ALongJihad Format: Paperback

In this memoir, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari asks us to look beyond the extremism and violence that all too often defines the Muslim community toward those, like himself, navigating a middle-way life. A path defined in Islam as the 'natural way', far away from the cliff of radicalisation that causes some to harm themselves and others.

Through his personal journey as an Air Force officer in Bangladesh to the leader of the Muslim Council of Britain during the ill-advised War of Terror and beyond, Muhammad's reassuring reflections come to light: the importance of community engagement, civic responsibility, and what it means to live a good life.

In articulating his positions Muhammad Abdul Bari offers Muslims, and everybody else, guidance on going forward as engaged, confident individuals, down a path that rejects radical views and seeks to stay in the centre, living a life of moderation that is, as the Qur'an says, 'justly balanced'.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist, community activist, author, parenting consultant and commentator on social and political issues. Dr Bari has written for various newspapers, blogs and journals including The Huffington Post and Al-Jazeera English, and is the author of a number of books on marriage, family, parenting, identity and community issues from contemporary British Muslim perspectives. He is a founding member of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO), now part of the Citizens UK (CUK). He was Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (2006-10), Chair of the East London Mosque Trust (2002-13) and non-executive board member of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG 2006-13). He is also a trustee of Muslim Aid, a leading international charity. In recognition of his services to the community, he was conferred an MBE in 2003.