American Muslims Bridging Faith and Freedom by M A. Muqtedar Khan (Beltsville, Maryland: Amana Publications, 2002. 194 pages.)

Abstract

With a picture of a minaret superimposed on the Statue of Liberty, this
book's cover is a striking introduction to what is inside. Like the Statue of
Liberty that has acted as a beacon of freedom for wave after wave of
refugees and immigrants, Khan argues that Muslims in America are beacons
for the Muslim world, calling the ummah to an Islam of moderation, tolerance,
and excellence; helping to bring the ummah out of its current malaise
by engaging in itjthad; and, the same time, bringing Islam to an ailing United
States. And as the minaret and the Statue of Liberty also can represent poles
of tension for Muslims (the love/hate relationship and the spilt personality
syndrome that Muslims have toward the United States), Khan's book investigates
the Muslim experience of living in the United States. He criticizes the
United States for failing to live up to its promises of liberty for its Muslim
citizens and inhabitants, as well as for Muslims around the globe.
American Muslims has eight chapters, each presenting a different angle
of the relationship between being Muslim and being American. Khan sets
the scene by discussing "Islam in America" ( chapter l ), moves to "American
Muslims and American Politics" (chapter 2), "American Foreign Policy"
(chapter 3), and "American Muslims and American Society" (chapter 4). He
then introduces the notion of an American Muslim perspective (chapter 5)
and has a chapter on the compatibility between Islam and democracy ( chai:r
ter 6). The 9/11 attack and its impact upon Muslims is discussed next (chai:r
ter 7), and the book ends with his perspective as an American Muslim on
politics in the Muslim world (chapter 8).
Khan presents forceful and consistent arguments that are both thoughtprovoking
and often refreshing in their honesty. He is not afraid to say out ...