“Her rationalizations for not wearing hijab are controversial and feed western non-Muslims thoughts that the hijab is oppressive.”

From what I remember she actually clarifies that the hijab is not oppressive and tries to debunk this stereotype.

What she does say is that the requirement of hijab is a debated question. Which is true. She recognizes that there exist a variety of views on the hijab. How does that “feed western non-Muslims thoughts that the hijab is oppressive”?

I think she presents the issue in a respectful and inclusive manner.

She also made one major boo-boo. She said we pray in the direction of Mecca because it is the Prophet’s birthplace.

I couldn’t finish the book because these things made her lose credibility with me.

I guess you have never read the Bible or Talmud, which contain the objectionable frases you just mentioned

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1) Since when are Moses’s mother and the Queen of Sheba Muslim???

2) The reviewer writes: “..with regards to the verse that is said to refer to a man’s right to “lightly slap” his wife under certain circumstances, she says: “I wish this verse were not part of the Qur’an. […] I do not intend to blaspheme.”

She does not mean to blaspheme??? But, she will do it anyway?? That verse, like all of the rest of the Koran, is Allah’s literal, perfect word. How can the author wish that Allah had not said it??? How about the sin of blasphemy in Islam? Shouldn’t that be discussed?

3) “Some countries oppress women by using Islam as an excuse. That is culture, not religion and largely the reason […] that Islam is perceived as sexist.”
What is it about Islam that makes it so easy to use Islam as an excuse (not only for suppression of women, but for violence, too)?

4) The reviewer says: “The problem with this logic that I see is that the Qur’an is supposed to be for all ages: what does it mean if she says the Qur’an was great back then?”
The reviewer should answer her own question. Problem, indeed!

5) The reviewer says: she manages to cover almost everything of importance (though I do wonder why hadith [sayings of the prophet] make almost no appearance).

This is obviously, another gaping hole! After all, the Hadith, together with the Koran, form the basis of Islamic sacred law. And , this, from a professor of Islamic law???

6) The reviewer says: “Although the very orthodox might find some things in her interpretations objectionable, many Muslims might not. “Many”??? What is that supposed to mean? And, doesn’t the word “orthodox” indicate those who follow the doctrines of Islam most closely?

7) Why is there no discussion in the review of the meaning and role of jihad? Does the author deal with the question? After all, violent jihad against non-Muslims is part of Shariah law and supported by all Islamic legal schools. Many Muslim terrorist organizations even have the word “Jihad” in their name. Surely, they are not talking about internal self-improvement!

From the review, it sounds like the book should be subtitled “Islam Lite”.

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I wonder if there is an organization rich enough to mail out copies of the books to people in swing states? Is there any way to raise money to do that? Or to somehow promote this book in swing states – the places the DVD was sent.

@ brokenmystic: I definitely agree.

@ Jamerican Muslim: Waiting for your book with baited breath I agree there should be more diversity. If we don’t like something, we should change it.

@ Hissa: Your point has merit—but that’s not what the author meant. What she does is present an issue (ex inheritance) where women have less ‘rights’ than a man, and instead of explaining why this isn’t considered biased/ unfair or need reform today, she qualifies it with “but women back then didn’t get anything at all!”

This might not be an apologetic idea.. but rather a point that Islam was a revolutionary religion then.. but not anymore.. which to me indicates that we are drifting away from the true essence of islam… if the ‘essence’ of islam is revolutionary which allows it to fit for all time.. so reforms are always needed for the religion to by continue to be revolutionary…

Very cool! I say if you see a gap, then why not try to fill it? Looking forward to your work!