Taking Back Islam: American Muslims Reclaim Their Faith is the winner of 2003 annual Wilbur Award for ‘Best Book of the year
on a Religious Theme’ is a collection of essays mostly by American Muslims edited by Michael Wolfe, published by Rodale Press, Pennsylvania in 2003.
The book covers in-depth essays written by prominent scholars and personalities like
Karen Armstrong, Yousuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Khaled Abouel Fadl, Ingrid Mattson and many more up to 35 prominent individuals mostly American Muslims to explain the peaceful teachings of their faith (Islam), its problems here in American soil and proposed solution for creating better understanding between mainstream Americans and Muslim Americans.
What was the main reason behind the compilation of such a work, Editor Michael Wolfe explains: “President Bush has said that Islam is a great religion that has been "hijacked" by terrorists. As a Muslim, and as an American, I fear that he is right. As a result, it's become important for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to spend the time to understand this faith--not only what it has been but would it can and should be. I and many other Muslims, who believe in both Islam and democracy, are tired of seeing Islam defined by others. That's why I've worked with Belief Net to create this book”.
I think that Taking Back Islam is a bold collection of voices from Islam who remain loyal and utterly convinced of Islam's power to help create a just, ordered, peaceful and beautiful world but who are also unafraid to be critical of those who do not want to see Islam as a peer religion as parallel to their faith. Islam clearly denounces terrorism and violence in the world and there is a great need of work especially in media to not just present Islam as a peaceful religion in the world but also work in such a framework that will be further beneficiaries for the Muslim people especially
American Muslim in long run. The most of writers of these essays are American Muslims who want to present Islam as a peaceful and respectful religion in the world.
Publishers Weekly have called this book "the thinking person's guide to Islam in a post-9/11 America," and an "eye-opening survey of the minds and passions" of American Muslims who "grapple with the complexities and paradoxes of Islam."
I think, it is worth to read and distribute copies of this book to your fellow American friends and colleagues who want to better understand Islam and Muslim.