Beyond Veil and Holy War

Abstract

In the aftermath of 9/11, Muslims grappled with the shock of seeing the horrific attacks and their attribution to so-called Muslim fundamentalists. Some questioned whether indeed there was anything in the Qur’an that could condone such acts and whether negative portrayals were in any way indicative of their religion. Others struggled with accusations as non- Muslims similarly groped for answers. Beyond Veil and Holy War exemplifies one such struggle. Written in a question-and-answer format, the book answers many of these questions and calls for ijtihad, or objective soul-searching, in order to differentiate between behaviors that Islam preaches and the practices that some Muslims follow. The intended audience is non-Muslims looking for answers, as well as Muslims searching for reasons for the dubious behavior of fellow Muslims. The book presents an Islam that celebrates religious pluralism and is compassionate toward human weaknesses. It is divided into two parts: the current situation and a vision for the future. The first part contains 13 chapters and provides a background in contemporary issues relating to Islam. The first three chapters deal with the Muslims’ basic beliefs and sources of guidance. The author relies on the primary sources alone – the Qur’an more so than the Hadith – to support his arguments throughout the book ...