American Muslims: The New Generation Second Edition

by Asma Gull Hasan

Book Overview

Twenty-five-year-old Asma Hasan describes herself as a Muslim feminist cowgirl (she was raised in Puebo, Colorado). Convinced that Muslim Americans are the victims of mistaken identity Hasan breaks through the stereotypes and generalizations to talk about the religion and the believers she knows from the inside.While the book provides a lot of basic information about Islam in America, the major emphasis is on the sheer normalcy of American Muslims...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826414168
• ISBN13: 9780826414168
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great tool against Islamophobia

In this era of Islam-bashing, Hasan's book serves as an immensely important tool of tolerance. While some may disagree on Muslim doctrine, and others will be disappointed at how Hasan doesn't inflate their sense of Christian supremacy, "American Muslims" will provide countless people a very informative and enjoyable read. I'm going to be buying several copies and sending them to US soldiers in Iraq (via BooksforSoldiers.com), some of whom have been taught very racist/culturist attitudes - to get them in the mood to dominate the people. Sadly, some of our troops, and the private mercenaries of Dyncorp, believe the xenophobia of Kenneth Timmerman, Michael Savage and other hate-mongers. Asma Gull Hasan provides a courageous antidote to the plague of bigotry. One note on the issue of sexism in Islam - it's important to keep in mind that violence against women is epidemic the world over. "Ms. Magazine" is an important source of info on ugly facts like how over 25,000 women in the US become pregnant each year due to being raped. So, maltreatment of women is something American Christians need to address as well. Moreover, if we want to make things better for women in the Middle East, we could start by not conducting illegal invasions, by not building military bases to control oil resources, by not propping up dictators, and so forth. The state terror of America has a way of trickling down upon the women (and the children and the men) of the region. If Americans curtail the habits of domination in their country's foreign policy, women all over the world will be safer. "World Pulse" magazine is an excellent resource for those interested in how wonderful women like Asma are transforming this troubled world.

A Different and Helpful Insight

A delightful and informative book describing the complications of life in America for a young American-born Muslim woman. This is written by a self-styled "Muslim feminist cowgorl." While I have used it successfully in graduate classes, it is so readable that it would be accessible to high school students. Presents a needed corrective to the stereotypes of the Muslim extremist.

AmericanMuslims:The New Generation, The breath of fresh air!

Thank you, Asma Gull Hasan, for writing such a courageous book about the American Muslims. This book is neither a religious one nor a scholarly, academic one. This book is about the author (An American Muslim), her family, other American Muslims, and their interactions with other Americans in day-to-day life and growing up in America. I am glad this book was published at a time when Islam is seen in America the one represented by Osma Bin Laden and his disciples. (Who do not represent Islam by any means; FYI: there are 1.2 Billion Muslims in the world and about 20% are Arabs). Islam doesn't oppress Muslim woman but very often is misinterpreted by so-called scholars or it may be influenced by local culture, which may not be the true teachings of Islam. The author also noted that Islam was the first religion to grant rights to women. I believe that the author is a moderate Muslim. What she did is to tell America that we, the American Muslims, are no different than any other decent Christian, Jewish, Buddhist or any other religious person living here. Sure we have few bad apples like every one else, but we aren't all bad. She may have offended few majesties for being BOLD and for a few moderately liberal views. But aren't we blessed to be living in the land of the free and the home of the brave? Indeed, we are proud to be the American Muslims. I will give a FIVE STAR recommendation for this book, especially for Anyone who has any beef, anger or any stereotype against Muslims in general or Islam as a religion. The author has covered basic Islamic beliefs and practices very beautifully. Last but not least, it is well written in EASY TO UNDERSTAND format, which distinguishes it positively from many other books in the field of Islam.

American Muslims: The New Generation

In my opinion Asma Gull Hasan's book (American Muslims: The New Generation)is by far the "most efficient" book ever written about Islam. I feel this way because, I discovered this book three days after September 11, 2001. During a time in America when Islam and Muslims were "under fire" by the media. With all of the negative publicity directed toward Islam in America, this book served as a pacifier. Asma Gull Hasan, a Muslim woman saying positive things about her religion totally contradicted the media. The media often featured Muslim men whom had negative methods of dealing with their women, and testimonies from Muslim women whom would give any viewer a negative impression of islam. The book relates that "not all Muslims are from Arab nations. People of every race on this planet are Muslim. Islam is the first religion to openly declare that there is no racial superiority, no benefit of a man over a woman, no benefit based on family descent, and no benefit based on financial wealth. The book also relates that Islam was the first religion to grant rights to women despite being free or a slave. The Qurán is also refered to for support by the author.Another beneficial feature of her book is the way that the information is administered to the reader. I feel as if Miss Hasan made it her objective to write her book on a level that would not go over the head of the reader. Non-Muslims Americans can learn a great deal about Islam from this book. After reading this book it would be impossible for anyone to deny Islam and the peaceful message it delivers. This book covers the basic beliefs and practices of Muslims, as well as address and extinguish all stereotypes. Both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike should own a copy of this book.

She's Muslim...but she's so much like me!

Hasan takes the Muslim religion, so unfairly stigmatized and misunderstood by extremism, and breaks it down to its historical and cultural roots from a gen X American perspective. In this first person narrative, she reveals her own personal story and expresses her first hand experiences with Islam as a compassionate, forgiving, and suprisingly similar (to Christianity and Judaism) monothesitic faith. The religion is over one billion people strong! It turns out some of our favorite athletes and entertainers are Muslims. When an Islamic woman wears a hijab, it is an expression of humility rather than just hiding her hair, and, as indicated by Hasan's picture on the cover of the hardback, not all Muslim women feel compelled to comply. Hasan is obviously proud of her religion and ethnic culture, and after reading how her faith has augmented her life, it's no suprise she's fulfilling her American Dream, just like you and me.