What's Right with Islam Is What's Right with America

April 12, 2004
Rauf, a Manhattan imam whose mosque is only 12 blocks from the World Trade Center site, argues that what keeps the Islamic world and America apart, and what fuels Islamic terrorism, is economics, politics, Muslim defensiveness—everything but
religion. In fact, Rauf believes that America best represents Islam's true values. His major theme is the existence of an "Abrahamic ethic" which undergirds all the monotheistic religions and extols equality and justice. If Muslims, especially American Muslims, harness this Abrahamic ethic, Rauf promises Islam will once again contribute to the universal striving for a better society. In countering Bernard Lewis's What Went Wrong?,
Rauf raises numerous valid points: the U.S. overthrow of democratic Islamic regimes in Iran and Indonesia; U.S. creation and sponsorship of Afghan mujahideen to fight the Soviet Union; the anti-Muslim bias of American media (a point echoed by Karen Armstrong in the foreword); the massive, debilitating effect colonization had on most of the Islamic world; and the "drawing lines" in the Middle East and South Asia by European powers after WWI and WWII, dooming countries with wildly diverse populations to perpetual unrest. However, Rauf presents these points sporadically and less eloquently than some previous commentators. The book's strengths include a concise history of Islam as well as brief but valuable insights into the American Muslim community. The few references to his own personal story also resonate: "Like many immigrants from Muslim lands, I discovered my Islam in America." (May)

Forecast:
National advertising, a radio tour, and a foreword by Karen Armstrong will help push this title.

Starred review from July 1, 2004
In this important counterweight to anti-Islamic polemics, Abdul Rauf (Islam: A Sacred Law) presents Islam as a faith of moderation and tolerance. He sees the common foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in the Abrahamic ethic of love for God (the vertical dimension) and love for one's fellows (the horizontal dimension). He reviews what is right with Islam, drawing on the Prophet Muhammad's examples and teachings, and Islam's consonance with what is right with America, such as a plural society, liberty, and economic principles. Economic inequity and power-seeking, rather than religion, he asserts, cause terrorism and other "religious" conflicts, and the world community should fight terrorism at those roots. He also calls for action from the United States (to support the rule of law and democracy in Islamic countries), U.S. Muslims (to articulate moderation to other Muslims), U.S. Jews (to affect peace in the Holy Land), the media (to cover Islam fairly), the business community (to develop relationships), and religions (to recognize the divine image in one another). The author's inclusive Sufi views do not represent his more doctrinaire coreligionists but may reflect the faith of the many moderate Muslims. Highly recommended.-William P. Collins, Library of Congress

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