Book Reviews 

Taking Back Islam: 

American Muslims Reclaim Their Faith 

Michael Wolfe, ed and the Producers of beliefnet 
USA: Rodale Inc. and Beliefnet, Inc., 2002. 240 pages. 

203 

This book is divided into nine sections: an opening section with intro ­

ductory essays, followed by eight chapters that discuss the writers' views 
on certain issues. Each section contains several essays of anywhere from 
between three to six pages. Given the number of authors, I will mention 

only some of the points made in each section. 
In his introduction, Michael Wolfe lays out the book's general 

premise: Maybe it is time to stop looking to the "motherland" for our 
understandings of Islam and Islamic tradition. Maybe it is time to grow 
up. This call is sure to find a resonance among the many Muslims who 
are tired of imported imams and imported books that are so far removed 
from our own reality in the West. Farid Esack brings up an interesting 
point: Historically, Muslims have known only two paradigms: oppression 

(Makkah) and governing (Madinah). However, given current realities, 
they must adopt a third kind: peaceful coexistence in a state of equality, 

as done by those Muslims who emigrated to Abyssinia. 
In "Violence," Khaled Abou El Fadl notes that Islam is concerned 

with building and creating, and that ruining and destroying life is "an ulti­
mate act of blasphemy against God." He writes that war is defensive and 
a last resort, that trade and technology are preferred, and that political dis­
courses have displaced moral discourses. Aasma Khan discusses her 

small group (Muslims against Terrorism), which was set up in the days 
following 9/11 to educate people "about the incompatibility oflslam with 

terrorist activities, hatred, and violence." 
In "Democracy," Karen Armstrong reminds us of several important 

facts: modernity/democracy is a process; that in the Muslim world, moder­
nity was imposed from above and has close ties with colonial subjugation/ 
dependence, instead of independence; and that is imitation and not inno­
vation. Religion, she asserts, can help people through the transition to 
modernity. Alex Kronemer states that "the greatest obstacle to democracy 
in the Muslim world is not 'Islam,' it is poverty, the lack of education, and 
corrupt and repressive regimes, many of which - and this is the important 
point - are supported by the democracies of the West." This raises the 
question of whether the West really wants democracy in the Muslim world 





Book Reviews 205 

and says that peace will come only when religious Jews and religious 
Muslims make peace with each other. 

In "Culture," Helminski explains why Americans love Rumi: He is 
the voice of God's unconditional love for humanity. Daniel Abdal-Hayy 
Moore calls upon the American Muslim community to reject Wahhabism 
and "to forge for ourselves a new vivacity oflslamic life within the para­

meters of what is permissible (halaO." Yusuf Islam recounts how the war 
in Bosnia made him change his views on music (the need for a cultural 
offensive to fight the West's cultural invasion, and how nasha 'id inspired 
the Bosnian army and nation). Kamal al-Marayati discusses how com­

munities can become more familiar with each other through comedy and 
humor. 

In "Practicing Vibrant Islam in America," Michael Wolfe relates how 
the mosque's role in this country has changed over time and now provides 

services that are unheard of "back home." Yahiya Emerick says that we 
should forget about the "motherland" because it is "too bogged down in 
stupidity, corruption, nationalism, and racism." According to him, the 

most accurate version oflslam is here, where there are no cultural super­

stitions. Also, the tensions between the Salafis, modernists, and Sufis 
must be overcome in the quest for balance and living Islam. 

The final section, "Why I Love Being Muslim," deals with the 

thoughts of Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar, H akeem Olajuwon, Steven Barboza, 
and Mos Def on why Islam is important to them. 

Overall, the book was an enjoyable and easy read. Hopefully, it will 
find a large audience among both Muslims and non-Muslims. And even 
more hopefully, it will encourage western Muslims to lessen their contin­
ued dependence upon the "motherland." 

Jay Willoughby 

AJISS Managing Editor 

Herndon, Virginia