Cover Page

Praise for Being Muslim

“The book is strong on dealing clearly and directly with current contentious issues involving Islam. Siddiqui is unequivocal and effective in exposing double standards and inconsistencies in contemporary media coverage of news stories in which Islam plays a part.” — Canadian Materials Magazine

“Haroon Siddiqui does a careful job showing how many different points of view there can be within a shared religion.” — Chicago Tribune

“Siddiqui’s book isn’t polemical, nor is his style argumentative. On the contrary, he painstakingly addresses all those familiar ‘charges’ that have been routinely laid at the door of the Muslims of the world, and which encompass distorted interpretations of their faith and practices.” — Dawn News, Pakistan

“...this basic knowledge will help non-Islamic readers to make sense of what they see on the news, and to sort out the truth from the propaganda.” — Globe and Mail, Toronto

“This book would benefit not only the ill-informed non-Muslim, but serve as an excellent reference for the lapsed or culturally estranged Muslim.” — Gazette, Montreal

“Extremely challenging and thought-provoking, this book would be an excellent resource for senior high school students interested in politics and debate.” — Resource Links

“This balanced, concise book is an excellent resource for social studies or debate class.” — School Library Journal

“A wise and informative book.” — Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun

“Siddiqui writes cogently and clearly, wasting no words. This is an introduction to Islamic history and practice, but it also makes larger social and political points... In the end, he emerges as a calm, determined voice for a more modern Islam and for a society in which it plays a fuller, more constructive role.” — United Church Observer

“[Siddiqui’s] confrontation of the difficult issues whether in terms of ‘psychological internment,’ multiple identities, or the challenges that Muslims themselves must confront, is both rare and refreshing.” — Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Jordan

Slavery Today

Kevin Bales & Becky Cornell

The Betrayal of Africa

Gerald Caplan

Sex for Guys

Manne Forssberg

Technology

Wayne Grady

Hip Hop World

Dalton Higgins

Democracy

James Laxer

Empire

James Laxer

Oil

James Laxer

Cities

John Lorinc

Pornography

Debbie Nathan

Being Muslim

Haroon Siddiqui

Genocide

Jane Springer

The News

Peter Steven

Gangs

Richard Swift

Climate Change

Shelley Tanaka

The Force of Law

Mariana Valverde

Series Editor

Jane Springer

For my parents, the late Hafiz Mohammed Moosa Kandhlawi and the late Hafiza Amtul Baseer, for their endless love and indulgences that gave me the confidence to go anywhere, try anything.

My uncle, the late Hafiz Syed Sarwar Hussain, my first teacher and mentor, whose values continue to guide me.

My siblings, Maryam, Suleman and Hafiz Yousuf, for their enduring affection.

My wife, Yasmeen, whose animating presence lights up our household and whose judgment often saves me from mine.

Our sons, Fahad and Faisal, for whom and whose generation this book was written.

Muslims by Region / Language*