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The Trouble with Islam : A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith | 
 enlarge | Author: Irshad Manji
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  224 reviews
Sales Rank: 614255
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.9
ASIN: B000FUTQ6E
Publication Date: January 16, 2004
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Amazon.com
This "call for reform" reads like an open letter to the Muslim world. Irshad Manji, a Toronto-based television journalist, was born to Muslim parents in South Africa. Her family eventually fled to Canada when she was two years old. Manji shares her life experiences growing up in a Western Muslim household and ask some compelling questions from her feminist-lesbian-journalist perspective. It is interesting to note that Manji has been lambasted for being too personal and not scholarly enough to have a worthwhile opinion. Yet her lack of pretense and her intimate narrative are the strengths of this book. For Muslims to dismiss her opinions as not worthy to bring to the table is not only elitist; it underscores why she feels compelled to speak out critically. Intolerance for dissent, especially women's dissent, is one of her main complaints about Islam. Clearly, her goal was not to write a scholarly critique, but rather to speak from her heartfelt concern about Islam. To her fellow Muslims she writes: I hear from a Saudi friend that his country's religious police arrest women for wearing red on Valentines Day, and I think, Since when does a merciful God outlaw joy—or fun? I read about victims of rape being stoned for "adultery" and I wonder how a critical mass of us can stay stone silent. She asks tough questions: "What's with the stubborn streak of anti-Semitism in Islam? Who is the real colonizer of the Muslims—-America or Arabia? Why are we squandering the talents of women, fully half of God's creation?" This is not an anti-Muslim rant. Manji also speaks with passionate love and hope for Islam, believing that democracy is compatible with its purest doctrine. Sure, she's biased and opinionated. But all religions, from Christianity to Buddhism to Islam should be accountable for how their leadership and national allegiances personally affect their followers. One would hope that this honest voice be met with a little more self-scrutiny and a little less anti-personal, anti-feminine, and anti-Western rhetoric. --Gail Hudson
Product Description
"I have to be honest with you. Islam is on very thin ice with me....Through our screaming self-pity and our conspicuous silences, we Muslims are conspiring against ourselves. We're in crisis and we're dragging the rest of the world with us. If ever there was a moment for an Islamic reformation, it's now. For the love of God, what are we doing about it?"
In blunt, provocative, and deeply personal terms, Irshad Manji unearths the troubling cornerstones of mainstream Islam today: tribal insularity, deep-seated anti-Semitism, and an uncritical acceptance of the Koran as the final, and therefore superior, manifesto of God. In this open letter to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Manji asks arresting questions. "Who is the real colonizer of Muslims - America or Arabia? Why are we all being held hostage by what's happening between the Palestinians and the Israelis? Why are we squandering the talents of women, fully half of God's creation? What's our excuse for reading the Koran literally when it's so contradictory and ambiguous? Is that a heart attack you're having? Make it fast. Because if more of us don't speak out against the imperialists within Islam, these guys will walk away with the show."
Manji offers a practical vision of how the United States and its allies can help Muslims undertake a reformation that empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities, and fosters a competition of ideas. Her vision revives Islam's lost tradition of independent thinking. This book will inspire struggling Muslims worldwide to revisit the foundations of their faith. It will also compel non-Muslims to start posing the important questions without fear of being deemed "racists." In more ways than one, The Trouble with Islam is a clarion call for a fatwa-free future.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 219 more reviews...
 Yeah, something here DEFINITELY NEEDS A REFORM August 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
and this thing is this woman! Comparing the prophet, peace be upon him, to Osama Bin Laden...Wow! The most ridiculous, the most offensive, the most close-minded thing that ever lived. Trying to make money with such NASTY, grossly false assertions, no scholalry work whatsoevr, everyhting as RADICAL and as selective as ever. She should compare Osama bin Laden with HERSELF! If you're a blinded, racist, hateful beast, then this is just a treat for you. If you're not any of the above, then stay away!!
 Finally - something to fill the gaps. August 8, 2008
The author presents a much needed gap filler for why Islam, current events, and insufferable Western politically correct apologizing can't tell us why modern Islam is the way it is.
The thrust of the book describes the influence of tribalism and an Arab-centric viewpoint as the driving factor behind Islam as perceived and practiced today. So much of the anti-intellectualism, intolerance and inter-Islamic factionalism seen among Muslims is directly related to 14th century Arab tribal behavior that came about through racism and classism. She calls this trend "desert Islam", appropriately enough.
The decline in Arab-language printing, inventions, universities, and free thinking in general can all be traced to the backward looking doctrine of "desert Islamicists" hell bent on preserving tribal loyalty, which eventually was interpreted as Islam itself. With original thinking punished, pretty soon all the books start to sound the same, and eventually, authors stop bothering to write many new ones - what would be the point of risking your neck? This may not be Islam, but even among the mainstream, old habits of conformity are hard to break.
Think my comments are a little harsh? Read some of the negative comments for an indication of how permeated the followers are with the "desert Islam" branding. Now you know why I don't put my real name on Amazon. Maybe if the day comes when Islam cleanses itself of violent retribution towards dissent I won't have to do this for the sake of my family.
As one might expect, the author has serious doubts about her faith, but to her credit she has not abandoned it. However, the fact remains that there is not a version of the Koran printed anywhere in the world which accepts or advocates an openly lesbian lifestyle and living together with a same sex partner. It's forgiveable to wonder how committed she might be to sorting out the troubles with Islam today versus how she might have a more personal bone to pick with the true tenants of the faith. Nevertheless, even if she were motivated by personal interests, there are too many examples and too many important questions brought up to dismiss this book as the disgruntled rant of an apostate.
The concomitant aspect of violence coupled with an insatiable need for Westerners to blame themselves first explains why a book like this was never written, but I'm glad that it was.
 The Ignorance that ignorance produces: June 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
First of all, I would like to make it quite clear that I have no problem with Irshad Manji publishing this book. God states in the Quran that there is no compulsion in the system as per the Quran 2:256 , "There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way. Whoever rejects evil, and believes in God, then he has grasped the most solid branch that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower."
Second of all, I would like to make it known my position on Islam. In this I differ from many, but my position is backed up by the Quran, not by narrations from other than the author of the Quran (and I believe this to be God). In summary, I believe as per 18:54 `And We have clarified in this Qur'an for the people from every example; but mankind was always most argumentative'. I do not accept other than the Quran as a source of religious law. I believe it to be an amazing book, but a book which has been denigrated primarily by those claiming the name of Islam through made-up narrations which they claim to have been made by the Prophet Muhammad and a second source of law in `Islam'. Not only are these narrations themselves backward illogical and contradictory to the Quran, but they also encourage their adherants to look at the Quran in an intolerant and illogical way (in order to justify their narrations). The Quran forbids anything else besides it to be taken as a source of religious law:
45:6 These are the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of Allah, which We recite to you (O Muhammad SAW) with truth. Then in which speech (HADEETH) after Allah and His Ayat will they believe?
As for her book:
Irshad Manji is a Muslim everyone. She is a lesbian Muslim and she wants everyone to know. Muslims are backward and hypocritical and the Quran is a schizophrenic mix of misogyny, violence and contradictions. Most of the problems in Muslim societies are due to the Quran. Muslims should look to Israel as an ideal country with religious tolerance. Muslims need to reform the message of the Quran for today's society by interpreting it. This is called itejehad. This is her message and she thinks she is very clever. She is hailed as a role model by the right wing, who only wish more Muslims would be like her.
Below are the problems I have with her book:
She commences her book with a semi-autobiographical description of her early days in Canada, her family having been forced out of Uganda by Idi Amin. You can tell that she has had no positive male role-models in her life. Her father was a violent man (as she makes out) and the men who `taught' her `religion' at the local `religious school' were all nasty and misogynistic. In this, I am sure is an explanation for what she would call her `lesbianism'.
She then goes onto imply that the Asian Muslims in Uganda because of the Quran, which never forbids slavery took slaves and treated them badly! This is blatant ignorance. There are currently plenty of non-Muslim Africans who enslave each other during the multitude of wars that are unfortunately going on in Africa. Furthermore had she even attempted to explore the question rather than falling in love with herself for asking it, she would have realized that the Quran has numerous verses encouraging the manumission of slaves, e.g. 90:12-13 : `Do you know which is the better path? The freeing of slaves' The Quran makes it clear that in an ideal society, slavery should not exist. Why does the Quran not advocate clearly a total ban on slavery? Simple, an immediate ban on slavery in a country with many slaves would leave slaves impoverished and with nowhere to go.
She displays another example of her shallow morality by stating that if God did not want her to be a `lesbian' then why did he make her `fall in love with a woman'! This is worse than even Hollywood movie morality! The Quran is clear on same sex lewdness : 4:15 And those women who commit lewdness, you shall bring four witnesses over them from amongst you; if they bear witness, then you shall restrict them in the homes until death terminates their lives, or God makes for them a way out.
4:16 And the two men who commit it from amongst you, then you shall punish them (the punishment mentioned in the previous verse! ). If they (both women and men) repent and amend, then leave them alone. God is Redeemer.
Presumably she feels this verse needs `interpreting'. She then implies that other religions have no problem with this issue! No religion will ever approve/give equal recognition to same sex lewdness. Again, she is completely wrong and has an opinion devoid of any moral principles.
Next on her list is another Islamic falsehood (although unfortunately adopted by Muslims who have no idea what the Quran says) concerning an income tax which the Quran allegedly states that all non-Muslims must pay. In fact a look at the text (without using the hadith of Bukari et al) reveals what this `tax' is. It is reparations to be paid out when Muslims are attacked by non-Muslims (the only justification for war in the Quran is self defense as per 2:190). And guess what, read Robert Hoyland's book about `Seeing Islam as Others saw It' and what do you see? Early in Islam this `tax' was only paid in frontier towns (who were presumably waging war against Muslims)! Later on the Caliphs imposed this on all people. So, historical proof of a move away from the Quran (conveniently backed up by the hadith) can be demonstrated.
She quotes from MEMRI - one just has to google this term to realize it is run by an ex-Mossad agent. She displays gross ignorance concerning the creation of the Zionist state. Every `Muslim' crime she magnifies and displays ignorance of the context or adopts bizarre right wing conspiracy theories which have no basis in scholarly research.
I hope you get the impression! The people who reviewed this book well blindly accepted the facts without verifying them for themselves violating the Quran 17:36.
Out of those who read the book, those who verified the facts will dislike this book. In reality this book is terrible. It is like a fast food sandwich - it gives people what they want but the ingredients are unhealthy.
However, the only valid point she has, and I want to end on this point is this : Muslims are unable to engage in a free minded discussion on so many issues. I have consistently been surprised at how, despite the levels of education and intellectual attainment, how many Muslims on issues of religion act as if they are some third world dictator and attempt to stifle debate through intimidation.
Trash not scholarship June 2, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I dont understand why people take Irshad manji seriously, i mean she is not a scholar of islam, she has no credentials when it comes o islam, i mean just because she says she is a muslim and she is criticizing her own religion makes her a reliable source. I mean this is ridiculous all these people that know nothing about islam are going to her to learn about islam. how can she know what is the problem with islam if she doesn't even know anything about it. I feel like she dosn't like what islam is, so she want to fit into her vision. I mean islam contains certain requirements to maintain modesty, is against homosexuality, and is antithetical to secularism. irshad doesnt seem to like any of this so she wants to change it so it conforms to the western way of life. I mean if you read her book anything that deviates from the western way of life she seems to have a problem with it, and she seems to regard it as grossly inferior. She doesnt seek to understand why islamic culture might be different from western culture, she simply assumes its because islam is backward. I mean this is the worst type of Orientalism i have ever seen, no wonder she is not a fan of Edward Said.
On to my next point she never considers what type of effects political turmoil can have on the islamic world, she chides the islamic world for their lack of freedom, but doesnt seem to understand that the United states contributes to it by propping up dictatorships across the middle east. She seems to minimize the crimes of the apartheid state israel and in some cases outright deny they even
exist. Irshad seems to be wrong on everything whether its theology, politics or the hisotry of the middle east. All in all this book has nothing to offer because the writer isn't very knowledgeable about the topics she talks about. I mean there are certain problems when it comes to the islamic world dont get me wrong ( such as problems in the education system, repressive rulers, and honor killings) but i dont think she understands what they are and i dont think she has the right solutions to them. writing a book like this will alienate muslims furhter, so one has to think of her intentions when she was writing this one sided diatribe.
 Truth Should Always Be Questioned May 8, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
As I wrote in my novel, Standup Comedian: The Secret and Beyond, "A closed society is to ideas as incest is to a family; it produces idiots." The same can be said of one political system and of one religion. When Catholicism had Christianity locked up it spawned the Inquisition and other atrocities.
Ms Manji's book explains why all "Truths" should be questioned. John Stewart Mill wrote that truth attacked is made stronger, and if it is not truth it will be proven flase. Ms Manji asks the questions that need to be answered.
Kenneth Ray Taylor author of Beyond the Shadow of Death: Book One of the Adam Eden Series
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