spiritual journey as well as his physical journey around parts of the Muslim world in the 20s.
    That sounds really cool- there's actually a LOT of symbolism in the Hajj that many completely overlook- even the clothes alone have a purpose. I'd love to find a book that explains Sharia in an indepth way- it's impossible to find anything on it on the internet without being bombarded by women being stoned and decapitated and whatnot, like there must be some kind of logic there


  • #13
    hivizman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭hivizman


    I'd like to endorse toomevara's recommendations - particularly Hamza Yusuf's Purification of the Heart. He converted to Islam and studied with various scholars before returning to the USA and establishing the Zaytuna Institute for the teaching and study of Islam.

    As well as Tariq Ramadan's biography of Muhammad, which is interesting in the way he develops a range of themes around the life of the Prophet, and tries to explain the continuing relevance of Muhammad's life in today's times, another very readable book is Barnaby Rogerson's The Prophet Muhammad: A Biography. Rogerson wrote a follow-up covering the 50 years after Muhammad's death The Heirs of the Prophet Muhammad, which gives a good account of the spread of Islam under the "rightly-guided Caliphs", and the conflict between the descendants of the Prophet (Ali, Hassan, Husayn) and the Umayyad dynasty.

    I bought the next book in Canada, but I think it's available over here. This is Seyyed Hossein Nasr's The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity. The book focuses on the moral and ethical teachings of Islam and how these support a particular vision of the community and society.

    Finally, I don't know of a "light" introduction to Sharia, but a clearly written scholarly introduction is Mohammad Hashim Kamali's Shari'ah Law: An Introduction, which discusses the formation and early development of Sharia, the various "schools of thought", the purposes of Sharia, how Sharia evolves (including the role of the fatwa), and some current issues (such as the debate over the specified punishments for offences such as theft and fornication, the position of women, and the role of human rights).


  • #14
    hivizman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭hivizman


    By the way, thanks Jannah for the favourable comments on Love in a Headscarf - this came up on my Amazon recommendations list, and I'll definitely order it now.


  • #15
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    hivizman wrote: »
    By the way, thanks Jannah for the favourable comments on Love in a Headscarf - this came up on my Amazon recommendations list, and I'll definitely order it now.
    Do! Seriously, it's probably the best portrayal of a 'real' Muslim woman I've ever come across. I'm always fairly wary when I see men writing about what it is to be a woman (a good exaple of this being Khaled Hosseini)- while it may make for an interesting read, they usually condemn the women as being completely submissive or subjugated. Ugh!! Shelina's insights are beautiful- no matter who's reading it, it's hard not to see the good that Islam has brought into her life.
    I lent the book to a guy in my year's sister who is a Muslim and she really seems to love it- it was so sweet, she came over to me today to thank me and said she couldn't put it down- what a cutie! People like that make me really proud of Islam, there's definitely a great bond between the women- a thing that I've found tends to be lacking among other women. I suppose it's because the whole competitive aspect with men and beauty which has been taken away and it's more about the person. It's really nice.
    hivizman wrote: »
    As well as Tariq Ramadan's biography of Muhammad, which is interesting in the way he develops a range of themes around the life of the Prophet, and tries to explain the continuing relevance of Muhammad's life in today's times
    That's exactly what I was looking for! It really is the most important aspect of learning about the prophet Muhammad's life to see firstly how he behaved and to learn from his examples and secondly to see how his life and events he faced it still relevent today. It's easy to get a bit sidetracked with the culture shock but behind it all, people are people and he too was human at the end of the day.
    hivizman wrote: »
    Finally, I don't know of a "light" introduction to Sharia, but a clearly written scholarly introduction is Mohammad Hashim Kamali's Shari'ah Law: An Introduction, which discusses the formation and early development of Sharia, the various "schools of thought", the purposes of Sharia, how Sharia evolves (including the role of the fatwa), and some current issues (such as the debate over the specified punishments for offences such as theft and fornication, the position of women, and the role of human rights).
    Perfect! I'll definitely have a look for it- I really want to get to the bottom of what exactly the logic is behind all the various aspects of Sharia- Benazir Bhutto gives a good account in her book, but it's a little too short. Haha, ya, I don't suppose there's really any simple version of Sharia but sher, I'll plough through and we'll see how it goes! Thanks for the advice!


  • #16
    ChocolateSauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,892 ✭✭✭ChocolateSauce


    Jannah wrote: »
    Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West" - Benazir Bhutto
    Of course, the author of this book is widely known as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan whose assassination in December '07 came as a huge loss to the entire Muslim community, as she contributed so much to both her homeland and people's perceptions of the role of women in Islam. Some of my favourite parts are when she talks about ijtihad which is the interpretation of the Qur'an in order to apply its principles to our current age, her explanation of Sharia laws and of how Islam and democracy are not only compatible, but inseparable. Her views on how an Islamic country can be run successfully without compromising its principles are remarkable and it's definitely well worth a read.

    To this I would like to say that her death wasn't just a loss to the Muslim world, but to the whole world. I always admired her intelligence and her bravery.


  • #17
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    Very true! She was amazing- she knew that people had wanted to kill her yet never let it stop her. A really poignant part of her book is where she describes how she was handed a baby at a rally which turned out to be strapped with explosives and her bodyguard pulled her away before the explosives on the child were detonated- yet she never stopped, right up until her death. I think that religious or not it's difficult not to see all the good she did and how brave she was.


  • #18
    toomevara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,772 ✭✭✭toomevara


    hivizman wrote: »

    I bought the next book in Canada, but I think it's available over here. This is Seyyed Hossein Nasr's The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity. The book focuses on the moral and ethical teachings of Islam and how these support a particular vision of the community and society.

    I've read his 'Ideals and Realities of Islam'...which I found fascinating and instructive especially the Chapter on Shia Islam and the Sunni/Shia divergence.
    Finally, I don't know of a "light" introduction to Sharia, but a clearly written scholarly introduction is Mohammad Hashim Kamali's Shari'ah Law: An Introduction, which discusses the formation and early development of Sharia, the various "schools of thought", the purposes of Sharia, how Sharia evolves (including the role of the fatwa), and some current issues (such as the debate over the specified punishments for offences such as theft and fornication, the position of women, and the role of human rights).

    That sounds like an excellent recommendation...thanks, I'll give it a whirl.


  • #19
    hivizman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭hivizman


    Jannah wrote: »
    "Love in a Headscarf" - Shelina Zahra Janmohamed
    This book gives a really personal and insightful look into the life of a modern day Muslim woman who is learning to establish her identity as a Muslim, an Asian and a British citizen. She has a really impressive knowledge of Islam and her interpretations of its values are really uplifting and inspirational. She is not only pious, but an extremely modern thinking, humorous and well balanced woman. She chronicles her search for a husband through an arranged marriage and her search for her dream husband, but it is in no way like the 'chick lit' books out there where women are devoting all of their time and energy simply into hunting down their Mr Right- the love she's looking for is the love of her family, a husband and also her love of Allah. Most importantly, it proves to people that Muslimahs are every bit as much of a woman as any other female and that they too experience the same trials and tribulations in finding love. However, it is Shelina’s dedication to her faith which really shines through and gives her the strength to know that there is someone out there who is meant for her, which is brilliant.

    When I was in South Africa a few weeks ago, I picked up a book by Amulya Malladi The Sound of Language (published by Ballantine in 2008). I don't think that this book has appeared yet in Europe. It's a novel about Raihana, a refugee from Afghanistan who settles in Denmark. In order to become a Danish citizen, she has to learn Danish, which at first sounds like the buzzing of bees to her. As part of her path towards citizenship, and to improve her language skills, Raihana has to find a job, and she works for Gunnar, a Danish beekeeper who has recently lost his wife and has withdrawn into depression. The novel tells how the presence of Raihana helps Gunnar to come to terms with his wife's death, and how, when Raihana faces violence from a Danish neo-Nazi, Gunnar mobilises the local community to defend Raihana and other Muslim immigrants.

    I thought that the novel gave an interesting perspective on the lives of refugees trying to fit into a very alien community. Raihana grows in strength through the course of the novel, and by the end is a powerful character. There's also a lot of fascinating material on beekeeping!


  • #20
    balkanac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36 ✭balkanac


    CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR


  • #21
    Abdalhakim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 ✭Abdalhakim


    balkanac wrote: »
    never mind benazir bhutto and politics of islam a muslim needs a lot of knowledge before they start debating the shariah/politics and rulings of the religion the basics are the most important for a starter do not go down that path for islam has many roads and not eaven a tom tom will guide you through all of them and what they have to offer but if you rush through you will get lost in the maze.

    Thanks for the links to the kalamullah.com website, brother. An incredible collection of books and other stuff to help us grow in our deen.


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  • #22
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    balkanac wrote: »
    Winning the Heart of your Husband


    hearthusband.gif

    Lol, I hope there's an edition for men to win the hearts of their wives too!


  • #23
    balkanac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36 ✭balkanac


    CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR


  • #24
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    HA! Lol, that's very good!!! :p I think I'll buy it and keep it for my future husband lol!!!!


  • #25
    balkanac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36 ✭balkanac


    CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR


  • #26
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    Winning Your Husband's Heart

    "Have you got a husband?" she said "Yes" he asked "how do you treat him?" she replied "I spare no pains in obeying him, except what I cannot do" the Prophet then said "Make sure you obey him, because he is your paradise or hellfire"

    Islam has given women many rights and imposed on her some obligations. One of her most significant rights is that of her husband over her.

    When the Prophet was asked which woman was best, he replied "The one who pleases (her husband) when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives a command and does not go against his wishes..."

    They also go on to condemn the woman who:
    "does not greet him properly" when he arrives home
    "leaves hims alone without asking about him"
    "Worse than that, she might even welcome him with a gloomy face, a noisy voice, various complaints and bitter resentment"

    The book also praises a woman who, after her son had died, had sex with her husband before telling him (of course, her own grief is secondary to his) "How great is Umm Sulaim's wisedom!"

    There is also a mother in law who, when her son tells her how much he loves his new wife she warns him "I swear that men have never been inflicted with a worse evil than a spoilt woman. So discipline your wife"

    "The rights of a husband over his wife are greater than hers over him"

    "If a husband calls his wife to bed (to have sex with her) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the Angels will curse her til morning"

    "A wife will not find the sweetness of Eeman (faith) until she fulfills her husband's right even if he asks her for sexual relation while she is on a hump".

    Aisha "Oh women! If you knew the right of your husband over you, you would clean the dust of your husband's feet with your cheeks"

    "... (she) should not be arrogant and raise her voice to him as some weak women do"

    "A woman in her husband's house is like a slave and a captive. She has no right to go out of the house without her husband's permission"

    And the last and most, eh, inspirational part of this book is:
    Prophet Muhammad "The right of the husband over his wife is that if there is a wound in his body and she licks it, or if his nostrils drip mucus and blood and then she swallows them, she will never pay her husband his due".



    Well, that completely disproves any ideas I had about there being such a thing as a Muslim feminist! I don't particularly care to be treated like a dog, thanks.


  • #27
    balkanac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36 ✭balkanac


    CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR


  • #28
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    I already replied to this, but my post appear to have mysteriously disappeared...
    balkanac wrote: »
    There is no compulsion in Islam take it or leave it, a muslim is one who submits to Gods laws
    Unless a woman is born into a Muslim household, in which case she has no choice but to accept her father and then her husband as her master, as well as Allah
    balkanac wrote: »
    men and women have their place and i am afraid femminism is alien to such a relationship
    How convenient that the men get the sweet deal, eh? Feminism isn't about women triumphing over men, it is about getting an equal standing with them and so long as a woman must 'obey' her husband, there will never be equality
    balkanac wrote: »
    women in Islam unlike christianity are not blamed for the fall from paradise nor do they bear the eternal damnation and are associated with evil i think that is more diffucult for a womans psyche than sleeping with her horny husband as you have quoted
    Women are "associated with evil" in the bible? The Arabic for "woman" comes from the word "haram" so in fairness, they can't trump Christians there. Personally, I'd prefer to be portrayed incorrectly in a metaphorical story that had no input into my life than constantly be under the rule of my husband which is very much reality.
    The problem with what you simplified as being "more diffucult for a womans psyche than sleeping with her horny husband" (I've never met a woman who's had a damaged psyche from this symbolic story, but whatever) is that men can never be charged with raping their wives- she is quite literally his property which he can go to as a means to satisfy his sexual needs whenever he feels like it and completely disregarded the feelings of his wife- a HUMAN BEING believe it or not. He's pretty much just masturbating with a woman on the other end.
    balkanac wrote: »
    whats wrong with greeting her husband nicely at the door
    There wouldn't be anything wrong with it if a man was ordered to do the same thing.
    balkanac wrote: »
    being in a loving sexual bond is sex not part of love and marriage, and whats wrong with pleasing your husband ?
    When sex is unwanted by the wife, it is to her detrimant to force her (ie rape) to have sex. Being blackmailed that Angels will hate you all night if you don't have sex with your husband is not the basis of a "loving sexual bond".
    balkanac wrote: »
    men are meant to be kind caring and loving and please their wives thus i dont see any "dog" treatment there
    What's a pat on the head if a woman knows she will always be compelled to be 'obedient' to him?
    balkanac wrote: »
    i see SEX LOVE CARING AND BONDING WITH ONE ANOTHER
    I see sex as a consentual shared decision between two people of equal standing, neither of which is being blackmailed by their religion to do so
    balkanac wrote: »
    "... (she) should not be arrogant and raise her voice to him as some weak women do" no man like bitching pardon my un professional and un english language nor do women like mans criticism do you want men to tell you you are fat or something no we say what pleases you that looks nice on you honey bunny
    If a woman is bitter and complaining, wouldn't it be a whole lot more constructive to communicate with the woman and find out what is wrong and sole the issue than to whine that she is bickering at you?
    So men can criticise women, yet they are not allowed to criticise them?? Ridiculous! If he is mentally abusing her, all she would be able to do is grin and bear it- so long as she's greeting him cheerily, right?

    I feel like I've been transported back to the stone age......


  • #29
    balkanac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36 ✭balkanac


    CENSORSHIP BY A NON MUSLIM MODERATOR


  • #30
    Jannah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 263 ✭✭Jannah


    :confused: What's happening to your posts??


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  • #31
    hivizman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭hivizman


    Jannah wrote: »
    :confused: What's happening to your posts??

    I think that Balkanac is trying to make a point that he (or she) is being censored by the moderator. Balkanac actually put up some interesting stuff, and it's a shame that he (or she) has gone systematically through the various posts and edited them.

    The moderator, Hobbes, quite reasonably locked a rather silly conspiracy theory thread that Balkanac had set in motion, and flagged up another conspiracy theory video that Balkanac had linked to as dubious. But some of the posts of Balkanac are actually useful, for example the links to kalamullah.com, which has a lot of downloadable Islamic material available. We may well question much of the material on this website as heavily biased towards a Salafi position within Islam, but it's still useful to have access to the material.


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