Category: Book Reviews
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Transgender Ideology: A Book Review of Ryan T. Anderson’s “When Harry Became Sally”
In under 300 pages, Anderson discusses the wide range of affected areas: political development, specifically civil rights strides under the Obama administration; medicine; philosophical incoherence of the movement; the experiences of individuals regretting undergoing sex-reassignment procedures (“detransitioners”); reforms in education to indoctrinate children; coercion to align with the latest evolution of the ideology; cultural and…
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Sports as Sacred and Secular Activities
The modern world is witness to how sports have transformed from merely physical (and at times mental) exercises to economic, cultural, and even political forces to be reckoned with… [however] H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad argues that despite its despiritualized and industrialized form today, the popular pastime of sports turns out to have sacred origin…
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Seerah Book Recommendations 2022
We are nearing the end of the blessed month of Rabi al-Awwal, the 3rd month in the Islamic calendar. This month has a special connection to the Noble Messenger of God ﷺ: both his arrival into and departure from this temporal world occurred in this month. Surely, it is most appropriate to devote ourselves to…
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Reclaiming Islamic History
Famously recommended by former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Darul Qasim’s Ustadh Firas Alkhateeb’s book, Lost Islamic History, is a must-add to any Muslim’s bookshelf. Those already familiar with the seerah or well-versed in history likely will not benefit beyond a light review. However, for those like me, who have trouble delineating history between…
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Muslim Influence on Dante Alighieri’s Thought: Book Review of Miguel Asin’s ‘Islam and The Divine Comedy’
A Book Review of Islam and The Divine Comedy by Miguel Asin [It is not] possible any longer to deny Islamic literature the place of honor to which it is entitled in the stately train of the forerunners of Dante’s poem. [1] One of the most significant impacts European colonization had on its subjugated people was the…
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Seerah in English: Martin Lings’ “Muhammed: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources”
The late Martin Lings’ (also known as Abu Bakr Siraj al-Din) Muhammad ﷺ: His Life Based On The Earliest Sources is among the seerah books written in English that have received widespread acclaim. Originally published in 1983, the book continues to be among highly-ranked seerah literature in the English language and read by scholars and…
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Ramadan Book Recommendations 2022
This list was compiled in the hopes of facilitating a closer connection with the Book of Allah ﷻ and aid in perfecting our worship.
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Andy Weir’s Artemis: Muslims in Science Fiction
A number of movies in recent years like Dune, Interstellar, and The Martian thrust science fiction back into the media-consumer American consciousness. Andy Weir, the author of The Martian (which the movie was based on) has become a household name for more ardent fans, and duly so. The Martian and his recent Project Hail Mary…
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Modern Muslim Activism: Returning to the Sacred
Activism is a loaded word. It is a label that ranges from being a commodity used for profit by companies to one that elicits groans at sincere intentions but for the wrong causes. Amidst online discussion of Islamophobia, performative activism, cancel culture, and identity politics, the role of American Muslims comes to light — of…
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Traversing Tradition Book Recommendations 2021
Commuting to and from work, hours have been freed for us to use at our discretion. A common complaint by those who don’t read is not necessarily that they don’t have time, it’s that they don’t know what to read. For some, it has been so long since they last picked up a book that…