Annotated Bibliographies, Books from recommended reading

Mohammad N. Ahmad

ISL451

Annotated Bibliographies

Word Count: 1,204

Books from recommended reading:

Abou El Fadl, K. (2005) The Great Theft - Wrestling Islam from the Extremists
Gulen, M. F. (2004) Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance
Khatab, S. and Bouma, G. (2007) Democracy In Islam
Ramadan, T. (2004) Western Muslims and the Future of Islam

Book outside recommended reading, but relevant:

Esposito, J. (2010) The Future of Islam

Abou El Fadl, K. (2005). The Great Theft - Wrestling Islam from the Extremists. New York: HarperCollins.
Khaled Abou El Fadl is a professor at the UCLA School of Law, where he teaches Islamic law, immigration law, human rights, and international and national security law. He is most critical and against Puritanical and Wahhabi Islam.
The book explains the earlier Islamic education system compared to the current Islamic education system and how this has shaped modern Islam. The author’s writing is objective, scholarly, very lengthy and elaborate, thus requiring the reader to have prior knowledge in the subject.
The highlight of the book is its introduction to grouping Muslims as moderates and puritans. It uses a critical approach and backs all its arguments with noteworthy references. Additionally, it presents an extensive academic research into the roots of the problem and the rise of the early puritans and their mentality.
The book addresses many of the challenges that Muslims face in this day and age, and touches on controversial topics such as jihad, warfare, terrorism, the nature and role of women, in the light of a clear distinction between puritans and moderates
Through his extensive research and identifying the key problems, Abou El Fadl makes it clear that there is hope for the future despite what it may appear as today.

Esposito, J. (2010). The Future of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press.
Esposito is a professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies. He is a well known promoter of strong ties between Muslims and Christians. He earned his PhD at Temple University, Pennsylvania in 1974 and authored many related books.
This book is an effort to bring clarity to the international audience on matters related to Islam, many of which are either controversial or sensitive. Written for the informed reader, but anyone with sufficient interest in the topic will certainly enjoy this book as well.
Esposito explores the religious, cultural and political diversity of Muslims who are facing difficult times in Muslim countries and the West. He also aims to clarify the debate and dynamics of Islamic reform, and examine the attempt to combat religious extremism and terrorism, leading to an enhanced future of Muslim-West relations.
The book also includes opinions and insights into some prominent Muslim Scholars, from the East and West alike, and uses familiar terminology to the Western reader. Moreover, the book addresses recent problems and controversial topics in an open and objective manner.
Through extensive research, this book is oragnised in a way that takes you on an intimate journey into the Muslim mind of today and reflects a personal experience with Muslims, which serves as a valuable resource to understanding Muslims today.
Future of Islam is a book that offers the reader ‘in depth’ insights into the current affairs of the Muslim world and Muslims world-wide.

Gülen, M. F. (2004). Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance. New Jersey: The Light, Incorporated.
M. Fethullah Gülen is an Islamic scholar and thinker, a prolific writer, and poet. He supports interfaith dialogue among the people of the book and initiated such dialogue with the Vatican and some Jewish organizations. His writings are greatly inspired by Said Nursi’s teachings.
The writer introduces the importance of interfaith dialogue and expands upon universal concepts such as love, mercy, forgiveness, and tolerance. Using definitions that are unique and beautifully simplified for anyone to understand. His arguments are simple and extremely convincing with an infectious passion, a distinguishing style that is unique to Gülen.
Gülen has a distinctive approach to dealing with the controversial and sensitive topics of modern day Islam. He addresses jihad, terrorism, and democracy in Islam; then deals with Muslim’s responsibility towards them.
The book presents Islam in a totally unexpected manner, totally refreshing and uplifting. It also deals with the pressing issues of Islam in the modern world and presents a framework that Muslims should adapt in order to address these issues and move forward. He emphasises the importance of interfaith dialogue, the role of education and schools towards the future of Islam.
The introduction of the book played an important role in setting grounds for discussing the heavier topics later on. The chapters of the book work together to encourage forward a direction based on love, and compassion. It finally concludes with a messages concerning the September 11 attacks.

Khatab, S., & Bouma, G. D. (2007). Democracy In Islam. New York: Routledge.
Sayed Khatab is a senior research fellow in the School of Political and Social Inquiry and the Global Terrorism Research Centre, Monash University, Australia. He has many publications in his area of expertise.
Gary Bouma is UNESCO Chair of Interreligious and Intracultural Relations – Asia Pacific, and Director of Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University.
The book begins with an elaborate definition of democracy and Islam’s relation to the State. With a writing style best described as academic and rich, the book is best suited for readers with a background in political studies and philosophy.
It establishes democratic values that exist in basic legal Islamic ideas, such as protection of property, ethics, human life, privacy, dignity, work, economy, gender and women rights.
The writer demonstrates a deep western misunderstanding of Islam that is slowly resolving. He provides research that offers an investigation and thorough examination of the controversial topics of Islam in the West and clarifies many misconceptions.
The book’s concepts are greatly linked to each other and are solidly derived from extensive research and discussion. It leads to a long list of prominent Muslim reformers and famous Islamic movements and the role they play in forming what we see today.
To conclude, this book is thorough and detailed, often to extra lengths, and serves as a valuable resource for the researcher on the topic.

Ramadan, T. (2004). Western Muslims and the Future of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press.
Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the Oxford University and also teaches at the Oxford Faculty of Theology. He has significantly contributed to the debate on the issues of Muslims in the West and Islamic revival in the Muslim world. He has numerous works on the topic.
The book aims to present a framework for the evolution of Muslims in the West. The writing style, although technical and academic, is greatly insightful and enjoyable for the interested reader.
Ramadan addresses the various topics related to the Sharia law with detailed explanation then seeks to clarify the branches of Islamic Sciences within, through a remarkable display of the topology and classification of Islamic Sciences. Thus, leading to ideas on how Muslims, through the Sharia, can adopt an identity as Western Muslims. The book concludes by providing a framework for integration into Western cultures and forming an identity. This includes Islamic education, citizenship ethics, and interfaith dialogue as its highlights. The book also introduces the term Islamic Feminism, which are key to understanding where we stand today and how to move forward.
The book is unique in its depth, ingenuity, and presentation of new and unique arguments. The writer leaves you in constant anticipation of what’s next in the book as you are pondering the depth of the paragraphs currently under your sight.