"The Quran, the Media, and That Veil Thing": A Book by Sumbul Ali-Karamali Exploring Muslim Identity in the Modern World

Noah: There is so much information and misinformation about Islam out there right now and my knowledge was definitely spotty. I kept feeling like I needed to get to the bottom of it all to be able to engage in intelligent, pertinent conversations. Finding this book was a godsend. Sumbul Ali-Karamali is clearly a scholar but knows how to not take herself too seriously (as is self evident from the great title). As the back of the book says, I felt like I got to sit down with a fellow mom and learn all about what I wanted to know. Ms. Ali-Karamali seems to have the ideal mix of Muslim and American values which she seamlessly shares with her readers. I learned about overall concepts and values as well as how individuals live within them in the modern world (and how this is eminently possible). As with Christianity and Judaism, as one of the world's major religions it felt important to have a more robust understanding of Islam and now I do. Thank you Ms. Ali-Karamali.

United States on Oct 09, 2023

Maddi Hausmann: This is a book about an important topic that won't be read by the people who need to read it. And for the people who are open to the topic, they'll find it was written by the wrong author.

Ali-Karamali says she was encouraged to write the book because most Americans are complely ignorant on Islam and Muslim viewpoints. I can't disagree with her, but if this is your only introduction to that world, the odds are you'll stop a few chapters in and just give up. I finished it because it was for one of my book clubs, and actually thought the later chapters were more interesting.

Part of the problem is that the basic information she starts with wasn't anything new to me, but the bigger problem is that Ali-Karamali is just as provincial in her viewpoint as the Americans she hopes to educate. The book is full of sweeping generalizations, special pleading, and fallacy upon fallacy. Have you ever heard of the "No True Scotsman" argument? You've probably heard it before: if a person representative of a group does something bad, it's because he's "No True Scotsman," so therefore you can't condemn that group. You'll find that argument and many others more commonly found with...

United States on Jan 23, 2012

Aschlee Riendeau: I read this book to do a book review for my Diversity in Higher Education Class at NC State. I found the book particularly relevant for anyone in this country to read, particularly for student affairs professionals who want to know more about Muslim students. Here's my review:

The Muslim Next Door is a captivating glimpse at what life is like living as a Muslim in America. Sumbul Ali-Karamali describes the long shared history of major world religions, where they diverged, and the hostilities (or perceived hostilities) that have existed between them. In a post-9/11 world, the need for a book that describes the differences between culture, religion, and extremism in a Muslim context has been answered by this very interesting text. In The Muslim Next Door, Ali-Karamali describes the foundations of Islam, the life of the prophet Muhammad, and the misconceptions that Americans have of Muslims based on incomplete interpretations of the Qur'an. This powerful novel makes the reader empathize with the plight of Muslims and the discrimination faced by these people every day as American citizens.

One very powerful aspect of the book is the way that the author explains the...

United States on Mar 14, 2010