In her book The Trouble with Islam Today, Irshad Manji says,”I have to be honest with you. Islam is on very thin ice with me…. Through our screaming self-pity and our conspicuous silences, we Muslims are conspiring against ourselves. We’re in crisis and we’re dragging the rest of the world with us. If ever there was a moment for an Islamic reformation, it’s now. For the love of God, what are we doing about it?”
In this open letter, Irshad Manji unearths the troubling cornerstones of mainstream Islam today: tribal insularity, deep-seated anti-Semitism, and an uncritical acceptance of the Koran as the final, and therefore superior, manifesto of God’s will. But her message in The Trouble with Islam Today is ultimately positive. She offers a practical vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities, and fosters a competition of ideas. Her vision revives “ijtihad,” Islam’s lost tradition of independent thinking. In that spirit, Irshad has a refreshing challenge for both Muslims and non-Muslims: Don’t silence yourselves. Ask questions—out loud. The Trouble with Islam Today is a clarion call for a fatwa-free future.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“…feels like a revelation…a raw nerve ending for the West – shocking, raw, but mercifully, joyously, still alive.” ―Andrew Sullivan, New York Times Book Review
“Irshad Manji is a fresh, new and intriguing voice of Islamic reform. This wonderfully written book will surprise you, educate you, even entertain you.” ―Alan Dershowitz, author of The Case for Israel
“[Manji’s] ideas have already set off a searching debate.” ―Clifford Krauss, The New York Times
“Tightly reasoned and packed with knockout punches.” ―Pat Donnelly, Montreal Gazette
“Manji is blazingly articulate.” ―Margaret Wente, The Globe and Mail (Canada)
“The Trouble with Islam is beyond controversial. It may ignite a firestorm of protest…her easy conversational style, addressed to ‘my fellow Muslims,’ makes it accessible to a wide range of readers.” ―Leslie Scrivener, The Toronto Star
About the Author
Irshad Manji is an acclaimed journalist, lecturer, and human rights advocate based in Toronto. Recognizing Irshad’s leadership, Oprah Winfrey honored her with a Chutzpah Award for “audacity, nerve, boldness, and conviction.” Ms. magazine has named Irshad a “Feminist for the 21st Century.” She is also a recipient of the Simon Wiesenthal Award for Valor.
