Book Review: Ramadhan and Ramada Inn

In His Name
Most Beautiful Names are His
The Rahman and The Rahim

American Crescent: A Muslim Cleric on the Power of His Faith, the Struggle Against Prejudice, and the Future of Islam and America, by Hassan Qazwini, a work that simply captivates the reader with the simplicity with which he contextualizes his entire life experience, of migration, within the American Context, starting from Iraq to Iran, Kuwait, LA and now Dearbon, Michigan

When I refer to the American Context, it relates to the challenges that any immigrant faces, from culture, language, education, freedom, portrayal of Islam, arab and muslims (which were not stressed enough in the work, and not to forget an his interaction with the opposite gender, specifically within the mores of the arab Culture.)

The work focuses on the arab ethnicity to a certain extent while also placing the motivation of the muslims in the United States and their political affiliations to either parties in the mirror of a 15 % minority within the Islamic world

Being an imam (leader to a gathering of fellow believers) in Dearbon, MI which is at the center of many arab Shi'i Muslims, places/d him in the unique position to interact with individuals in the higher echelons of the political corridor

The introduction to the work is simplistic: relating his lineage to the Prophet him-self, peace and blessings be upon him, the context of his families own history of muslim Scholarship, the out-spokeness of his relatives against the Iraqi regimes that were oppressive, their state of migration out of Iraq to Kuwait, Iran, and how he ended up in the United States.

As one reads the work, he doesn't belabor much on this subject of victimization, albeit in the context of the migration that he had to bear. At the same time he is also honest with decisions he wish he had not made, one of them, endorsing the Faith Based Initiatives, which in his opinion benefitted Pat/Falwells likes more than anything else. He sets to task and criticizes

1. US double standards in Foreign Policy in Latin America as he speaks of the Middle East. Devotes quite a few pages on it

2. Critical of Thomas Friedman (Editorial writer @ NY Times), for his lack of judgement, awareness and the placity of the roots of violence in the muslim Community as it relates to how elements like al-Qaeda create terror and fear and very much resort to violence, to dissuade other muslims. The placement of US strikes against sunni towns in Iraq, was in-fact preceded by al-Qaeda operatives engaging them-selves and terrorizing the Communities, which then lead the US forces to their actions

3. When Tom Ridge/Paul O Neil called upon arab leaders in Dearbon, he was direct to call Ariel Sharon a terrorist, after he solicited a definition of terrorism from them

4. Many will find his take on 'Halls of Power' rather simplistic.

The work is very well thought out - it is easy to read, especially for a non Muslim – who I believe are the direct audience.

It is important and note-worthy to take notice how well he is stayed away from the fray of Shi'i and Sunni tension with the life experience he, his family had to go through. It is obviously a tribute to the open mindedness that God his gifted him with- an agenda that caters to the youth here. Following Imam Chirris (his work on the life Imam Ali in english is simply brilliant!) foot-steps, he stays above the pettiness of a victimized mentality, which is so permeating the Shi'i discourse, particularly during the peak days of black observance.

Lastly, on why I titled the review as 'Ramadhan and Ramada Inn'. He shares an e mail from a non muslim inquirer, asking what relation was there in bombing 'Afghanistan' in October and Ramada Inn [The Ramada Inn is a hotel Chain across North America]. Obviously the non muslim inquirer was not aware of what Ramadhan stands for, particularly when the bombing in October of Afghanistan happened during the month of Ramadhan.