The Muslim Problem: Why We're Wrong About Islam and Why It Matters
The purpose of this book is to debunk common misconceptions about Islam or Muslims.
The introduction to this book was its strength in my view. I enjoyed learning about the history of Islamophobia, a centuries-old tool, and the context of how it is relevant today.
There were some very well researched passages throughout, some great points made, statistics demonstrating Islamophobia and how it manifests in different ways. There was value in the information brought to light in each chapter.
However, there was an undertone that came through which made me extremely uncomfortable and which I found problematic. The author singled out conservative Muslims in a negative manner on several occasions. I found it unnecessary and it made me question the purpose of this.
There were a few instances in which he grouped Islamophobes and conservative Muslims together. That, along with the other times he singled out conservative Muslims and the many references to ‘religious puritans’ served to vilify conservative Muslims.
“I’m not victim-blaming, but” is never a good way to start a sentence and rang alarm bells in my head when I read it.
I felt like this book at times pitted Muslims who practice at different levels against each other. It certainly fed into the notion that conservative Muslims are not compatible with living in the West.
He reiterates the point to his fellow Muslims that living in a western country doesn’t involve a compromise with our Islamic principles. But why is this a notion he stresses on, thereby suggesting that some Muslims see them as incompatible (without any sources)? The issue for Muslims is the ways in which we are discriminated against on an institutional level, which the author demonstrated, but he completely detracts from that.
I guess in a way the purpose of the book itself, debunking harmful myths about Muslims, feels somewhat reductive. The ones who believe the myths are never going to be won over by any amount of reason, statistics or anything else. We have to ask ourselves, is it worth it, trying to prove our humanity?
1/5 ⭐️
Book Reviewer
Safiya is an avid reader and book reviewer based in Scotland. She mostly reads books by BIPOC authors with a particular inclination towards Muslim writers. She also writes her own short fiction. To read more of her reflections on different books follow her Instagram page @/safiyareads
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