Growing Up Muslim: Understanding the Beliefs and Practices of Islam

by Sumbul Ali-Karamali

Overview

Author Sumbul Ali-Karamali offers her personal account, discussing the many and varied questions she fielded from curious friends and schoolmates while growing up in Southern California—from diet, to dress, to prayer and holidays and everything in between. She also provides an academically reliable introduction to Islam, addressing its inception, development and current demographics.

Through this engaging work, readers will gain a better understanding of the everyday aspects of Muslim American life, to dispel many of the misconceptions that still remain and open a dialogue for tolerance and acceptance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780375983405
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/14/2012
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	859,021
Lexile:	1050L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	10 Years

About the Author

SUMBUL ALI-KARAMALI grew up in Southern California, answering questions about Islam. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University, a J. D. from the University of California at Davis, and a graduate degree in Islamic Law from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. She has served as a teaching assistant in Islamic Law at SOAS and a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in London. Her highly praised adult book is The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing, an academically reliable introduction to what Muslims believe and practice, but one written in the personal, anecdotal, everyday context of growing up Muslim in America.

Table of Contents

Part I Muslim Beliefs and Practices (or, What It's Like to Grow Up Muslim in California)

1 Starting with the Basics: What Do Muslims Eat? 3

2 Definitions and the Declaration of Faith 16

3 How Many Times a Day Do You Pray? 22

4 Fasting: The Ultimate Internal Conflict 42

5 Holidays: From Turkey Dinner to Baklava 62

6 Donating to Charity 79

7 A Muslim Pilgrim's Progress 83

8 Everyday Rules of Behavior for Muslims 92

9 Fashion Sense (or, What Muslims Wear) 100

10 Relationships Between Men and Women (or, Can I Go to the School Dance?) 111

Part II When Did Islam Start and How Did It Develop?

11 Muhammad and His Mission 119

12 How Muslims View the World: God, Angels, and Adam and Eve 134

13 The Basis of Islam: The Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Shariah 142

14 From Sand Dunes to Spain: The Spread of Islam 155

Part III Modern Muslim Demographics

15 Who's Who: Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi, and More 173

16 Muslims: Who We Are and Where We Live 183

Notes 197

Bibliography 202

Index 208

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6 Up—Ali-Karamali's primer offers an informal, highly personal introduction to Islam. Chronicling her experience growing up Muslim in California, she comfortably discusses major aspects of the faith such as prayer, fasting, and theology as well as food, fashion, and relationships, while connecting these topics to her daily life. The relaxed presentation makes the information more interesting and accessible to readers who would otherwise find it difficult to follow. The writing flows smoothly as if in conversation, making it understandable and appealing. However, the informality does not detract from the accuracy. A few diagrams and a select, scholarly list for further reading are included. This unique introduction is a good choice for dispelling misconceptions and prejudice about this faith, and will appeal to readers of human-interest stories.—Justin Parrott, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH

School Library Journal

Ali-Karamali wrote this book at the behest of middle school teachers looking for age-appropriate materials about Islam. As narrator, the author has an easygoing manner, but she betrays her southern California upbringing with her intonation. Each chapter presents a topic relevant to the basic tenets of the Muslim faith and its practices, including diet, fasting, the status of women, dress, and prayer. The personal nature of her account and narration together with the light humor helps to make the content accessible to middle school students as well as to adults who are interested in basic information about Islam and Muslims. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2013 - AudioFile

Ali-Karamali offers plenty of anecdotes about growing up Muslim in America in a conversational tone that is undermined by poor organization. The work explores a range of questions that non-Muslims might have about followers of Islam. Ranging from a discussion of Muslim holidays or the kinds of clothes worn by Muslims to the development of Islam, the author explains these topics in a friendly, engaging manner. She provides several examples of Muslim practices around the world, going beyond her American experiences to reflect Islam's diversity. Chapters are organized into three fact-filled sections on beliefs and practices, the development of Islam and current Muslim demographics. Unfortunately, beginning with the practical questions about food, fasting and fashion delays important concepts such as how jihad is not equivalent to terrorism and whether Islam mandates women wear face veils (in a word, no). Compounding this basic conceptual flaw, this organizational choice necessitates clunky references to later chapters. Moreover, it is not until Chapter 4 that cited figures or quotes are provided references, an example of sloppy scholarship. Readers will find answers to basic questions about Muslims, yet they might not understand the bigger picture if they don't hang in until the end. (notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews