Book of the Believers: A Guide to Islamic Spirituality
Written by Shireen Qudosi (HSQ), Book of the Believers takes a critical and original look at Islam and its effects on both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Taking a reflective look into the source of religious doctrine and customs, Book of the Believers barges upon tabooed topics and places truth as the highest priority over tradition and custom. It is, as the work argues, God’s will that trumpets above the will of man. It is the will of man that defiles Allah’s truth, with thousands of years of sand cast upon His Islam – Allah’s Islam.
Dusting, and sometimes kicking aside this unholy residue, Book of the Believers questions the legitimacy and effectiveness of certain Islamic practices and beliefs, and their effects on the Muslim psyche.
Book of the Believers charges forward with a revolutionary approach toward understanding modern day terrorism and the mentality of extremism that carves many of the radical approaches toward a greater number of issues. Above all, it relentlessly impresses upon the responsibility Muslim societies have in the direction the faith is taking, both socially and spiritually.
It emphasizes the importance for politicians and law makers to discard political correctness when human rights are spat upon and excess liberties are taken under a guise of religious protection, and calls upon non-Muslim societies who are affected by Islam to take a more proactive effort in educating themselves about the Muslim mindset.
Reviews
"Shireen Qudosi's Book of the Believers (Kitab Al-Mu'minin) is an important contribution to the debate over the future of Islam. It brings together personal experience, insight, and an attitude of deep questioning, with an essential commitment to the restoration of Islam's intellectual and spiritual achievements. Most important, Shireen Qudosi writes from the heart, the place from which all sincere believers in the monotheistic faiths draw the inspiration needed to contend with the corruption and conformism especially visible among the Muslims today."
Stephen Suleyman Schwartz
Author, The Two Faces of Islam and The Other Islam
"It's honest, thoughtful and interesting. Two criticisms: it's best not to start anew but immerse yourself in those who came before and their thoughts; and blaming Muslims for Islam's ills reminds me of blaming Russians and Cubans for Communism's ills - an avoidance of the elephant in the room."
Daniel Pipes
Author, Political Commentator, and Executive Director of the Middle East Forum.
Author: Rodney Stark, Co-Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion and Professor of Social Sciences at BaylorUniversity
Background:
“It always seems counterintuitive to moderns that warfare and religion can be consistent. Ideally, followers of the prince of peace are to avoid the sword and shield. Clearly, this has not always been the case. Frequently in the crosshairs of critics are the Christian wars against Muslims known as the Crusades, commonly viewed as the birth of European imperialism and the forced spread of Christianity. But what if we've had it all wrong? What if the Crusades were a justifiable response to a strong and determined foe? Stark, a prominent sociologist and author of 27 books on history and religion, has penned a compelling argument that these bloody encounters had less to do with spreading Christianity than with responding to an ever more dangerous enemy—the emerging Islamic empire. There is much to be learned here. Filled with fascinating historical glimpses of monks and Templars, priests and pilgrims, kings and contemplatives, Stark pulls it all together and challenges us to reconsider our view of the Crusades.”
- Source: Reed Business Information
Opinion:
It was Oliver Cromwell who said “Everyone says God’s on their side. I wonder who’s on God’s side.”
When it comes to the relationship between man and God, no truer words were ever said. And with that, a red flag should immediately go up whenever man decides to invoke the name of God as an authority for his actions.
The first crusades started nearly a millennia ago, and despite our advancements in nearly every sector, we’re still considerably shallow-minded when it comes to God.
Here we have a highly credentialed, well-educated author and professor, justifying the crusades. Militarily, on the authority of man, a war of any nature is easily justified. However, the crusades were not just any war. They were the wars between the followers of the crescent and the cross, both of which invoke not just holy figures but God himself.
Christians had a special role here. Believing that Jesus is not just another prophet, but the son of God himself, one would think a heavy consideration would be placed before chanting his name and raising the sword of symbols of the cross. Here is where not only did the men of a millennia fail, but where Stark and all others who justify the crusades fail.
Jesus, a divine man who did not even protect himself or save his own life, but turned the other cheek, maintained humility in the most desperate of times, under torture and imminent death, did not raise a sword, nor hand, nor cite God as retribution.
And yet his followers did, and do – with many others, displaced from battles, writing nonsense glorifying an act that had nothing to do with neither God nor Christ.
However, I will agree with Stark in that neither should Christians apologize for what their forefathers before them did, an act as ridiculous as anyone alive today apologizing for actions that occurred before their time here and their ability to act on them.
Literally translating to "For God's Sake" or "For God", Khuda Ke Liye is a critically acclaimed film that tells of the path three different characters follow. It was in written and directed by Shoaib Mansoor, a Pakistani talent who debuted as a director when Khuda Ke Liye was released in Pakistan. You knew he did something right when religious conservatives in Pakistan passed fatwas banning the film for its allegedly "Islamophobic" content. At the time of the film's release, Lahore-based fundamentalists threatened bombing film theaters, though no attacks were made.
Khuda Ke Liye shares the story of two brothers who are both singers, and their cousin Miriam. The brotherse, Mansoor (Shaan) & Sarmad (Fawad), become the best singers in Lahore. Sarmad becomes influenced by an Islamic activist. He begins to practice the extremist interpretation of Islam, grows a beard and goes against music, also putting pressure on his free-spirited family to comply.(1)
Mansoor migrates to the U.S. to study music, where he meets, falls in love with, and marries an American girl. However, the events of 9-11 change Mansoor's life forever when he's becomes the victim of Islamophobia. His path also draws attention to stereotypes and misperceptions suffered by many Westerners who have no real understanding of Islam. As one person also pointed out, Khuda Ke Liye is the only movie that showed the affects on 9-11 on Muslims, though arguably the experiences cannot be condensed into the plot line of one character alone.
Meanwhile back in England, a Pakistani girl named Miriam (played by actress-model Iman Ali) lives a happy care-free life until her father deems her too Westernized. His decision to take the matter into his own hands forces Miriam down an unwanted path in a world far removed from the one she knows.
Khuda Ke Liye speaks boldly, trutfhully, and seamlessly weaves multiple themes faced by both Muslims and non-Muslims. It tells the story of not only its three main characters, but uses each character in the film to drive important messages. From the Muslim community in England who pressure Miriam's father to "keep her in check", to the judge in Pakistan who prays five times a day but can't help the creatures of the Creator to whom he prays, to misinformed and poorly trained government agents - Khuda Ke Liye is a moving must-see film. Every plot twist and turn, every account can be traced back to a real-life boundary-transcending problems.
The film also boasts a beautiful soundtrack, with one song in particular merging Easterns and Western sounds. Parts of the film are spoken in Urdu or Pashto, but subtitles should be available in most cases. Khuda Ke Liya can be Netflixed or watched on YouTube, though the quality is terrible online and only hinders the experience the film strives to successfullly offer.
Why We Review Films:
Films are modern day art forms. They can tell a story and reach a wider audience far more easily than any other medium out there. When done right, films can be powerful vessels for social change.
Qudosi Chronicles works to bring the right films to your attention. Khuda Ke Liye is an example of that - a little known film that breaks more barriers in its 100 odd minutes than most scholars, lawmakers, activists and religious type will ever be abel to do. It relays a powerful message that cannot be ignored and can reach millions of diversely-minded people in a short amount of time.
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Reading the Quran is one of the first steps you should take, whether a Muslim or whether someone interested in the faith. Below are some of the top rated Qurans, with a brief description on each of them. When studying the Quran, it's critical you look at the text itself and not rely too heavily on annotations or other scholarly sources. Use these sources as tools but not as authorities.
RATED FOR BEST TRANSLATION A Sufi Translation by Abdalhaqq Bewley and Aisha Bewley. The translators are world reknown for their brillant translations of such classic Islamic Texts as:
al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, Ash-Shifa of Qadi Iyad, The Four Imams, Handbook on Islam, Iman, and Ihsan, and many more.
SUGGESTED READING Entirely in English and relatively short. Translated by Syed Vickar Ahamed. This version is suggested by the Qudosi Chronicles as a beginner's Quran for those interested in reading the scriptures.
POOR TRANSLATION Widely circulated, this version is highly bias and promotes a Saudi agenda. It's hard to read but offers great insight into the type of language used to mold fundamentalist attitudes. Translated by Abdullay Yusuf Ali, this version is unfortunately a best seller.
Part comedy, part drama, East is East is the story of a Pakistani-British household in 1960s England.
George Khan (Om Puri) is a first generation Pakistani immigrant married to a British woman named Ella (Linda Basset). The complexity kicks in around the antics of their part Paki- part Brit children who walk to line between two different worlds but finally are forced to choose between being individuals or doing as their father dictates.
This conflict is brought to light by George Khan, who in fervor to be accepted by the Pakistani community and due to an internal struggle to not betray his own culture, sets off a series of events that drive the story forward.
George sees his world around him collapsing and resorts to draconian measures. He is losing the control and respect of his family whom he is trying, with his best intentions, to bring up in an Islamic way, a tradition he sees as the only choice, where all are equal, a 'special community' which he expects his children to continue. They see themselves as British, not Pakistani, and they get increasingly frustrated with their father's attempt to mould them in his image.1
Each character contributes in their own unique way that helps navigate through the complex circumstance and dilemmas faced by most Pakistani/immigrant families even today. Though the film may take place over four decades ago, the story still hits close to home for first and second generation immigrants. East is East does an excellent job of highlighting these struggles, and does so without vilifying any one character – emphasizing tolerance and compassion as the underlying message of the film.
Released in 1999, BAFTA award-winning East is East is based on the play of the same name by Ayub Khan-Din. The film was directed by Damien O’Donnell.
Reviews
JERUSALEM DIVIDED
Book of the Believers
Literally translating to "For God's Sake" or "For God", Khuda Ke Liye is a critically acclaimed film that tells of the path three different characters follow. It was in written and directed by 
SUGGESTED READING
POOR TRANSLATION