With Dialogue Comes UNDERSTANDING
These days, Islam is no stranger to controversy. It seems everyone has an opinion about Islam or Muslims. Have you ever wondered what a regular, practicing Muslim would say? Have you ever wondered how Muslims living in the West explain their holy book to their friends and neighbors? Then this book is for you. Read actual transcripts of questions and answers between a non-Muslim student of the Qur'an and his Muslim teacher, with over nine months of theological, historical, and interpretive discussion.
Why These Books are SPECIAL
What Would a Muslim Say is a series of books documenting my experiences as an interfaith volunteer. Since 2009, I have facilitated dialogue with many different people, answering questions about Islam and addressing misconceptions. This is the second book in the series, featuring extensive conversations about the meaning of the Qur'an. In this book, you will learn about:
- God's Grace and Free Will
- Islamic Financing and Celibacy
- Plural Wives, Orphans, and Slavery
- Faith, Reason, and the Nature of Adam
- Inheritance and Adultery
- Scripture and Divine Decree
- On Hypocrites
- Plural Wives Revisited and Islamic Criminal Law
- Interfaith Friendships and the Status of Jews in Islam
- On Sacrifices and Sleeping Souls
- Prophet Ibrahim and the Future of Islam
- The Jinn, the Devil, and Paradise
- Faith, Reason, and the Nature of Adam
- The People of A’raf and the Previous Arabs
- The Sabbath and Islamic Asceticism
- The Verse of the Sword
- The Holy Months and Charity
- Pharaoh, Jonah, Jacob, and Joseph
- The Canonical Texts of Islam
Why These Books Matter NOW
These are timely books. There are many questions, fears, and misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. These books can answer questions, build bridges, and promote understanding. If you would like to learn about the Qur'an or Islamic teachings, but you prefer an informal conversational approach rather than a didactic academic approach, then this book is for you.
You can find more samples of the author's work --plus free presentations, lecture notes, and resource guides-- at www.WhatWouldAMuslimSay.net
Ahmed Lotfy Rashed was born in Egypt and raised in Maryland. He studied physics at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. While there, he was on the Speakers Bureau for the Muslim Students' Association. He continued his education in Pennsylvania, earning his Masters' Degree at Bryn Mawr College.
You can learn more at: WhatWouldAMuslimSay.net
During his three years of graduate study, he served as Public Relations Officer for the Muslim Students' Association. It was at this time that Ahmed started talking about Islam at various churches, temples, and schools. He became known for his informal and approachable demeanor. His ability to break down complex religious and historical contexts for audiences earned him high reviews. He also taught math and science at the local Islamic School. In addition, he led the Youth Committee of the local mosque in Villanova. Soon after graduating, he married and found employment in Boston as a research engineer.
Since coming to Boston in 2004, he has been an active volunteer at several mosques in the Greater Boston Area. He has been the head instructor for the local Islam101 class since 2006. Also, he has been a volunteer for WhyIslam.org since 2009. He has presented Islam at schools and churches, and he has hosted visits to several major mosques in the area. While primarily self-trained, he has been mentored by the scholars in his area: Sheikh Safi Khan in Greensbelt, MD; Dr. Mustafa Ahmed in Villanova, PA; and Imam Suhaib Webb in Boston, MA. He is currently attending The Islamic Seminary of America, pursuing a Master of the Arts in Islamic Sciences.
Ahmed continues to work and live in the Greater Boston Area with his wife and four children. In his spare time, he likes to read about comparative religions, Islamic law, Islamic history, and military history. He also has a weakness for fantasy and science-fiction novels - a problem of which his wife is still trying very hard to cure him.
