The Muslim Next Door: the Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing by Sumbul Ali-Karamali
Summary: What if you could sit down at a kitchen table with an American Muslim mom and ask her anything you wanted about her faith and religious practice? Conveyed through anecdotes and stories about growing up Muslim and female in the West, the author attempts to clear away the misconceptions about Islam and explain why those misconceptions continue to flourish.
Get the Book!:
Join in the Discussion!
Week 1: What information, anecdote, or argument in the book surprised or left a deep impression on you?
Editorial Reviews:
"Sumbul Ali-Karamali has a gift for explaining the ins and outs of Islam in a language understandable by all. As a practicing Muslim, she puts a human face on a religion that is grossly misunderstood and often feared in America. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Islam from someone who lives it"
— Firoozeh Dumas author of Funny in Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent
"Post 9/11 has seen an explosion of publishing on Islam. For many, the question is who do I read if I only have a limited amount of time and want to know what and why Muslims believe what they believe? The Muslim Next Door is an excellent place to start. Sumbul Ali-Karamali presents Islam as a living and lived faith. She combines scholarship with an engaging and accessible style and frank self-criticism that crystallizes the faith and commitment of a majority of mainstream Muslims in its unity and diversity."
— John L. Esposito, University Professor and Professor of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University
Next Month's Book
For March 2012, Silicon Valley Reads continues with The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson
We thought it appropriate to begin our club with a book our community is already engaged in reading. Silicon Valley Reads is celebrating it's 10th anniversary with the theme "Muslim and American" featuring six books for a variety of ages. Check out the many events at our libraries and throughout the community that feature programs related to this theme and the authors of the books.
Feb. 15 - Santa Teresa's "Our Book Club will discuss The Muslim Next Door and The Butterfly Mosque
From the Author:
I am tremendously honored that Silicon Valley Reads has selected my book, The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and That Veil Thing, for the 2012 program! I wrote my book in response to the many questions I had received all my life on Islam and Muslims.
I have a graduate degree in Islamic law and I grew up as a practicing Muslim in Southern California, so I was well qualified to write not only about what it's like to be grow up Muslim in America, but also about the tenets of Islam. My goal was to write a readable, engaging introduction to Islam that was also academically reliable. Our world is getting increasingly smaller, and we can no longer afford a lack of intercultural understanding.
I applaud Silicon Valley Reads for exploring Islam and Muslims through my book and Willow's book this year - and I hope this is only one step in many that will serve to erase misconceptions and build intercultural understanding. And I thank the readers of the Bay Area for supporting this program and for being on the forefront of those building multicultural bridges. Here's to a successful Silicon Valley Reads 2012 season!
You Might Also Like:
- The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? by John L. Esposito
- The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists by Khaled Abou El Fadl
- The Message of the Qur'an translation by Muhammad Asad
- Daughters of Another Path: Experiences of American Women Choosing Islam by Carol L. Anway
