132 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 20:2 

American Muslims: 

Bridging Faith and Freedom 

M A. Muqtedar Khan 

Beltsville, Maryland: Amana Publications, 2002. 194 pages. 

With a picture of a minaret superimposed on the Statue of Liberty, this 
book's cover is a striking introduction to what is inside. Like the Statue of 

Liberty that has acted as a beacon of freedom for wave after wave of 
refugees and immigrants, Khan argues that Muslims in America are beacons 
for the Muslim world, calling the ummah to an Islam of moderation, toler­
ance, and excellence; helping to bring the ummah out of its current malaise 

by engaging in itjthad; and, the same time, bringing Islam to an ailing United 
States. And as the minaret and the Statue of Liberty also can represent poles 

of tension for Muslims (the love/hate relationship and the spilt personality 
syndrome that Muslims have toward the United States), Khan's book inves­

tigates the Muslim experience of living in the United States. He criticizes the 
United States for failing to live up to its promises of liberty for its Muslim 
citizens and inhabitants, as well as for Muslims around the globe. 

American Muslims has eight chapters, each presenting a different angle 
of the relationship between being Muslim and being American. Khan sets 
the scene by discussing "Islam in America" ( chapter l ), moves to "American 
Muslims and American Politics" (chapter 2), "American Foreign Policy" 

(chapter 3), and "American Muslims and American Society" (chapter 4). He 
then introduces the notion of an American Muslim perspective (chapter 5) 
and has a chapter on the compatibility between Islam and democracy ( chai:r 
ter 6). The 9/11 attack and its impact upon Muslims is discussed next (chai:r 

ter 7), and the book ends with his perspective as an American Muslim on 
politics in the Muslim world (chapter 8). 

Khan presents forceful and consistent arguments that are both thought­
provoking and often refreshing in their honesty. He is not afraid to say out 





134 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 20:2 

to criticize the West for its faults and oppression of Muslims: American for­
eign policy toward Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, and other Muslim areas; 

racism and discrimination against Muslims; and the assault on civil liber­

ties since 9/11. 
This book should be recommended to a non-Muslim audience. Khan's 

call for compassion and tolerance, as well as his critique of western society 

from a Muslim perspective, will be an eye-opener - in a good way - for 
many Americans. 

Katherine Bullock 

Book Review Editor, AJlSS 

Toronto, Canada 

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