The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists (A Must-read!)

The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists

Khaled M. Abou El Fadl (Author)

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: HarperOne (January 23, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780061189036
ISBN-13: 978-0061189036
ASIN: 0061189030

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

El Fadl, professor of Islamic law at UCLA and Bush appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, is the academic voice of the world's majority-moderate Muslims. His strong credentials and thoughtful approach set him apart from his peers. Here, he successfully argues that the extremist sects of Islam, mainly Wahhabism, blatantly defy the true values of Islam. He clarifies that Wahhabism was once an unpopular, fringe, cultlike movement, which only grew through a chance partnership with the Saudi Arabian ruling family. The discovery of oil created an unprecedented infusion of petro-dollars into the fledgling, conservative belief system. The point of the book, El Fadl writes, is to define "the reality of Muslim thought as it currently exists." He focuses on the extremists' "puritan" view, exposing the hypocrisies and inconsistencies inherent in their "imagined Islam." He doesn't offer specific solutions, but he raises the issues carefully and well. Though the writing can be dry and portions read like a law school lecture, overall El Fadl's book is a fulfilling read for moderate Muslims concerned about conservative leadership and any non-Muslims who want to inform themselves about the extremists' misuse of Islam. (Oct.)
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Review

“Those looking for an understanding of the Muslim world and its relationship to the West…will find this book invaluable.” (Dallas Morning News )

“The Great Theft is probably the most dramatic manifesto from an American Muslim since the September 11 attacks.” (Associated Press )

“Mother Jones and the National Review rarely see eye-to-eye, but we both agree on this essential title.” (Mother Jones Magazine )

“An uncommonly rich, learned and easily accessible framework for understanding the current theological struggle within Islam.” (Washington Post Book World )

“Khaled Abou El Fadl has made a contribution that should be widely distributed and deeply reflected upon.” (Globe and Mail (Toronto) )

“One of the more engaging primers on Islam available.” (Foreign Affairs )

“… [The Great Theft] lucidly answers important questions Westerners have about Islam.” (San Francisco Chronicle )

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