Beyond Veil and Holy War Islamic Teachings and Muslim Practices with Biblical Comparisons by Saleem Ahmed (Honolulu: Moving Pen Publishers, 2002. 224 pages.)

Abstract

In the aftermath of 9/11, Muslims grappled with the shock of seeing the
horrific attacks and their attribution to so-called Muslim fundamentalists.
Some questioned whether indeed there was anything in the Qur’an that
could condone such acts and whether negative portrayals were in any way
indicative of their religion. Others struggled with accusations as non-
Muslims similarly groped for answers. Beyond Veil and Holy War exemplifies
one such struggle.
Written in a question-and-answer format, the book answers many of
these questions and calls for ijtihad, or objective soul-searching, in order to
differentiate between behaviors that Islam preaches and the practices that
some Muslims follow. The intended audience is non-Muslims looking for
answers, as well as Muslims searching for reasons for the dubious behavior
of fellow Muslims.
The book presents an Islam that celebrates religious pluralism and is
compassionate toward human weaknesses. It is divided into two parts: the
current situation and a vision for the future. The first part contains 13 chapters
and provides a background in contemporary issues relating to Islam.
The first three chapters deal with the Muslims’ basic beliefs and sources of
guidance. The author relies on the primary sources alone – the Qur’an more
so than the Hadith – to support his arguments throughout the book ...