The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook

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Life as a Muslim in post 9/11 America - challenging to say the least! It's an uphill battle to counter the stereotypes perpetuated by a xenophobic media whilst simultaneously countering the narrow, intolerant version of Islam perpetuated by some fanatical Muslims and mosques in America!

My family decided to take some positive steps to make sure our voice, the voice of Moderate Muslims, was heard - we decided to write a book - entertaining, educational, and empowering for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Hence 'The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook' was born - please visit www.theamth.com to read the reviews and feedback. Librarians and educators have welcomed it as a much needed resource to combat ignorance & shatter stereotypes about Muslims in the West.

Here's the press release which describes our book in greater detail...

Accessible and provocative, 'The American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook' by Dilara Hafiz, Imran Hafiz, and Yasmine Hafiz, is a fresh perspective on Islam updated for the 21st century. The essentials of Muslim beliefs are interspersed with lively commentary and quotes from American Muslim teenagers. Each chapter deals with a timely subject in Islam, beginning with excerpts from the Quran and a teen-friendly interpretation of that verse, then offering real-world examples that illustrate the essence of Muslim life. “What a delightful, hilarious, wonderful, beautiful book! I loved it!” says noted Muslim spokesman, Reza Aslan, author of No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam.

Muslim teenagers across America contributed their thoughts on living as American Muslims, expressing their heartfelt belief that one can successfully fulfill that role through better education and greater understanding – hence the need for the user-friendly Handbook. There is a dearth of current literature that addresses Muslim teens or discusses Islam in a progressive context. With books such as this one, the media’s constant refrain of “Where are the Moderate Muslims?” is no longer a valid question. Anyone curious about the silent majority of Muslims who do not receive media coverage will find this a refreshing, fascinating read.

Dilara Hafiz and her two children, Yasmine and Imran, all possess a strong background in Islam, but it is their insightful combined experiences as a mother and Sunday School teacher, teenage students, interfaith activists, and public speakers that elevate the Handbook into a ‘must-read book’ for anyone interested in Islam. “What a book! I wish every major faith had just such a book for teens of their faith. We could then share them... and build peace in the world." - Dr. Paul Eppinger, Executive Director - Arizona Interfaith Movement.

Are we nervous about the response from the fanatics from all faiths? Of course...but our hope is that the open-minded, sensible people across cultures and religions will recognize the efforts of a family of sincere, Muslims who are attempting to wrestle their religion back from the extremists (to paraphrase the title of an excellent book by Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl of UCLA). After all - if we don't speak up - how can we blame others for misunderstanding us??

posted by DH on 10/11/2007 1:10 pm | COMMENTS (3)

Comments (3)

This is absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for writing and advertizing this book. My brother teaches in a junior high school in California and says these issues are really tough to deal with in today's political climate. So, I will let him know about your book, which I think will help him and other teachers a lot.

I also teach a unit on Islam here in Japan, so am looking forward to the insights this book has to offer.

Thanks so much.

Anne Thomas (Japan)

posted by Anne Thomas on 10/16/2007 10:41 pm

This extremely accessible book is an easy introduction to Islam for those who do not follow or know much about the religion. It also provides a much-needed divergent viewpoint about American Muslims from that provided by the mainstream media, often in attempts to heighten public anxiety and unfortunately leading to increased xenophobia.

American Muslims are, first and foremost, Americans. This fine addition to any library's or bookstore's religion section fills a once-empty niche, allowing students of all ages to learn about the world's fastest-growing religion, also amongst the most peaceful, which many do not realize due to fundamentalist elements worldwide who stress their own skewed version of what true Islam espouses.

The authors are dynamic speakers, well-versed in their faith, beliefs, and research concerning viewpoints from Muslim teens nationwide. If the opportunity ever arises for them to speak to your organization, as it did for the one at my school, you will be the recipient of three extremely intelligent, open-minded and well-informed speakers.

I recommend this book to anyone, anywhere, who wishes to understand more about the basics of Islam, and the challenges which American Muslim teens, as well as non-Muslim teens, face on a daily basis in a continuously changing political and global atmosphere.

Steve Munczek Sponsor Hamilton High School Muslim Students Association

posted by Munczek on 2/ 9/2008 11:31 am

Dear DH

I wish to congratulate you and your children for this wonderful attempt!!

I haven't read the book yet ,but I know that I would get hold of it and read it.

For the world, and especially for the West, the most prevalent image of Islam is of fanaticism, brutality, hatred and disorder. Stemming partly from a lack of information and partly from bad press, this is the most dangerously misunderstood religion in the world, especially after the 9/11 mayhem.

However, most Muslims don't come forward with clear views about the generally misrepresented picture of Islam because they are wary of being labelled as 'An Apologist'

As a Moderate Muslim I think I can already relate to whatever you have to say in your book.

All the best

Nazia

posted by Nazia Mallick on 10/10/2008 1:04 am