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Scattered Pictures: Reflections Of An American Muslim
This literary release seeks to engage readers in meaningful dialogue, communal reflection, and social and spiritual change. Scattered Pictures is an anthology of essays that discuss difficult and oftentimes controversial topics. In these turbulent times, these are issues that if left unaddressed, could continue to spiral downwards into serious political, social and religious discord. This shining new book will appeal to all readers interested in critical solutions for a harmonious understanding across divides in humanity and is an innovative guide for students at both the high school and college levels.
186 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2005
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420 people want to read
About the author
Zaid Shakir
14 books70 followersZaid Shakir is amongst the most respected and influential Islamic scholars in the West. As an American Muslim who came of age during the civil rights struggles, he has brought both sensitivity about race and poverty issues and scholarly discipline to his faith-based work.
Born in Berkeley, California, he accepted Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force. He obtained a BA with honors in International Relations at American University in Washington D.C. and later earned his MA in Political Science at Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, he led a successful campaign for disinvestment from South Africa, and co-founded a local Islamic center, Masjid al-Huda.
After a year of studying Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut and continued his community activism, co-founding Masjid al-Islam, the Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative, and the Connecticut Muslim Coordinating Committee. As Imam of Masjid al-Islam from 1988 to 1994 he spear-headed a community renewal and grassroots anti-drug effort, and also taught political science and Arabic at Southern Connecticut State University. He then left for Syria to pursue his studies in the traditional Islamic sciences.
For seven years in Syria, and briefly in Morocco, he immersed himself in an intense study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic studies, and spirituality with some of the top Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he graduated from Syria's prestigious Abu Noor University and returned to Connecticut, serving again as the Imam of Masjid al-Islam, and writing and speaking frequently on a host of issues. That same year, his translation from Arabic into English of The Heirs of the Prophets was published by Starlatch Press.
In 2003, he moved to Hayward, California to serve as a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute, where he now teaches courses on Arabic, Islamic law, history, and Islamic spirituality. In 2005, Zaytuna Institute published Scattered Pictures, an anthology of diverse essays penned by Zaid Shakir.
He is a frequent speaker at local and national Muslim events and has emerged as one of the nation’s top Islamic scholars and a voice of conscience for American Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Born in Berkeley, California, he accepted Islam in 1977 while serving in the United States Air Force. He obtained a BA with honors in International Relations at American University in Washington D.C. and later earned his MA in Political Science at Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, he led a successful campaign for disinvestment from South Africa, and co-founded a local Islamic center, Masjid al-Huda.
After a year of studying Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut and continued his community activism, co-founding Masjid al-Islam, the Tri-State Muslim Education Initiative, and the Connecticut Muslim Coordinating Committee. As Imam of Masjid al-Islam from 1988 to 1994 he spear-headed a community renewal and grassroots anti-drug effort, and also taught political science and Arabic at Southern Connecticut State University. He then left for Syria to pursue his studies in the traditional Islamic sciences.
For seven years in Syria, and briefly in Morocco, he immersed himself in an intense study of Arabic, Islamic law, Quranic studies, and spirituality with some of the top Muslim scholars of our age. In 2001, he graduated from Syria's prestigious Abu Noor University and returned to Connecticut, serving again as the Imam of Masjid al-Islam, and writing and speaking frequently on a host of issues. That same year, his translation from Arabic into English of The Heirs of the Prophets was published by Starlatch Press.
In 2003, he moved to Hayward, California to serve as a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute, where he now teaches courses on Arabic, Islamic law, history, and Islamic spirituality. In 2005, Zaytuna Institute published Scattered Pictures, an anthology of diverse essays penned by Zaid Shakir.
He is a frequent speaker at local and national Muslim events and has emerged as one of the nation’s top Islamic scholars and a voice of conscience for American Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 24, 2013
This book was a very interesting read. I enjoyed reading his short biography and his journey to Islam. I also enjoyed the topics he brought up that range from politics, racism and terrorism to problems Muslims face today. He may have had Muslims living in the US in mind but some of these issues are faced by Muslims here in Egypt (if not everywhere) as well.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Imam Zaid :)
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Imam Zaid :)
August 9, 2016
Upon first meeting Imam Zaid Shakir many years ago, my family and I got an autographed copy of this book because we were so amazed by this scholars speech. I'm then made an attempt to go to almost every event he is a speaker of in our local community, including last nights' SF Halaqa on the history of Muslims in America and was again amazed. It was so much so that I tweeted (http://bit.ly/yrDOzZ) that such topics should be part of our schools US history education.
This book is an eye-opener and a must read for those with questions about our said history. Its a collection of Shakir's many articles which focuses on the history of Islam and it's relevancy to the history of Muslims in America. After his lecture last night, I'm actually going back for a second read of this book!
This book is an eye-opener and a must read for those with questions about our said history. Its a collection of Shakir's many articles which focuses on the history of Islam and it's relevancy to the history of Muslims in America. After his lecture last night, I'm actually going back for a second read of this book!
September 10, 2018
A great book describing the challenges and issues being faced by young Muslims today.
July 7, 2021
Excellent collection of essays. My favorite was the first one, a small memoir of his life. And my second favorite was probably the short chapter on trees.
August 27, 2011
I bought this book hoping that it would be entirely an autobiographical narrative of Imam Zaid's life, as he is one of the most inspiring Muslim figures in America, and his example has influenced me for nearly two decades--I knew some things, and would have loved to read on his life more extensively, in the tradition of "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." There is an excellent essay on his life in this anthology of essays by Imam Zaid, who, as can be expected, writes in a an inspiring, erudite, thought-provoking manner while also dealing with matters of direct and pressing importance in our communities--he is, for all of his knowledge of theoretical matters--extremely pragmatic in his approach--a voice for common sense and proactive wisdom.
I have some random notes I have taken when reading the second portion of the book that I will post here. Please read the book itself as my notes may misrepresent some of the controversial issues he writes on by taking them out of context a bit.
"Jihad is not perpetual Warfare" is a very interesting read that challenges the conceptualization that many Muslims and all Islamophobes have about the concept of Jihad in Islam. Imam Zaid cites earliest authorities, beginning with Ibn 'Umar and progressing through the ages of sages to demonstrate that many thought Jihad was voluntary, not obligatory. As Sahnun said, "After the conquest of Mecca, jihad became voluntary." (126) He explains how the "verse of the sword" was not applied to Jews and Christians, but to polytheists (according to many classical exegetes).
http://www.newislamicdirections.com/n...
In "Not Muslim Zionists", Imam Zaid expounds upon the dangerous pitfalls that Muslims clamoring for an Islamic State without the requisite change of embodying an Islamic state of heart could fall into--Muslims could become parallel to the Zionists in oppressing unjustly through sacrificing deep religious principals in our pursuit of "ideal" nation.
"As Muslims we must make a firm, a priori commitment to the truth, morality and ethics, even if by so doing we undermine our ability to achieve or maintain a state"
For those who used to travel to Zaytuna and who remember the "Bowing Tree", Imam Zaid's brief "Trees" which starts with the poem by Joyce Kilmer, who soon after writing this died in WWI at the age of 31 will be especially touching.
Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918
119. Trees
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, 5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain. 10
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
. In "Flight from the Mosque", Imam Zaid, after explaining how Masjids are supposed to spiritual centers that should have an appeal to worshipers, gives us a very important reality check.
"Many people fail to realize how important these points are for converts. Many converts are turned away from the mosques because of the confusion and repulsive physical conditions that characterizes many of them. Converts from other religious traditions are leaving houses of worship that are the epitome of cleanliness, order, and serenity. One would be hard pressed to find a church or synagogue with food smudged into the carpets, overflowing trash cans inside the sanctuary, devotional literature piled willy-nilly on the bookshelves, filthy bathrooms, and worship services disturbed by roving bands of unruly, undisciplined children. After encountering such situations in many mosques, many converts simply choose to stay home."
He goes on to describe how the politicizing of masajid and sectarian argument and disputation also turn many converts and young Muslims away.
I have some random notes I have taken when reading the second portion of the book that I will post here. Please read the book itself as my notes may misrepresent some of the controversial issues he writes on by taking them out of context a bit.
"Jihad is not perpetual Warfare" is a very interesting read that challenges the conceptualization that many Muslims and all Islamophobes have about the concept of Jihad in Islam. Imam Zaid cites earliest authorities, beginning with Ibn 'Umar and progressing through the ages of sages to demonstrate that many thought Jihad was voluntary, not obligatory. As Sahnun said, "After the conquest of Mecca, jihad became voluntary." (126) He explains how the "verse of the sword" was not applied to Jews and Christians, but to polytheists (according to many classical exegetes).
http://www.newislamicdirections.com/n...
In "Not Muslim Zionists", Imam Zaid expounds upon the dangerous pitfalls that Muslims clamoring for an Islamic State without the requisite change of embodying an Islamic state of heart could fall into--Muslims could become parallel to the Zionists in oppressing unjustly through sacrificing deep religious principals in our pursuit of "ideal" nation.
"As Muslims we must make a firm, a priori commitment to the truth, morality and ethics, even if by so doing we undermine our ability to achieve or maintain a state"
For those who used to travel to Zaytuna and who remember the "Bowing Tree", Imam Zaid's brief "Trees" which starts with the poem by Joyce Kilmer, who soon after writing this died in WWI at the age of 31 will be especially touching.
Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918
119. Trees
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, 5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain. 10
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
. In "Flight from the Mosque", Imam Zaid, after explaining how Masjids are supposed to spiritual centers that should have an appeal to worshipers, gives us a very important reality check.
"Many people fail to realize how important these points are for converts. Many converts are turned away from the mosques because of the confusion and repulsive physical conditions that characterizes many of them. Converts from other religious traditions are leaving houses of worship that are the epitome of cleanliness, order, and serenity. One would be hard pressed to find a church or synagogue with food smudged into the carpets, overflowing trash cans inside the sanctuary, devotional literature piled willy-nilly on the bookshelves, filthy bathrooms, and worship services disturbed by roving bands of unruly, undisciplined children. After encountering such situations in many mosques, many converts simply choose to stay home."
He goes on to describe how the politicizing of masajid and sectarian argument and disputation also turn many converts and young Muslims away.
May 27, 2012
an amazing book of short stories I actually had signed by the Imam at a conference in Canada masha'Allah.. very worthwhile read, not for iman purposes but for some peace away from the usual Islamic books without the blushing or horrendous descriptions of non Islamic literature
April 20, 2007
Imam Zaid is so insightful. This book is imperative for Muslim Americans to better understand the inner workings of our communities.
April 30, 2007
It will give you a whole new perspective on Imam Zaid and where he's coming from. It's really profound to see the evolution of his ideas.
June 25, 2007
GREAT reflection of an American Muslim.
September 18, 2007
A book of short essays, very insightful read, and I would recommend it to anyone, Muslim or Not Muslim.
September 21, 2008
interesting book talking about how Imam Zaid became muslim and other topics he has written about.
March 27, 2012
This book is a collection of essays. Some essays were very good and very interesting....some were verbose and above my level of understanding.
June 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I read it before becoming Muslim and was happy to see that Muslims vary in degree just as any other group of people. It was honest and very reassuring.
September 26, 2013
Love it, love it, love it
June 14, 2014
Beautiful read
November 10, 2008
very short and sweet read, of african american reflections pre and post islam.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews