You have a chance to read a book for our website, and you should use that chance. This is the first novel written in English by a prominent Muslim writer, but it's set in a Western city. The protagonist is an Indian Muslim living illegally in England whose success as an author depends on his ability to construct complex metaphors from what seems like mundane items within the world of Islam. However, he has been trained as an engineer so he can't understand why Muslims who live in America don't want to partake of "conspicuous consumption". The novel reveals prejudices as well as tendencies to view Muslims as 'other' by contrasting the Muslim protagonist with his "Americanized" brother. Outwardly, both seem to share the same religious and political views: Shakir Khan is a dissenter who runs his own "political-secularist" website and is an apologist for terrorism and suicide bombing. Salim Rashid, on the other hand, is an Americanized Islamic scholar from Pakistan who teaches at a large East Coast university. Both are devout Muslims whose Islamic beliefs contradict certain values of their respective societies. In London, Shakir is shunned for his political views, "un-American" habits of dress, and foul language. In the United States, Salim is mocked by fellow American Muslims for being an outcast from "true" Islam. The fictional characters in the novel seem to be clear about the important differences between the two countries: America and Britain. The most important difference: increased religious intolerance in Britain compared with America. This article was written by Ayyaz Ahmed Khan and posted on www.minhajarticles.com Click here to read this book online: http://www.minhajarticles. com/download.php?f=/publications/books&file=http://www.minhajarticles.com/uploads/pdfs/books/An_American_Islam-Salim_Rashid__A_Muslim_in_the_West__by_Hussein_Ali-pdf.htm Azhar Ahmed, UK: Easy to read and well written novel about a young man who has just moved to London and is trying to find his way in the West and Islam, looking for a "True Islam."Shakir Khan: The protagonist, a British Law graduate, living in London illegally after overstaying his student visa. He runs a website that promotes political Islam. He is a lapsed Muslim, but decides to become more religious as he observes the Muslim communities in London and America. He has been trained as an engineer, and his success as a writer depends on his ability to construct complex metaphors from the things he sees around him. Salim Rashid: A prominent American academic who teaches at a large East Coast university. He is an ex-Muslim whose idea of Islam is inconsistent with what he thinks American Muslims think Islam should be. He's more of a liberal than Shakir, but also more anti-American than Shakir because Salim has been denied entry into America throughout most of his life. 8eeb4e9f32 36
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