The Muslim Next Door: The Qu'ran, the Media, and that Veil ThingAuthor: Sumbul Ali-KaramaliGenre: Religion Publisher: White Cloud Press Released: September 1, 2008 |
A Review by Kim Lumpkin
02/19/2009
One of the most commonly believed myths about Islam Ali-Karmali addrsses is that it sanctions the subjgation of women. For one thing, in Islam Eve is not held responsible for man's fall into sin: "Adam and Eve both fall from the garden, just like in the Bible. But in the Qur'an, Eve does not cause the banishment. God forbids Adam and Eve to go near the tree, but Satan arrives to tempt Adam, not Eve. I cannot help thinking of a bumper sticker I saw just the other day, insisting, 'Eve was framed.'" She also addresses the perception of the hijab, or veil, as a symbol of oppression, noting that it is hypocritical to denounce it, or even ban it as some countries have done, while using women in skimpy outfits to sell products. Of course there are groups such as the Taliban that sanction cruel and sexist policies against women, but these are based on culture and actually go against the spirit of Islam, which is very respectful of women.
As Al-Karamali dissects the factors that have shaped Americans' view of Islam, she stresses that radical groups such as the Wahhabis and the Taliban that the media have focused on are such a small percentage of Islam that she didn't even think them worth mentioning when she first started writing this book. They no more represent mainstream Islam than the Puritans of the Salem witch trials represent Christianity. Furthermore, Islam does not promote or condone forcing nonbelievers to accept Islam. True Muslims believe that it is God's plan for them to respect all religions, for as it says in the Qur'an, "If it had been thy Lord's will, all who are on the earth would have believed, all of them. Wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe?"
Ali-Karamali concludes by explaining why Muslims were not more active in defending their faith; the fact is, they thought it was a private matter that didn't need to be explained to everyone, and that as long as they lived and worshipped here in peace, they would not bother or be bothered by anyone. Unfortunately, the stereotype of Muslims as violent, women-abusing fanatics is so ingrained in Western culture (Disney's Aladdin, for example, which looks quite different through her eyes) that she is doubtful they will ever truly be overcome.
I've only touched on some of the major examples here; there are many others. The Muslim Next Door is perfect for theology students or anyone who wishes to learn more about the complexities and beauty of Islam, and Ali-Karamali's straightforward writing style makes it easy to follow. It's just too bad it will probably never be read by those on both sides who need to read it the most.
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