Field: Others (Diary)
Title: Journey to Islam- Diary of a German Diplomat
Author: Murad Wilfried Hofmann
Publication: The Islamic Foundation
ISBN: 0 86037 326 6
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

A diary, though different from (auto)biography, tells as much about the author as the latter customarily would. This one in question records the life of the author, his quest of truth, intense curiosity, remarkable analysis and critical thinking, among many others, since the beginning of the second decade of his life.

Being a reader, a characteristic essential for a diplomat, Mr Hofmann acquainted himself with many books including the Qur'an, which he found to be unique. Years before actually becoming a Muslim he has extensively read on the hadith and Islamic philosophy. Finally on the 25th of September 1980 in Bonn, he declared his shahadah.

In the eyes of a German diplomat, a new Muslim, an ex-Catholic, Mr Hofmann saw many things otherwise hidden to both the general Westerners and Muslims. In the many ocassions where the former see Islam as a threat, he sees it as an alternative, and when the latter take something for granted, he appreciates it like anything. It was only a matter of time before his intellect and piety took him to another stage; everywhere in the world people longed to learn from him.

[Discuss]

Field: Islam, Ummah
Title: Islamic Resurgence in South Africa
Authors: Abdulkader Tayob
Publication: UCT Press
ISBN: 0-7992-1612-7
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

The multicultural South Africa was not left out when then modern Islamic paradigm took shape in the Muslim world. Leading the shift in the early period were the Malays, largely because of the many political exiles who were shown much respect in this 'new home'. They later build mosques, but were divided between racial lines (Malays-Indians-Africans). This was further exacerbated by the different school of thought adopted by each community, until that it was not uncommon to have serious disputes on what would otherwise be trivial matters.

The modern Islamic paradigm, drawn from international experience, serves as a useful source of Islamic knowledge against traditional 'ulama and the grips they had on the community. It has found Islam in new rhetorical slogans, discussion groups, rallies, and campaigns, even disarming the 'ulama who have long claimed the sole right to interpret the religion. This, of course, did not happen without harsh opposition. The 'ulama saw this change as detrimental to their influence, and did not prefer to sit and watch it crippling down.

Later, Islamism came about, as a response to the success of Iranian revolution. By this new paradigm, it was believed that education and preparation (not arms struggle or revolution) would ensure the eventual success for Islam in South Africa. When the Islamic movement (here the Muslim Youth Movement) had to face the changing political terrain in South Africa, they found an alternate approach- i.e. contextualism. In concrete terms, its image became involved in political issues more than anything else, through a contextual reading of the Islamic texts.

[More...]

Field: Wars, Others
Title: Race with Death
Authors: Vahida Demirović
Publication: TA-HA Publishers
ISBN: 1-84200-005-5
Rating: 3/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Safwan

“…For a hundred days he had to endure abuse, humiliation and beatings: they kicked him, beat him with iron rods, heavy logs, and anything else they could lay hands on. Nursing his own wounds, he wished he could block out the noise of the sufferings of other inmates… Even worse was the sense of impotence. In particular the cries for help he heard from the Muslim women and girls being raped and tortured… He wondered what his wife was enduring and he thanked God that he had no daughters. Perhaps it would have been better if his wife just died, if she was being tortured like this… And he thought of Risto (his Serb neighbour), how he had transformed from their helpful neighbour into a torturing criminal overnight. What has snapped in his psyche all of a sudden? Or was the good neighbour act all those years a mere façade? Why does he begrudge my existence? What have I done to him to deserve this?”

This book collects within its two covers 22 personal stories of the brutal Bosnian war, as communicated by Vahida’s patients. Reading one after another is painful, but surely experiencing it is worst. Words can describe so much but it needs a higher faculty, strength and endurance to be inflicted with- and survive- such great ordeal. In the words of Vahida, “only a parent who has lost a child could understand the pain of losing a child”. These instances, however distressing, make only an imperceptibly tiny fraction of what happened to Bosna as a whole.

[More...]

Field: Islam
Title: The Clash of Civilisations: An Islamic View
Authors: Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Publication: Al-Hidaayah
ISBN: 978-1-898649-71-7
Rating: 2/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Safwan

In a time when Muslims in the West live in an environment of turmoil and difficulty facing new changes daily, they encounter a cultural dilemma, a clash of the Islamic and Western civilizations. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to know the foundations of these cultures, the differences between them as well as understanding Islam correctly taken from its pure sources.

The Western culture has its roots in Greco-Roman civilization, until that its effects can be seen until today. The naming of the days from Sunday to Saturday are all based on their deities, namely Sun, Moon, Tyr, Woden, Thor, Frigg, and Saturn. Even the holy day of Sunday and Christmas can be traced to the Roman pagan’s belief system.

The great transition the West experience to modern science occurred in the battle over Copernicus’s theory, championed by Galileo, whose struggle survived at the expense of his life. The Aristotelians who conspired against him soon lost the war, consequently paving more way for mechanistic explanation which we call science. Later the rise of Voltaire, David Hume, Charles Lyell, Darwin and many others gave a big blow to Christianity- from which it is yet to recover today.

Bilal Philips then expounded on Islamic culture and the roots from where it was derived, making clear between what is original and what characterizes a product of adoption or innovation. Muslims went through several evolutionary phases throughout history marked by the existence of schools of thoughts, a period of blind following, reformation, modernism, and movements. The Islamic creed is however very much protected; its teaching is still preserved and its foundations unadulterated- but the main problem is when they are not practiced.

In the later chapters, the author wrote on each and every pillar of Islam and iman and its consequentially generated character and virtue. Muslims are called to appreciate these pillars to secure not only a new world order but also the much-hoped salvation.

[More...]

Field: Politics, Palestine
Title: Hamas: Unwritten Chapters
Authors: Azzam Tamimi
Publication: Hurst & Company, London 2007
ISBN: 1-85065-834-X
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

After more than twenty years of accumulating public support and influence, Hamas was born in the middle of what the Palestinians believe to be an endless iniquitous aggression from the Israeli side. The 7 Ikhwan leaders who founded this organization include Syeikh Ahmad Yassin and Dr Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, whom, as the future reveals, were later to be martyrs. As a comprehensive Islamic resistance group, Hamas utilizes both political and military means to attain its objective; restoring Palestinian rights.

It was not until after long being suppressed by the Nasiri regime that the Ikhwan, the predecessor of Hamas, could breathe again. Many Arabs were convinced that nationalism is their only train to glory, a state they have lost for many centuries. However the atmosphere changes at the symbolic defeat of nationalism in the 1967 6-day-war between Israel and the Arabs. This already-pared confidence is further inflicted by the Black September of 1970 and Anwar Sadat’s friendly visit to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) 7 years later. The Islamists saw these and grabbed their chance.

With nationalist PLO at war with Israel, the Zionists didn’t in any way see the Islamists as a threat when they started their work at grassroots level. The Ikhwan continued to provide sports facilities, recreational trips, scout events, mosques, kindergartens, schools and clinics- trying to ignore the insolent assaults to their country. However, after the Sabra & Shatila massacre in 1982 the pressure mounted, and they came out with a Jihad plan; a prelude to Sheikh Yassin’s arrest two years later.

Two years after Hamas’ inception, it suffered a near-fatal blow. The leadership began to consider transferring its centre of operation outside Palestine, a task soon taken and headed by Abu Marzuq. For a few years, Jordan warmly welcomed their presence there and for the country to be used as a political base. Things changed when the Jordanian authorities was inundated with too much pressure from the US and Israel, especially after the demise of King Hussein. Hamas was later welcomed by Qatar and then Syria.

Many parties with personal motives are dying to incapacitate Hamas. This includes the Palestinian Authority whose members are mostly American-backed Fatah members. The right to governance Hamas won from the Palestinians in 2006 was undermined by these people, which culminated and made worse by the Israeli who in 29 June 2006 kidnapped 64 Hamas officials, rendering its government handicapped. In spite of it all, Hamas continues to attract more and more support from lovers of freedom and justice all around the world.

[More...]

Field: Islam
Title: Formula Solat Sempurna
Author: Ustaz Zaharuddin Abd Rahman
Publication: Telaga Biru
ISBN: 978-983-3494-98-9
Rating: 4/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Intan

Semakin jauh kita berjalan di merata pelusuk bumi,kita akan melihat pelbagai ragam manusia bersolat.Ada yang dilakukan atas dasar kejahilan.Kebanyakannya menjadi pak turut atau mewarisi ajaran daripada nenek moyang mereka.Perkembangan Islam membawa kepada perkembangan perkara-perkara furuk(ranting) yang wujud dalam ajaran Islam kerana makin jauh daripada sumber asal iaitu Rasulullah SAW.Jauh dari segi faktor zaman juga menghambat amalan solat yang tulen.Maka,pengarang yang juga merupakan pemilik kepada website http://zaharuddin.net telah merumuskan cara solat sempurna seperti yang telah dilakukan oleh Rasulullah SAW yang dengan merujuk sumber tradisional dan kontemporari.

Keistimewaan buku ini terletak pada kupasan ringkas dan padat sesuai untuk masyarakat dari latar belakang yang pelbagai termasuklah mereka yang mempunyai pengetahuan yang minimum dalam kefahaman syariah.Buku ini dibahagikan kepada 5 bab yakni:

Persoalan taklid mazhab dan mencampuradukkan mazhab
Maklumat asas berkaitan solat
Tatacara solat berkualiti
Zikir dan doa nabawi
Hakikat dalam mendapatkan khusyuk dalam solat.
Menariknya,selain daripada merungkaikan tatacara solat mengikut pandangan para ulamak fiqh daripada 4 mazhab utama ahli sunnah wal jamaah iaitu Hanafi,Maliki,Syafi’i dan Hanbali,pengarang juga menyisipkan faktor-faktor yang menyumbang kepada kegagalan dalam memperoleh khusyuk dalam solat.Kesan kerosakan akidah dan kepercayaan (bomoh dan ramalan,terlibat dalam gejala sihir,tangkal azimat,kepercayaan zodiak etc) dan pengambilan makanan,minuman dan pakaian daripada harta haram memberi kesan kepada munajat dan doa seseorang.Di dalam buku ini juga pengarang menekankan dosa besar yang melibatkan harta haram termasuklah dosa riba(2:278-279) dan dosa rasuah/sogokan (2:188) yang mana selalu dipandang remeh oleh masyarakat.

Kesimpulannya,buku ini amat bagus untuk dijadikan bahan bacaan semua setelah diambil kira dari semua aspek termasuk penggunaan bahasa mudah,isi yang komprehensif,tulisan yang bersaiz besar,glossari dan gambar-gambar yang memudahkan pembaca memahami tatacara solat sempurna.

[More...]

Title: Matter The Other Name for Illusion
Author: Harun Yahya
Publication: Arastirma Publishing
ISBN: 975-6579-70-6
Rating: 5/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Nur Nabilah Ahmad Puzi

Another fantastic book by Harun Yahya. The book discusses the topic of matter, substances made from tiny particles called atoms that learn in science that makes up the whole world. Harun Yahya introduces a new point of view in seeing and perceiving the world we know. His arguments are scientific yet based corely on the noble Qur’an. The book presents a very interesting concept and it requires a change in the view of the world almost completely 180 degrees. When you fully comprehend the book, it is life-changing. You will lose your love for this world and materials and start to love something more. A highly recommended book.


For a more personal review, please visit my blog [here].

[More...]

Title: War and Peace in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Author: Zakaria Bashier
Publication: The Islamic Foundation
ISBN: 086037520X
Rating: 4/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Nur Nabilah Ahmad Puzi

The book discusses the times of wars and peace in Arabia during the of the Prophet s.a.w. The difference between this book and the rest is that it uses modern terms and current words and language. And, so, you feel like the author is not talking about faraway story in some faraway land. You feel like you can apply the story to now and the current situations of the coined War on Terror and the politics nowadays. It also helps one to understand how the situation were actually were during the time of the Prophet s.a.w and why the war had to be done, and why the timing of the war were the way it were. There’s also many justifications presented and rebukes on the statement that Islam was spread swords. A good book.

[More...]

Field: Others, Islam
Title: From my sisters’ lips
Author: Naima B. Robert
Publication: Bantam Books, Transworld Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-553-81717-1
Rating: 4/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Nur Nabilah Ahmad Puzi

The book revolves around the reversion of the author to Islam. Divided into 10 chapters that elaborates the journey to reversion, joy and aches and issues of faith and contemporary, the author took a narrative approach intertwined with stories from other fellow reverts (only women/sisters). For non-muslims, the books offers an insiders view to what it is like being a women muslim, a veiled one at that, from fashion, to family, to marriage, even to sex. For muslims, the book uncovers the discovery of truth, the challenging journey of a revert and most extraordinarily, the meaning of Submission. The book, at times, however, is elaborative and winded, and therefore requires patience in reading. A highly recommended book nonetheless.

The best thing I like about the book is Mrs. Robert’s faith and determination. The depth of her beliefs and how it made her want to follow Allah’s commands without question. It is amazing to read her story of growth and the ups and downs of faith. An inspiring book to help us again and again fight against lure of this world and build up our iman.

[More...]

Field: Science, Islam
Title: Keabadian Masa Dan Hakikat Takdir
Author: Harun Yahya
Publication: Saba Islamic Media Sdn. Bhd.
ISBN: 983-9384-58-9
Rating: 5/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Nur Nabilah Ahmad Puzi

In this book, Harun Yahya explain the concept of timelessness and fate using the methodology of science based on verses of the Quran. His target audience is the general public, resulting in simplification of the language used in an attempt to make his work understandable to the public. This is not an easy task and the book therefore becomes repetitive, some chapters redundant. The concept itself is simple, yet, grasping it is another matter. Students of science will be able to relate to the concept much easier than the public, but still, the concept is one that is difficult to digest.

Understanding the concept is not essential to the faith per say. But, if one could grasp and comprehend it fully, the outlook on the world will never again be the same. For me, this is an amazing book. It helped me understand Qada’ and Qadar (God’s Decree and Destiny) much faster and easier, and I recommend this book to anyone who’s searching and is patient and interested.

[More...]

Field: Others
Title: Overcoming Depression – A self-help guide using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques
Author: Paul Gilbert
Publication: Robinson Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1-84119-125-6
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Nur Nabilah Ahmad Puzi

Despite the title, I am not under depression. Just partially interested in the condition. Now, back to the book. In all its glory, the book speaks true to its title, at the least, half of its title. It is, as it stated, a book on cognitive behavioral technique. The book focuses heavily on the definition of depression, on its various divisions and types and colourful external expressions.

At the end of every chapter, a small portion was dedicated to self-help tips. At the end of reading it all, I get the feeling that I now know a lot a more about depression than the actual ways of overcoming it. Needless to say, I was disappointed. But then again, that is what cognitive behavioral technique is all about. Cognition literally means, to be aware of a sensation and also aware of its source. The emphasis here is on awareness. Most sufferer of depression aren’t aware of their condition. Hence, they think that the sadness that they feel is a part of them, it’s who they are and they do not recognize it as something pathological that needs to be addressed. In that dimension, the book tries to cover as many part and type of depression as possible to induce cognition of the disorder in sufferers.

However, although I think the book therefore has a noble intention, I do not believe actual depressionist will pick up the book. They are not aware of their condition and hence will not be interested in picking up the book in the first place. In conclusion, from my perspective, the book is not a self-help book per say. It is more suitable for medical students or student of psychology. It covers many aspects of depression and gives many interesting and valuable information of the much misunderstood disorder.

[More...]

Field: Qur’an
Title: Beginilah Al Quran Mengajar Kami- Tadabbur AlQuran
Author: Mohammad Nidzam Abdul Kadir, Mohd Zamri Mohd Zainuldin
Publication: Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd
ISBN:967510215-2
Rating: 3/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Nurzemy Dania

Al- Quran merupakan panduan hidup manusia yang utama. Malangnya, rata- rata antara umat Islam semakin kurang menghayati dan menggarap prinsip-prinsip yang telah diturunkan Allah dalam Al-Quran. Buku inimengajar anda tentang prinsip-prinsip asas tentang tadabbur Al Quran. Ditulis oleh dua orang figure yang tidak asing di Malaysia, buku ini membawa pembaca memahami pelbagai prinsip yang penting di dalam AlQuran.

Buku ini dibahagikan kepada tiga bab asas:

1)Bab 1 : Tadabbur Al Quran
Bab ini mengupas tentang makna tadabbur, kaedah baik dalam menafsir AlQuran dan beradab dengan AlQuran

2) Bab 2: Prinsip-prinsip Umum Tadabbur AlQuran

• Prinsip 1: Penerangan tentang tafsir bi al athar dan tafsir bi al Ra’yi
• Prinsip 2: Kesinambungan ayat-ayat yang bertaburan dalam AlQuran
• Prinsip 3: Kepelbagaian tafsiran setiap ayat
• Prinsip 4: Nasikh Mansukh
• Prinsip 5: Antara Mutlaq dan Muqayyad
• Prinsip 6: Kisah-kisah dalam AlQuran-tujuan dan faedah
• Prinsip 7: Faedah penutup ayat
• Prinsip 8: Marhalah yang berbeza dalam penurunan ayat AlQuran
• Prinsip 9: Ayat Makki dan Madani
• Prinsip 10: Asbabun nuzul
• Prinsip 11: Muhkamat dan mutashabihaat
• Prinsip 12: Riwayat Ahli kitab
• Prinsip 13: Sumpah
• Prinsip 14: Pengambilan Hukum(istinbat hukum)
• Prinsip 15: Nilai-nilai dalam AlQuran
• Prinsip 16: Memberi perhatian degan kadar perhatian Al Quran
• Prinsip 17: AlQuran dan sains
• Prinsip 18: Seruan Khitob dalam AlQuran
• Prinsip 19: AlQuran sebagai sumber pertama
• Prinsip 20: Tafsiran yang tidak diketahui
• Prinsip 21: Soalan dan jawapan di dalam Al Qurn

3) Bab 3: Prinsip-Prinsip Bahasa Tadabbur dalam AlQuran
Bab ini merungkai tentang maksud sesuatu lafaz, konsep hazaf dan nahu-nahu dalam bahsa arab seperti yang terdapat di dalam AlQuran

Secara kesimpulan, buku ini banyak membawa pembaca mengenali AlQuran dengan lebih dekat dari segi kefahaman terhadap ayat-ayat AlQuran. Sebagai seorang Muslim yang percaya kepada AlQuran, pemahaman atau tadabbur ini amat penting dalam usaha kita menjadi mukmin realiti, sebagaimana yang termaktub di dalam kitab suci AlQuran.

[More...]

Field: Politics, Sociology
Title: Islam and Secularism in the Middle East
Authors: John L. Esposito, Azzam Tamimi & other contributors
Publication: Hurst & Company, London 2002
ISBN: 1-85065-541-3
Rating: 3/5
Level: Advanced
Reviewed by: Safwan

Eleven well-written article compiled, this book presents to the readers a wide range of issues and discussions on the relatively new and very much controversial world dogma; secularism. This ideology, or religion (as some argued), has always claimed to be the sole promoter of material advances, modernization, civilization, democracy and human rights. Such claim, however, is unequivocally rebutted and trashed by this book and countless others.

Historical facts alone would argue against the picture of a sacrosanct secularism. When it claimed to be the proponent of democracy, we have helplessly witnessed how they toppled the Islamic Liberation Front (Algeria) and Refah Party (Turkey) despite them being elected by the people. On top of that, they have painted a false picture of the incompatibility of Islam and democracy; a depiction true only about themselves.

Secularism, an advanced form of laicism, is a product of the West, and only suitable for such people. We, ‘the Rest’, do not share their history of being oppressed by a group of ecclesiastics claiming to be intermediaries between us and our Creator, thus granting themselves the status of infallibility, half-mortal, or godly. In fact, Islam has been protecting Muslims from tyrannies, authoritarianism and obscurantism until the moment it was foolishly abandoned. Unlike the Western experience of Church oppression, under the banner of Islam modernism was and is preached by countless esteemed thinkers like Rifa’a al-Tahtawi, Khairuddin al-Tunisi, Jamaluddin al-Afghani, Abdel Rahman al-Kawakibi, Muhammad Abduh, Rashid Rida, and Rachid al-Gannouchi.

In fact, John Keane and other authors found perilous limitations within the ideology. Keane argued that it is far from possible to replace certainty of religiosity with existential uncertainty. It’s affinity with political despotism and corruption is also a major concern for many people until today. Perhaps this is why, according to Berger, Islam and Evangalism is on the rise in many parts of the contemporary world.

Helplessly, secularism is bombarded with heaps of philosophical arguments that fail to agree with it. While presenting itself as a champion of drawing a line between public and private life, it actually penetrates deepest into our private sphere- as told by the undeniable experience of civilians in the West. By making the world godless and reducing man to natural matter, it is unclear whether our dignity and rights will still be retained. It advocates nature at the expense of God, but ironically men, as claimed to be the product of the former, never cease to conquer and rule over its ‘creator’. The impossibility reaches its peak as the ‘immanent’ man creates another logos and thus dualism and polarity, which culminates into the incumbent assimilation and annihilation of one or the other.

[More...]

Field: Qur’an
Title: ‘Ulum al-Qur’an
Author: Ahmad Von Denffer
Publication: The Islamic Foundation 1983 (Revised 1994)
ISBN: 9780860372486
Rating: 3/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: Safwan

An introduction to the sciences (‘ulum) of the Qur’an includes the development of the disciplines and branches of knowledge related to the understanding of the Qur’an. Interestingly, Ahmad Von Denffer has succeeded in putting this heavy and broad subject into simple writing; being concise, brief, and yet comprehensive.

After defining and making distinct what are Qur’an, Hadith, and Hadith Qudsi, the first few chapters deal with the history of Qur’anic revelation, and later how it was memorized, preserved, compiled and book-ed. The latter tasks, which was undertaken and headed by Zaid bin Thabit al-Ansari, was extremely burdening, although far from impossible. The author then takes us to and through the ‘variants’ that existed between copies of personal Qur’an and the recognized standardized collection; and showed how (insignificantly) they varied, and (even so) how they were destroyed.

Besides the above, the subject of understanding and interpreting the text was also dealt with much attention. This book explains on the concepts, principles and debates on asbab al-nuzul, al-nasikh wa al-mansukh, variant modes and readings, and translation of the sacred text. On tafsir, the different approaches are laid out, helping readers to understand and appreciate their significance and importance.

Among other topics discussed are miracles, past and contemporary, of the Qur’an. The Holy Book contains prophesies; some are proven to be true, while some are waiting for events to unfold, anytime. Moreover, the literary aspect of the Qur’an is unchallenged, both to the people of the past and our proud generation, nor will anyone in the future succeed in producing anything equal in content and composition. Yet with these numerous miracles, more is disclosed to us as we advance into the century. More recently, computer and scientific studies only add to the greatness of the revered Book.

For completeness, discussions on Orientalism, manners, and approach to the Qur’an were briefly included. More is of course to be read from other works, if a student of the Qur’an seeks to gain what is best attainable from it.

[More...]

Field: Travel, Contemporary Issues
Title: In the Land of Ayatollahs Tupac Shakur is King
Author: Shahzad Aziz
Publication: Amal Press 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9552359-2-4
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

As a British-born Pakistani, the writer, like many others, lived and grew in a society and culture unknown to his forefathers. It didn’t take him long to begin developing a critical and skeptical mind; that there is little that he did not question. It is easy to understand, that in the quest of ‘a reality closer to truth’, Shahzad decided that media alone isn’t enough a source. He set off to visit the controversially-dubbed Middle Eastern countries including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Jerusalem.

His shrewd analysis of almost everything encountered is very much an added-value to his travels. In Iran, the writer described how the supposedly America’s enemy country has failed to prevent the super power’s influence from penetrating deep into the countrymen’s hearts. He met, observed, and talked to many laymen who are proud of the West, and would do much to try to accommodate Western values into their Persian Muslim identity. This happens against the setting of a government who would use force to compel its citizens into abiding its religious rulings.

Throughout his journeys, whether in Iran or elsewhere, Shahzad explored a satisfying amount of history and public opinion. In many occasions, he engaged himself with academics in the universities, trying to explore and if necessary, question their ideas. This might not give an accurate picture of the Iranians, but most of them whom the writer met were not completely happy with their government.

The next country, Syria, is very different from his expectations. Not as many people were seen with their scarves on. He described the dominance of the “flesh-showing, head-turning” culture in Damascus. In fact, Shahzad himself had more than once been offered prostitutes by those who had mistaken him as a potential customer. So that is how Syria becomes ‘modern’.

His encounters with different social, economic, political, and religious environments have unavoidably prompted and challenged his thoughts, alongside his perceptions. All through the work, readers can find his insight, argument, and discussion concerning various issues like terrorism, The Big Oil, revolutionaries, political ideas, ideologies, hijab, moral enforcement, and last but not least, the Palestinian Question. This he dealt with very often during his travels in Jerusalem, a destination he has long dreamt to stop by. His main message in the book is that the East and the West can interpret the same events very differently, with catastrophic results.

[More...]

Field: Quran
Title: How to Approach and Understand the Qur’an
Author: Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo
Publication: Al-Basheer Company 1999
ISBN: 1-891540-06-8
Rating: 3/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

More often than not there is a missing link between a Muslim and the Qur’an, and this is what the book seeks to address and re-establish. Using strong arguments from the Qur’an, al-sunnah, and reasoning, Zarabozo splendidly points and clears out some very interesting core issues concerning Muslims and the Sacred Text.

Before he could lay out his well-warranted formula in approaching the Qur’an, alluding to that, he makes it clear to readers about what al-Qur’an actually is, and with that, the responsibilities and obligations that comes with it. There are numerous examples on how this Text has been viewed, read, and practiced by the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his companions, which compel us to reflect on ourselves- our relation with the Qur’an. Their mere statements make a very clear and vivid picture of the role this Book played in influencing their beliefs, actions, and emotions. Their achievements stand until today as unequivocal proof on the virtue of Allah’s guidance and blessings that could be derived from the Qur’an.

Consistent with his enlightenment on the major goals of Qur’an, Zarabozo condemns what he described as the practices of most Muslims today. These include not reading the Qur’an, reading it only for the sake of blessing; cure and healing; studying scientific miracles; cultures and knowledge; and protection from evil. On top of that, he argued that the Qur’an should not be recited without its meaning being pondered, and hence acted, upon. This made clear, he then proposes a set of guidance to answer the question raised by this work’s title, including the correct manners of interpreting the Sacred Text.

In essence; the Qur’an has brought dignity and success to the earlier generations. It is the same Qur’an that we have in our hands today- except that at present, nobody can deny its ‘dormancy’. If we want to start changing the world, change first our approach and attitude toward the Qur’an.

[More...]

Field: Islam
Title: Fikah Luar Negara
Author: Maszlee Malik dan Hamidah Mat
Publication: PTS Millenia Sdn. Bhd
ISBN: 978-983-3603-00-8
Rating: 4/5
Level: Beginner
Reviewed by: A.S Abd Mokti

Fikah Luar Negara adalah buku wajar dimiliki oleh setiap pembaca dari segenap lapisan masyarakat, terutamanya bagi individu Muslim yang selalu bermusafir ataupun telah berada di luar Negara dan mereka yang berminat untuk mengetahui selok belok fiqh semasa musafir.

Buku ini padat dengan topik-topik fekah kontemporari yang seringkali menjadi perbincangan dan perbahasan bukan sahaja orang awam malahan para ulamak, dan majlis fatwa seluruh dunia. Buku ini dimulakan dengan memperkenalkan kepada pembaca mengenai prinsip-prinsip fikah luar Negara yang banyak bersangkut paut dengan Maqasid Syariah dalam menetapkan hukum-hukum Islam serta keharusan dan penyesuaian berdasarkan kadar semasa umat Islam.

Seterusnya, penulis mengeksplorasi tajuk-tajuk seperti kaedah menyucikan daripada najis Babi, Keharusan menyapu khuf, stoking atau kasut semasa bermusafir dan perbincangan para ulamak mengenai syarat-syarat melakukannya berdasarkan dalil-dalil quran dan sunnah serta rasional setiap perkara. Penulis dengan bijak mengemukakan dalil dan perbahasan ulamak dalam bentuk ‘point form’ agar pembaca tidak terlalu terkeliru dengan perbincangan yang panjang lebar, sebaliknya hanya mengambil intipati penting perbahasan tersebut. Suatu perkara lagi yang menarik mengenai perbincangan fikah di dalam buku ini adalah keluasan pengamatan pendapat para ulamak dan tidak terlalu rigid dan hanya berdasarkan pendapat mazhab imam syafie.

Seterusnya, dengan menggunakan teknik yang lebih kurang sama seperti tajuk sebelumnya dengan menyelitkan sedikit unsur humor, penulis menerangkan kepada pembaca tentang rukhsah solat jamak yang dipinggirkan. Kontrari kepada pendapat sesetengah ulamak pondok dan mazhab hanafi, rukhsah solat jamak menurut penulis boleh dipraktikkan bukan sahaja semasa musafir tetapi juga semasa hujan, sakit dan hajat atau kepayahan yang timbul, berdasarkan dalil-dalil dan hujah para ulamak. Penulis juga menerangkan serba sedikit mengenai solat qasar walaupun umum telah mngetahui perihal mengenainya. Dalam tajuk ‘saya pilih koshe’ pula, penulis membincangkan perbezaan pendapat ulamak mengenai perihal sembelihan ahli kitab (orang yahudi dan kristian) dan sejauh mana keharusan umat Islam dalam memakan sembelihan mereka

Selain itu, penulis juga membincangkan perihal pakaian wanita dan lelaki Islam yang wajib dipatuhi tetapi telah mula dilupakan dek kerana mengikut-ikut budaya barat yang tidak selari dengan Islam. Penulis juga membidas pendapat-pendapat sesetangah individu berpahaman feminis liberal yang menyatakan Islam agama yang anti-feminist dan male chauvinist kerana ‘mengurung’ wanita di dalam pakaian mereka. Berkait rapat dengan fahaman ini juga, penulis dengan tegas membidas hujah-hujah golongan ‘wadudiyah’ diketuai Dr Aminah Wadud yang membolehkan wanita mengimamkan solat jumaat dengan rasional, berdalil dan tidak emosional seperti yang mungkin dilakukan oleh sesetengah penulis lain.

Selain membincangkan mengenai ibadah solat dan bersuci, penulis juga membuka tajuk perbincangan fiqh kepada perkara-perkara kebudayaan yang dicedok oleh umat islam tanpa ‘tapis seperti hukum bertatu dan bertindik, perihal meraikan hari kekasih atau ‘valentine’s day’ dan budaya meraikan tahun baru yang tidak islamik dan hanya merugikan dan merosakkan muda mudi umat Islam. Penulis juga tidak lupa memeberi peringatan di dalam buku ini akan kewajipan yang semakin dilupakan oleh umat Islam iaitu menyampaikan Islam kepada orang Islam dan bukan Islam sama ada di dalam ataupun luar Negara.

Secara keseluruhannya, buku ini mampu memberi sedikit sebanyak panduan kepada pembaca berkenaan fiqh seharian dalam kehidupan seorang Muslim. Ia jua merupakan buku yang mampu menjadi pencetus kepada pembaca agar tidak hanya ‘bertaklid buta’ tetapi juga mengkaji dan mengambil kira dalil, hujah dan pandangan banyak pihak terhadap fiqh seharian.

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Field: Contemporary issues, Sociology
Title: The Power of Israel in the United States
Author: James Petras
Publication: Clarity Press, Inc. 2006
ISBN: 0-932863-51-5
Rating: 4/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

In almost two hundred pages, James Petras seeks to enlighten readers, especially Americans, on how he believes his country has been nodding to Israel’s orders. In this relatively brief work, the American Professor of Sociology has laid copious evidence and facts, from which he worked his theory out, of which many have found it in better harmony with truth and contemporary reality.

The pre-assessment starts as he reviewed and makes readers ponder the Palestine issue; how Zionists have been intractably belligerent, the many international laws let alone human rights it has ignored, and the astonishingly ‘dynamic’ stand the US held on democracy in Gaza. He did not miss mentioning the fact that 60 and 35 percent of democratic and labour party’s funding comes from affluent Jewish pro-Zionist organizations, rendering any candidate from these parties an incumbent serviceman to Israeli interest.

On the Big Oil theory, Professor Petras have found some major inconsistencies. He discloses about most American companies’ interest in establishing good rapport and business ties with the middle east, and that the last thing they would want is instability in that region. With the Iraq invasion, dubbed by many as the US’ greed for oil, ironically not one US company has benefited from such gruesome act. Instead, facts tell us the opposite: they directly and immediately suffer a great deal of losses- in fact, the whole world was affected.

The writer, all along this work, tries to put forward his evidence-supported theory of Israel’s power in the US. It is Israel who largely benefits from Iraq’s power vacuum, which used to be its real threat only a few years back. The nature of Iraq’s war itself is self-explanatory; universities bombed, libraries raided, hospitals destroyed, citizens massacred, and intellectuals assassinated- to leave Iraq disabled for a ‘safe’ number of years, or even better, never to stand again.

The presence of Zionist Firsters like Wolfowitz, Abrams, and Feith (to name but a few) as top-ranked officials in the Pentagon ensures the perfusion of Israeli interest- on top of the diehard lobby they could and are mustering. Even the CIA is struggling to win the infamous Zionist-oriented OSP (Office of Special Plans) in the race to supply intelligence to the presidency. In the writer’s words, “it’s a war within”.

Professor Petras continued filling the pages with more facts contradicting the Jewish-controlled media propaganda, covering Lebanon War, Iran nuclear threat, terrorism, suicide bombers, Israeli betrayal of America, etc. He ends the book with countering the arguments from a celebrated professor’s theses, whose work denies the existence of Israeli Lobby in the American administration.

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Field: History of Islam, Contemporary Issues
Title: The Myth of Muslim Barbarism and its Aims
Author: S.E. Al-Djazairi
Publication: Bayt al-Hikma Press 2007
ISBN: 095511564-7
Rating: 4/5
Level: Intermediate
Reviewed by: Safwan

“From Pope Urban’s depiction of Turkish horrors to justify the launching of the crusades (1095-1291) or the church ranting about Muslim crimes in Spain to justify their extermination (16th-17th century), or the horrific Western accounts of Mamluk rule of Egypt to justify the invasion of Egypt (1798), or the Turkish and Algerian barbaric despotism and piracy to justify the invasion of Algeria (1830), or the Muslim ruler of India suffocating British subjects to justify the onslaught against him (late 18th century), and multiple other similar instances, Islamic violence and barbarism has always been the justification for attacks on Muslims…”

This book, in brief, incorporates historical reality into today’s practicality. The author dedicates more than three quarter of this work to arranging the facts in excellent order, so as to help readers get the real picture of reality itself, while setting his theories too exact to be refuted. Thus, it was shown how, from the days of the monarch to the rule of democracy, mainstream western treatment (mistreatment) of Muslims have changed but imperceptibly.

Having painted Muslims as cruel oppressors, mistreating captives, indulging in slave trade, and violently racist, the West then proceeds to invade, ravage, and loot their countries. This is not only the artful machination of their kings and imperialists, which can be understandable, but the main contribution comes from their academicians. In fact, as al-Djazairi explicitly shows, righteous voices against their evil will be dampened at any cost- the tragic story of Craig Murray, the then British ambassador in Uzbekistan, being one of the many instances.

Citing some proves, the author suggests that this misrepresentation is deliberately made on Islam and Muslims mainly out of their fear for the religion. Islam has, in the past, awakened an illiterate community to wrestle with the giant Roman Byzantine; it is hence not impossible for it to do the same today. Islam is not only seen as an antagonist to the West, but also as a ponderous rival potential.

In the last chapter, the author reminds us of the trail of atrocities that befell the Muslims. The crusades and Spanish Inquisition as the starting points, it continues until Egypt was invaded in 1798, then Algeria, India, African countries, and more recently Bosnia & Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq in the 21st century. He maintains that if this isn’t changed for the better, no one can guarantee the world to be free of Muslim massacres in the near future.

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Field: Autobiography

Title: Inescapable Questions

Author: Alija Izetbegović

Publication: The Islamic Foundation 2003

ISBN: 0-86037-367-3

Rating: aaaaa

Level: Intermediate

Reviewed by: Safwan

“Every people has its promised land. Our promised land is Bosnia. We call upon you to fight for it and win it.”

The multi-ethnic setting in Bosnia & Herzegovina is not too different from Malaysia. As outlined in the beginning of the book, major races in the country; i.e. Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats played and still play a crucial role in maintaining the country’s integrity.

Alija Izetbegović’s self-written biography starts with some accounts of his teenage life; a young man and his reflections; whose faith had to be taken care by his mother. At a time when the Serbs (from Serbia )was in power, Alija dodged the draft (military service) and was hunted for it. It was in his teens when the second world war erupted, and around that time, he served his first imprisonment.

Alija spent some time to write books in the next chapter of his life. In fact, in 1983 he was again imprisoned, this time principally due to his writings. After serving the term, at a time when the communist regime of Yugoslavia was considerably weakened, Alija- with some friends- formed the SDA. The party did not take long to win the votes and more importantly hearts of Bosnian citizens. However, the path ahead is thorny, that only few dare to traverse.

With Crotia (president: Franjo Tudjman) leaving Yugoslavia, Bosnia & Herzegovina was left to choose between a war of independence and living as a second class citizen, under the feet of Serbs (president: Slobodan Milosević), in a new-but-rump Yugoslavia. As history witnessed it, dignity was preferred, and Bosnia & Herzegovina fought to earn it. The bloody, one-sided, draconian war that followed cannot be adequately described, to say the least. Bosnia was bent, but not broken. With the president's leadership, they in fact came out of it stronger and better experienced; far from what their enemies would expect of them.

This book recorded many experiences of the president and his remarkable life. His principles, decisions, and determination, above all, are unique and invaluable; they are for everyone to appreciate. Leading his people with nerves of steel, he lived by his principles both as a European and a Muslim.

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