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misssusan's review
4.0
the idea of creating entry points to different views of muhammad (pbuh) through an arba'in is an interesting one and knight's writing is extremely readable. i ran into a few hadith i was unfamiliar with here and had the immediate urge to look into their isnad which probably says a few things about me (one of them likely being that i am really not suited to postmodernism). i look forward to reading more of knight's work!
4 stars
4 stars
muzzamilaminferrin's review
5.0
Michael Muhammad Knight's books just keep getting better! It's been a pleasure to read along as he has made the transition from punk zine writer to university professor. This book was a joy to read. First because it was so informative and so clearly articulates complex ideas. Second because of the love that clearly went into it and overflows its pages. Of all Knight's books I've read (I haven't read all of them) this one did the best job complicating Muhammad's legacy, showing that far from being a monolith, Islam has always been a multifaceted community. Based on that history, Knight makes a compelling case for a more inclusive and affirming Islam. The book is based on the traditional genre of the forty hadith (stories about Muhammad) collection. The Islam Knight presents here seems radical, but he also positions his ideas in history to show that they are not new to Islam.
I want to share this quote describing amina wadud's philosophy that I found especially moving: "... humanity's role as God's representative on earth means that we must pursue a nonhierarchical human unity that mirrors the perfect unity of Allah. When we violate our shared humanity with ideologies of patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, racial and ethnic supremacy, patriotism, religious bigotry, or abelism, we perform a kind of idolatry. Growing as a believer and one who surrenders, in wadud's reading of tawhid, means resisting these culturally learned impulses to deify ourselves at the expense of others."
I want to share this quote describing amina wadud's philosophy that I found especially moving: "... humanity's role as God's representative on earth means that we must pursue a nonhierarchical human unity that mirrors the perfect unity of Allah. When we violate our shared humanity with ideologies of patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, racial and ethnic supremacy, patriotism, religious bigotry, or abelism, we perform a kind of idolatry. Growing as a believer and one who surrenders, in wadud's reading of tawhid, means resisting these culturally learned impulses to deify ourselves at the expense of others."
notthemarimba's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
anna_0001's review
2.0
Didn't finish it because I had to return it to the library, but I had time to read it. However, I didn't find it a very absorbing book, although it's a very interesting topic.
literaryinfatuation's review against another edition
4.0
“In many Muslim context, I am also a loser; I tend to associate with the wrong groups and cite the wrong sources. For quite a few Muslims, my name is dirt.” - Michael Muhammad Knight. .
I like to read biographies of the Prophet that speak of his qualities rather than historical context or are a long quote from the Quran. So, this one by a very unorthodox personality caught my attention. I was warned that he was a provocateur who had no credibility. Even Knight seems to be aware of this. He starts this book by apologizing for his first book, The Taqwacores, about a fictitious Islamic punk-rock scene. But also stressing the forgiving and charitable character of Islam.
I gotta say, I liked this book. I really liked that this book gives representation to a wide variety of personal understanding of Islam, from hardcore orthodox to really out-there interpretations. He gives voice to those who don’t get a mike, ever. He does quote very fringe and questionable hadiths and he seems to be either trying to provoke or pandering to a liberal non-Muslim audience. It is written in a gonzo style, full of Star War references (I’m not complaining) and more of a reflection of a counterculture than what the vast majority of Muslims today believe. But I found myself nodding through many passages. It is not a scholarly work but a guys’ opinion of the diversity of Islam and the exemplary nature of the Prophet. And that is something that I can agree with.
I like to read biographies of the Prophet that speak of his qualities rather than historical context or are a long quote from the Quran. So, this one by a very unorthodox personality caught my attention. I was warned that he was a provocateur who had no credibility. Even Knight seems to be aware of this. He starts this book by apologizing for his first book, The Taqwacores, about a fictitious Islamic punk-rock scene. But also stressing the forgiving and charitable character of Islam.
I gotta say, I liked this book. I really liked that this book gives representation to a wide variety of personal understanding of Islam, from hardcore orthodox to really out-there interpretations. He gives voice to those who don’t get a mike, ever. He does quote very fringe and questionable hadiths and he seems to be either trying to provoke or pandering to a liberal non-Muslim audience. It is written in a gonzo style, full of Star War references (I’m not complaining) and more of a reflection of a counterculture than what the vast majority of Muslims today believe. But I found myself nodding through many passages. It is not a scholarly work but a guys’ opinion of the diversity of Islam and the exemplary nature of the Prophet. And that is something that I can agree with.
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