My favorite muslims

[Homeless Nutter]

Aiye, I tried to read the Satanic Verses, and after a few pages I began suspecting that the Fatwah was for the impenetrable style. Maybe I should give it another shot some time

Definitely not the best of his books - although I haven't read many. The symbolism seems somewhat heavy-handed and while the concept is interesting - the titular "Satanic Verses" being a few lines of Quran, that seem to endorse polytheism and pay tribute to some pagan goddess, which apparently has been bothering muslim scholars for ages - the story kind of... peters out, in my opinion. Still - wort a read, just to be able to say that you did...

My favorite would be Midnight's Children, which deals with events in India, during the transition from British colonialism to independence.  A copy of "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" has been in my possession for some 10 years, one of very few old-fashioned books I own, but I can't make myself read it, for some reason. I might get an audio version to listen to at work, I suppose.

[abaris]

Yes, and if that's a bannable offence now, then go right ahead.

Obviously not. It's just brick headed.

[abaris]

We often attack the ideas, and even the religions in general.  But I'd like to acknowledge a few particular Muslims who I respect or who have contributed a lot to society.

It's not a few particular muslims as you put it, it's the silent majority. It may interest you that after the attack on the church in France the muslim community was instrumental in organising a vigil together with the christians. Things like that just don't make for juicy headlines.

[Alex K]

I kind of had a thing for that Turkish girl in my class once

[Excited Penguin]

I kind of had a thing for that Turkish girl in my class once

Me too.

[Cecelia]

I had a Muslim English teacher when I was in high school. It was the year of 9/11 too. She had a sharp wit. There was some Islamaphobia directed her way. I know a lot of people didn't like her, but I did. She had a great attitude about everything. In a battle of the wits, she won pretty much every time. My first year teaching, we both worked at the same school. She had been a mentor to my now-best friend. Sadly, she died in a car accident my second year there. She wasn't famous or anything, but I'm glad I got to know her. I think if not for her, I'd probably have a different view on Muslims now.

[J a c k]

I'm surprised Rayaan has a been mentioned as a fave

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Here's another one:


I read "Satanic Verses" when I was in my teens.  Wow, great stuff, and what a great writer.  And he's a hero of liberal Islam IMO.

Except Salman Rushdie is not a Muslim. It would be more appropriate to mention Maajid Nawaz though.

I really like Nawaz.

The Quilliam foundation is a great source of rationalism and liberalism too.

[RobertE]

We often attack the ideas, and even the religions in general.  But I'd like to acknowledge a few particular Muslims who I respect or who have contributed a lot to society.

Here's a recent one that we probably all know about now.  The first one is one of the best speeches I've ever seen:

Loved the part about with working hard, the goodness of the United States and the contribution the immigrants have made, it is incredible that for those who have only been there for a couple of generations have done really well. Perhaps those who live by the guns, the drugs and whatever else should take a good damn look at themselves in the mirror and feel shame. It is not what your country can do for you, it is what you can do for your country is correct. America doesn't owe a damn thing to those who don't help themselves.

[brewer]