Book description
Irshad Manji calls herself a Muslim refusenik. 'That doesn't mean I
refuse to be a Muslim,' she writes, 'it simply means I refuse to join
an army of automatons in the name of Allah.' These automatons, Manji
argues, include many so-called moderate Muslims in the West. In blunt,
provocative and deeply personal terms, she unearths the troubling
cornerstones of Islam as it is widely practised today: tribal
insularity, deep-seated anti-Semitism and an uncritical acceptance of
the Quran as the final, and therefore superior, manifesto of God.
In this open letter to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Manji breaks
the conspicuous silence that surrounds mainstream Islam with a series
of pointed questions: 'Why are we all being held hostage by what's
happening between the Palestinians and the Israelis? Who is the real
coloniser of Muslims - America or Arabia? How can we read the Quran
literally when it's so contradictory and ambiguous? Why are we
squandering the talents of women, fully half of God's creation?' Not
one to be satisfied with merely criticising, Manji offers a practical
vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women,
promotes respect for religious minorities and fosters a competition of
ideas. Her vision revives Islam's lost tradition of independent thought.
The recipient of death threats as well as heartfelt support from her
co-religionists, Manji travels throughout the world with her challenge
for both Muslims and non-Muslims: dare to ask questions - out loud.
Irshad Manji is a best-selling author, journalist and public speaker
based in Toronto. She was born in East Africa and raised near Vancouver.
A 'feminist for the twenty-first century' according to Ms. magazine,
Irshad travels the globe, engaging Muslims and non-Muslims about how to
support the liberal reformation of Islam.
