From Publishers Weekly
In response to the events of September 11, 2001, Ahmed, Islamic studies professor at American University in Washington, D.C., set out last year to visit Muslim nations in the Middle East, South Asia and Far East Asia. Accompanied the entire way by two non-Islamic American students and occasionally by others—including one American student who was Islamic—the Pakistani-born professor hoped to improve his understanding of the contemporary Muslim realm in all its diversity. Not so incidentally, Ahmed also wanted to shatter the stereotype of the U.S. as a warmongering, Islam-hating nation. The result is a fascinating account of how he and his students braved danger to build mutual understanding in Pakistan, India, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, Malaysia and Indonesia. As academics, they administered detailed questionnaires to Muslims in each nation, while as social creatures, they sat through seminars, luncheons, dinners and casual conversations looking for a candid exchange of ideas about religious, political and cultural differences. Occasionally Ahmed lapses into academese, loses his humility or generalizes beyond what the evidence seems to support. But mostly he comes across as an honorable man who believes that the future of the human race depends on international dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims.
(June)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"A fresh, scholarly and invaluable insight into the mindset of Muslim society in the post 9/11 era" -- Professor Judea Pearl, University of California, Los Angeles and Daniel Pearl Foundation
"A stunning achievement by one of the world's leading experts on Islam." -- Professor Tamara Sonn, College of William & Mary and Former President of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies
"A unique reading experience, rich in on-the-ground perception and realistic hope." -- Professor Lawrence Rosen, Princeton University
"Ahmed has written a book of extraordinary insight. There are few people in the world with such an intimate understanding of America, Europe and Islam." -- Lord Bishop James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool/House of Lords, London
"Akbar Ahmed has long been one of the beacons of the Muslim spokepersons in the West. Here he breaks new ground by taking the theme of dialogue as guiding light. This is a wonderful way to get a sense of the textures of conversations among contemporary Muslims." -- Professor Omid Safi, University of North Carolina
"Akbar Ahmed has long been one of the beacons of the Muslim spokepersons in the West. Here he breaks new ground by taking the theme of dialogue as guiding light. This is a wonderful way to get a sense of the textures of conversations among contemporary Muslims." --Professor Omid Safi, University of North Carolina
"Essential reading, wise, literate, insightful, optimistic, honest and humane, the work of one of the great religious sages of our time." -- Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth
"I commend Professor Akbar Ahmed. This [Journey into Islam] is just another of the many wonderful things he has done. He is really a treasure." -- Professor Shireen Hunter, Middle East Expert and Visiting Scholar, George Washington University
"I strongly urge anyone concerned with the fate of this planet to not only read Journey into Islam, but also heed it." -- The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, Director, Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, Washington National Cathedral
"I strongly urge anyone concerned with the fate of this planet to not only read Journey into Islam, but also heed it." --The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, Director, Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, Washington National Cathedral
"Really interesting and important . . . a break-through in our understanding of the complex relationships between globalization and Islam." -- Lord Anthony Giddens, House of Lords and former director, London School of Economics
