Excellent book about Islam.

[Lala]

Just finished an outstanding book about Islam, and I would like to recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. It's called "No god but God" by Reza Aslan.

This book gives a facinating historical perspective and an excellent explanation of all the facets of Islam today.

[Debookwrm]

Not to promote...but could one find it on Amazon.com? Or better yet Barnes & Noble or would one have to go to a specialty store?

Lala are you Muslim? If you've read it and you are Muslim and you recommend it, I'm far more interested in reading it. I have so many questions.

Deb

[Hashman]

I can't vouch for the contents because I haven't read the book, but here are the links to it at B&N and Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400062136/
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=1400062136&itm=1

It's currently in hardcover format only...paperback will be available in January.

[Lala]

Originally posted by Debookwrm
Not to promote...but could one find it on Amazon.com? Or better yet Barnes & Noble or would one have to go to a specialty store?

Lala are you Muslim? If you've read it and you are Muslim and you recommend it, I'm far more interested in reading it. I have so many questions.

Deb

I am not Muslim, and I also had a lot of questions. I saw a special on PBS a few weeks ago about Mecca and that prompted me to seek out a book on the subject of Islam.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and I think it is important to at least try to understand the beliefs and history. I got the book out of the library, and I must admit that I tried to read several others and I could not get through them. This book reads like a good novel. The author is an excellent storyteller.

My neighbor is Arab and was raised Muslim and we have had several conversations about Islam since I finished this book. I would have never had the confidence to discuss Islam before reading this book because all I really knew about it was what I had "heard" and most of that was negative.

[cyounus]

Lala,
asking questions of any kind is acceptable. There is NO subjest that is not discussed in Islam. Islam is a way of life therefore all areas of life are discussed.

[Lala]

Originally posted by cyounus
Lala,
asking questions of any kind is acceptable. There is NO subjest that is not discussed in Islam. Islam is a way of life therefore all areas of life are discussed.

I did not mean to imply that there are things in Islam that could not be discussed. I was reluctant introduce the subject because I knew I did not know what the heck I was talking about. Previously, most of what I knew of Islam I learned from the media and it is no secret that after 9/11 Islam has been misrepresented in many ways.

I feel I have a better grasp of the entire picture of Islam after reading this book and not just the radical aspects of Islam portrayed in the media.

[Maryam]

Hi Deb and Lala,

I am Muslim. It has been about 13 years since I embraced Islam. My family was Christian/Catholic, and I always had many questions about why we followed what we did, and it lead me on a search for truth.

I started studying the major religions to see if I could find answers to the questions I had. I found that Islam was closest to what I actually believed all along.

I believed in one God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and I believed I was accountable for my actions. This is what Islam teaches, and the more I studied, the more contentment I found. This is why I ultimately chose to embrace and follow Islam.

A good book that helped me understand Islam is "Towards Understanding Islam" by S. Abul Ala Maududi (sometimes spelled Mawdudi). I got it from Kazi Publications at www.kazi.org. Their web site has it listed for $7.50.

I think this book will be helpful in answering some of the questions you may have regarding Islam, insha Allah (God willing).

Maryam

[Lala]

Originally posted by Maryam
Hi Deb and Lala,

I am Muslim. It has been about 13 years since I embraced Islam. My family was Christian/Catholic, and I always had many questions about why we followed what we did, and it lead me on a search for truth.

I started studying the major religions to see if I could find answers to the questions I had. I found that Islam was closest to what I actually believed all along.

I believed in one God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and I believed I was accountable for my actions. This is what Islam teaches, and the more I studied, the more contentment I found. This is why I ultimately chose to embrace and follow Islam.

A good book that helped me understand Islam is "Towards Understanding Islam" by S. Abul Ala Maududi (sometimes spelled Mawdudi). I got it from Kazi Publications at www.kazi.org. Their web site has it listed for $7.50.

I think this book will be helpful in answering some of the questions you may have regarding Islam, insha Allah (God willing).

Maryam

Thanks for the book suggestion. I work with some Muslims and I have a neighbor who is Muslim and when I asked them about books on the subject, they couldn't give me a suggestion because they didn't read books about Islam, they lived it and had lived it all of their lives.

You have a unique perspective because you sought out the religion. Thanks for sharing and congratulations. You "sound" like a contented, happy person.

[Ladyjinx]

i feel so isolated almost all of you state my neighbor is muslim, i work with muslims, my friend is muslim..............
i am in a very small town ( and if i get a book i have to order it off the internet...} and if there is a muslim person out here he/she is hidden very well. (pouts)

[cyounus]

Lady,

Let me tell you. I was living in Oklahoma about 7 years ago and I was the only muslim in about 75 mile radious. I had to go to Fort Smith, Ark to the masque that was in an apartment. I had my food shipped to me from Oklahoma City. The only this that kept me from going nuts, was the internet and my family. I was so glad to go to New York City.

[Ladyjinx]

That had to be tough!
i'm just feeling a bit jealous.......and ignorant , seems everyone has someone they can go ask. LOL shame on me.
Oh well at least i have here! I saw someone else post a link to a muslim chat and i may go ease drop but would feel to dumb to talk there.
At least here i know i'm not the only one who is clueless ( no offense to anyone! if your not clueless then i'm not talking about you!)

[cyounus]

Hay, go have a look and join in. Have some fun. Ask all the question you want, they can't hurt you (not that they would).

[Ladyjinx]

LOL no that was bad, everyone got quite..said it used to be a chat about islam but is not now ...then i got a private chat jump up at me and the person talking i could not understand!
I'm so glad i have a twisted since of humor.
i just closed everything out. I hope i did not offend the person i could not understand ...but i could not understand them!

[Ladyjinx]

Let me state that the people on that chat where not rude. They where very polite. It was my own embarrassment that made it so bad.

[Debookwrm]

I have ordered several of the books recommended and fear that I may bother you with too many questions once I begin to study them. If I begin to be a pest, please do tell me. I do not wish to annoy anyone.

Deb

[cyounus]

Deb
if you don't ask question then you wont have the answers. Ask as many as you want to. If I don't have an answer I an sure someone else will. I will always tell you if I can not answer :)

[zuhra]

Hey Guys

you can ask as many question as you want Deb, we will try to answer as "Cyounus said, Someone else will" if we didn't have the answer.....
:):)

[4Jay4Kay]

Originally posted by Lala
Just finished an outstanding book about Islam, and I would like to recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. It's called "No god but God" by Reza Aslan.

This book gives a facinating historical perspective and an excellent explanation of all the facets of Islam today.


Excellent books I'd like to recommend. "The Case For Christ" and "The Case For Faith" by Lee Strobel. An Athiests search for proof of Christ. Excellent!

[4Jay4Kay]

Understanding the Koran
By Mateen Elass

Book Recommendation