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Being Muslim Today: Reclaiming the Faith from Orthodoxy and Islamophobia
"Qureshi promotes a moderate and inclusive view of contemporary Islam, with the intellectual underpinnings to support it." -
Booklist, Starred Review
Accessible introduction to Islam and the Qur’an that explains how Muslims live and avoids the extremes of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia.
The truths of every religion are typically challenged and re-written, serving as potent grounds for some of history’s most enduring debates and conflicts. Perhaps no other religious tradition suffers as much from the dualistic fallacy of good and evil than does Islam. What does it mean to be Muslim today? Orthodoxy’s interpretation is idyllic and omniscient, simplistic to a fault. Islamophobes at the opposite end of the spectrum, cultivating damaging stereotypes that present a religion that most Muslims cannot relate to.
In Being Muslim Reclaiming the Faith from Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, bestselling author Dr. Saqib Qureshi silences the noise that obscures the message of Islam. He provides a compelling and accurate presentation of the faith’s beginnings, its evolution throughout the last 1,400 years, and its relevance for today. Being Muslim Today simplifies complicated academic debates and reveals the heart and soul of a growing faith tradition that claims more than two billion adherents.
Chapters include lucid discussions of the origins of Islam, the Prophet Muhammed, and the rise of Islam through the ages. Qureshi also describes the twin perils of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, both of which, he contends, badly misinterpret the true message of the faith. In a final chapter, Qureshi confronts the stereotype of Islam as an inherently violent religion, asking the West to hold a mirror to its own voracious appetite for conflict and colonization. Throughout, Qureshi encourages Muslims to reject pious certitude―the faithful must acknowledge the diversity of approaches and principals in the Islamic tradition, he writes, and adopt an attitude of theological humility. Some things are simply unknowable.
Accessible introduction to Islam and the Qur’an that explains how Muslims live and avoids the extremes of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia.
The truths of every religion are typically challenged and re-written, serving as potent grounds for some of history’s most enduring debates and conflicts. Perhaps no other religious tradition suffers as much from the dualistic fallacy of good and evil than does Islam. What does it mean to be Muslim today? Orthodoxy’s interpretation is idyllic and omniscient, simplistic to a fault. Islamophobes at the opposite end of the spectrum, cultivating damaging stereotypes that present a religion that most Muslims cannot relate to.
In Being Muslim Reclaiming the Faith from Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, bestselling author Dr. Saqib Qureshi silences the noise that obscures the message of Islam. He provides a compelling and accurate presentation of the faith’s beginnings, its evolution throughout the last 1,400 years, and its relevance for today. Being Muslim Today simplifies complicated academic debates and reveals the heart and soul of a growing faith tradition that claims more than two billion adherents.
Chapters include lucid discussions of the origins of Islam, the Prophet Muhammed, and the rise of Islam through the ages. Qureshi also describes the twin perils of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, both of which, he contends, badly misinterpret the true message of the faith. In a final chapter, Qureshi confronts the stereotype of Islam as an inherently violent religion, asking the West to hold a mirror to its own voracious appetite for conflict and colonization. Throughout, Qureshi encourages Muslims to reject pious certitude―the faithful must acknowledge the diversity of approaches and principals in the Islamic tradition, he writes, and adopt an attitude of theological humility. Some things are simply unknowable.
- GenresReligionNonfictionFaith
427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 7, 2026
What a lovely book about a lovely tradition! As a Christian who is constantly fatigued by the issue of orthodoxy in my own religious circles, it does feel good to know that it's not just Christianity. On the other hand, I appreciate the discussion on Islamophobia and the way this book deepened my understanding of where it comes from and what it looks like.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Islam!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Islam!
July 21, 2026
I resisted reading Being Muslim Today at first. I've read a lot of books about Islam, and I assumed this would be another one that didn't have much new to say. It came as quite a shock about how wrong I was.
This book answered questions I'd been asking myself for a long time. Were there different versions of the Qur'an? Yes, but the differences are not significant. Was Bukhari’s hadith canon always regarded as the greatest and best? No, turns out his status evolved over time for historical and political reasons. What exactly is riba? How did Sharia develop over the centuries? The book answers these questions with much research and historical context.
What impressed me most was how the author brings together history, theology, philosophy, architecture, law, and spirituality under one roof. The chapters on the evolution of the four schools of thought were fascinating. Did you know that Malik and Ibn Ishaq disliked each other? This book was a reminder that there have often been opposing opinions on the same issue.
I was shocked to read that perhaps our emphasis on fiqh may owe something to colonial influences that encouraged a more rigid, codified understanding of Islam. You may not agree with everything in the book, but it definitely forces you to think.
The section that affected me most was the part about standing before God in prayer. We should be quaking in our boots. So why aren’t we? Reading this book left me with a renewed sense of humility.
I only wish this book had existed when I was younger. This is one of the most informative books I’ve read in a while and I highly recommend it.
This book answered questions I'd been asking myself for a long time. Were there different versions of the Qur'an? Yes, but the differences are not significant. Was Bukhari’s hadith canon always regarded as the greatest and best? No, turns out his status evolved over time for historical and political reasons. What exactly is riba? How did Sharia develop over the centuries? The book answers these questions with much research and historical context.
What impressed me most was how the author brings together history, theology, philosophy, architecture, law, and spirituality under one roof. The chapters on the evolution of the four schools of thought were fascinating. Did you know that Malik and Ibn Ishaq disliked each other? This book was a reminder that there have often been opposing opinions on the same issue.
I was shocked to read that perhaps our emphasis on fiqh may owe something to colonial influences that encouraged a more rigid, codified understanding of Islam. You may not agree with everything in the book, but it definitely forces you to think.
The section that affected me most was the part about standing before God in prayer. We should be quaking in our boots. So why aren’t we? Reading this book left me with a renewed sense of humility.
I only wish this book had existed when I was younger. This is one of the most informative books I’ve read in a while and I highly recommend it.
September 14, 2026
Book Review
Being Muslim Today
Saqib Iqbal Qureshi
5/5 stars
"An excellent book. Well sourced, balanced, and thoughtful."
*****
Verdict: Recommended
-10 chapters over 247 pages
-1101 point citations (4.5/page)
The author's goals here are multiple:
1. To give a more positive impression of Islam;
2. To stake out a middle ground between Orthodox zealots and Islamophobes.
He has a pretty tough task ahead of him.
I would have to say that this author has done a yeoman's work in compiling a huge number of sources and whipping them into something readable.
He seems to be writing from the perspective of an ex True Believer (p.126), so his statements do have mass.
He does also try to show the perspective of both sides, and that is laudable.
His less savory techniques include:
1. Whataboutism.
a. So, if he wants to talk away the fact that where there are Muslims (be they Arab, Persian, Nigerian, etc) there is a lot more violence.... He has to reach way back in times a thousand years ago, such as the Battle of Hastings (in 1099). Or, he also defines actions in war (Hamburg, Nagasaki, etc) as equivalent to the September 11th attacks.
b. (p.207) The Arabs may have traded slaves from many centuries longer than the Christians, but at least their slavery was not so brutal.
2. Word/concept inflation. (p. 184) Ibn Khaldun writes down something that has resonances to the later developed "Laffer curve," but that becomes that he "founded modern sociology and historiography the foundations for capitalism." Ditto work Ibn Sina and Descartes (p.182).
3. Magical thinking. (Chapter 10) Somehow, Muslims are going to study secular history and come to a more nuanced understanding of Islam. And from there, they will define for themselves what it is.
Too much to get into with this, but I will say that: those who will use academic type nuance to describe their religion will always and everywhere be outnumbered by literalists. (Wahhabism is the official ideology of Saudi Arabia, even if the royal family doesn't appear to believe it; Exactly zero Haredim are aware that Judaism of today would be unrecognizable to either Moses or King David. A lot of them are happy to put a shtreimel on these two historical figures and put them in the beth midrash.)
4. Textual Possibility Fallacy: if you have some people somewhere and a certain type of religion is needful, then they will create it on the spot. It doesn't matter what the religion may have been in the 7th or 8th century. So, if you can make a logical case that there is no prohibition on interest based on classical sources (p.142), that's nice, but it doesn't have much to do with today.
5. No True Scotsman Fallacy/ Monty Python sketch (p.153, 175, etc). By this author, the al-Qaeda attacks in the United States were "supposedly in the name of Islam." But if you read the manifestos / listen to the comments of these such attackers, they are very clear that their motives are Islamic.
Also: if somebody identifies himself as a Muslim, and he executes some type of terrorist attack, it is an Islamic terror attack--by definition. You don't get to redefine it away because you don't like his level of Islamic education (p.174).
6. Philosophical Escape Hatches galore! (p.174). So, Muslims are blowing up something or shooting somebody in their countries of residence, but they're only doing it because they have been marginalized and have no other choice.
Chapter synopses
1. The sources are not infallible, and even what is left over points towards fallible human beings.
2. There is more than one version of the Quran, and even if you had only one.... Consonantal alphabets can say more than one thing. Different versions (Warsh, Asim, etc) have been used at different times. The Quran isn't written in any version of modern Arabic, nor classical arabic. It is an old Hijazi Quraysh dialect.
3. Most rules of Islam do not come from the Quran, but instead through post-revelatory sources. A brief discussion about Islamic jurisprudence and the four major Sunni schools. Sharia, hadith and Islam did not spring fully formed into existence in the 7th century.
4. (Best chapter of the book!) Quantitative and conceptual problems with the hadith. Oral traditions are not stable.
5. Early Islam had a place for mysticism/non literal interpretation of the text. Author recommends a retreat from textuality and embracing of spirituality and meditation.
6. Does narrow Orthodoxy (think: Saudi, Afghanistan) define Islam? Not if this author has anything to say about it, reality be damned.
7. Do people who have actual bad experiences with Muslims define Islam? (p.153: "Bigoted bloggers, racist politicians, fundamentalist religious leaders, Fox News pundits and religious Zionists, theirs is an industry of hate: the Islamophobia industry.")
8. There's just nobody that Muslims did not influence (Karaite Jews, Descartes, laffer curve, public policy, architecture, Newton's Third law, Kabbalah, etc) and you'd better believe it, buster! And the spectrum of the two is so vast, that there must be a lot of overlap.
9. Whataboutism, Islamic style
10. Calls for academic study of Islam and reevaluation in service of Islamic self-definition.
Quotes
(23) The first tafsir, the explanatory and commentary notes on the quran, written a century after Muhammad had passed away.
(25) The Exodus story was written five centuries after the event, but the accuracy of the stories of Muhammad are still so at best.
(37) Speech brought context, speaker, and listener together in one place. The written message can't do that. There's no context. The speaker has moved on. And the listener is dead. So when the earliest Muslims transcribed God's Messages, they lost most of the communication.
(193) .... There is the West's propping up of the Saudi monarchy, with the global fan base so small that it would fit inside any Pizza Hut.
(128) To recap our progress so far, God didn't give a book to muhammad. And Angel conveyed messages which were transcribed and, years later compiled into a book.
(140) 19 million debt-slaves in India today.
(64) By the end of the 10th century, there were more than 100 madhabs.
(115) Literal and unthinking citation of sacred texts, which dominates Islam today, was not present at the faith's outset.
(34) The Quran uses kītāb to mean no less than a dozen different things, including a written document, a letter, a Divine record, a teaching, a Divine revelation, and even a period of time.
Being Muslim Today
Saqib Iqbal Qureshi
5/5 stars
"An excellent book. Well sourced, balanced, and thoughtful."
*****
Verdict: Recommended
-10 chapters over 247 pages
-1101 point citations (4.5/page)
The author's goals here are multiple:
1. To give a more positive impression of Islam;
2. To stake out a middle ground between Orthodox zealots and Islamophobes.
He has a pretty tough task ahead of him.
I would have to say that this author has done a yeoman's work in compiling a huge number of sources and whipping them into something readable.
He seems to be writing from the perspective of an ex True Believer (p.126), so his statements do have mass.
He does also try to show the perspective of both sides, and that is laudable.
His less savory techniques include:
1. Whataboutism.
a. So, if he wants to talk away the fact that where there are Muslims (be they Arab, Persian, Nigerian, etc) there is a lot more violence.... He has to reach way back in times a thousand years ago, such as the Battle of Hastings (in 1099). Or, he also defines actions in war (Hamburg, Nagasaki, etc) as equivalent to the September 11th attacks.
b. (p.207) The Arabs may have traded slaves from many centuries longer than the Christians, but at least their slavery was not so brutal.
2. Word/concept inflation. (p. 184) Ibn Khaldun writes down something that has resonances to the later developed "Laffer curve," but that becomes that he "founded modern sociology and historiography the foundations for capitalism." Ditto work Ibn Sina and Descartes (p.182).
3. Magical thinking. (Chapter 10) Somehow, Muslims are going to study secular history and come to a more nuanced understanding of Islam. And from there, they will define for themselves what it is.
Too much to get into with this, but I will say that: those who will use academic type nuance to describe their religion will always and everywhere be outnumbered by literalists. (Wahhabism is the official ideology of Saudi Arabia, even if the royal family doesn't appear to believe it; Exactly zero Haredim are aware that Judaism of today would be unrecognizable to either Moses or King David. A lot of them are happy to put a shtreimel on these two historical figures and put them in the beth midrash.)
4. Textual Possibility Fallacy: if you have some people somewhere and a certain type of religion is needful, then they will create it on the spot. It doesn't matter what the religion may have been in the 7th or 8th century. So, if you can make a logical case that there is no prohibition on interest based on classical sources (p.142), that's nice, but it doesn't have much to do with today.
5. No True Scotsman Fallacy/ Monty Python sketch (p.153, 175, etc). By this author, the al-Qaeda attacks in the United States were "supposedly in the name of Islam." But if you read the manifestos / listen to the comments of these such attackers, they are very clear that their motives are Islamic.
Also: if somebody identifies himself as a Muslim, and he executes some type of terrorist attack, it is an Islamic terror attack--by definition. You don't get to redefine it away because you don't like his level of Islamic education (p.174).
6. Philosophical Escape Hatches galore! (p.174). So, Muslims are blowing up something or shooting somebody in their countries of residence, but they're only doing it because they have been marginalized and have no other choice.
Chapter synopses
1. The sources are not infallible, and even what is left over points towards fallible human beings.
2. There is more than one version of the Quran, and even if you had only one.... Consonantal alphabets can say more than one thing. Different versions (Warsh, Asim, etc) have been used at different times. The Quran isn't written in any version of modern Arabic, nor classical arabic. It is an old Hijazi Quraysh dialect.
3. Most rules of Islam do not come from the Quran, but instead through post-revelatory sources. A brief discussion about Islamic jurisprudence and the four major Sunni schools. Sharia, hadith and Islam did not spring fully formed into existence in the 7th century.
4. (Best chapter of the book!) Quantitative and conceptual problems with the hadith. Oral traditions are not stable.
5. Early Islam had a place for mysticism/non literal interpretation of the text. Author recommends a retreat from textuality and embracing of spirituality and meditation.
6. Does narrow Orthodoxy (think: Saudi, Afghanistan) define Islam? Not if this author has anything to say about it, reality be damned.
7. Do people who have actual bad experiences with Muslims define Islam? (p.153: "Bigoted bloggers, racist politicians, fundamentalist religious leaders, Fox News pundits and religious Zionists, theirs is an industry of hate: the Islamophobia industry.")
8. There's just nobody that Muslims did not influence (Karaite Jews, Descartes, laffer curve, public policy, architecture, Newton's Third law, Kabbalah, etc) and you'd better believe it, buster! And the spectrum of the two is so vast, that there must be a lot of overlap.
9. Whataboutism, Islamic style
10. Calls for academic study of Islam and reevaluation in service of Islamic self-definition.
Quotes
(23) The first tafsir, the explanatory and commentary notes on the quran, written a century after Muhammad had passed away.
(25) The Exodus story was written five centuries after the event, but the accuracy of the stories of Muhammad are still so at best.
(37) Speech brought context, speaker, and listener together in one place. The written message can't do that. There's no context. The speaker has moved on. And the listener is dead. So when the earliest Muslims transcribed God's Messages, they lost most of the communication.
(193) .... There is the West's propping up of the Saudi monarchy, with the global fan base so small that it would fit inside any Pizza Hut.
(128) To recap our progress so far, God didn't give a book to muhammad. And Angel conveyed messages which were transcribed and, years later compiled into a book.
(140) 19 million debt-slaves in India today.
(64) By the end of the 10th century, there were more than 100 madhabs.
(115) Literal and unthinking citation of sacred texts, which dominates Islam today, was not present at the faith's outset.
(34) The Quran uses kītāb to mean no less than a dozen different things, including a written document, a letter, a Divine record, a teaching, a Divine revelation, and even a period of time.
June 24, 2024
I learned a lot from the first half of this book about the likely origins of Islam. There are many parallels to the origins of Judaism. (I am a retired rabbi.) By that, I mean that much of the real, factual history of the origins and development of the religion is obscured by claims made by subsequent religious authorities. Honest, objective inquiry and scholarship enables us to think and to believe beyond the claims made by religious authorities who, through the centuries, have narrowed and rigidified what we are often told the religion stands for. Saqib's book does an excellent job at illuminating that dynamic in the history of the development of Islam.
Throughout the sacred journey of our lives, many of us seek to understand and express our relationship with the transcendent, all-present aspect of our being, and of all being, which we call God. We often look to religions to guide us in that search. Far too often, rather than foster and nurture that search, our traditional religions as we have received them, shut it down.
Although I am not a "capital-M Muslim", having read Saqib's book cover-to-cover, my sense is that the knowledge of Islam that he offers can encourage people born and raised in Muslim families as well as other people seeking to be guided by Islam to open their minds to better follow the promptings of their souls which led them onto the path of seeking in the first place.
Throughout the sacred journey of our lives, many of us seek to understand and express our relationship with the transcendent, all-present aspect of our being, and of all being, which we call God. We often look to religions to guide us in that search. Far too often, rather than foster and nurture that search, our traditional religions as we have received them, shut it down.
Although I am not a "capital-M Muslim", having read Saqib's book cover-to-cover, my sense is that the knowledge of Islam that he offers can encourage people born and raised in Muslim families as well as other people seeking to be guided by Islam to open their minds to better follow the promptings of their souls which led them onto the path of seeking in the first place.
June 29, 2026
The authour Saqib Iqbal Qureshi has addressed the problems facing Muslims of today by tackling Orthodoxy and Islamophobes. The book is divided into two parts to address these two challenges. In the first part, the authour has highlighted that the view of Islam that Muslims are having right now, is different from the earlier generations' view of Islam; he has carried out extended research to illustrate the weakness in orthodoxy's position of uncompromising nature of the religion.
In the second part, the authour has dealt with the misconceptions and blind hate demostrated by the Islamophobes. He has answered the claim of the Islamophobes that Islam is a violent religion by presenting the statistics of violence demonstrated by Judaism and Christianity as compared to Islam. By doing that he has made it clear that Islam is the least violent religion. I found this part of the book fascinating.
I think this book should be read by everyone, especially those Muslims who find certain aspects of their religion puzzling and confusing. This book will give them a historical perspective to free them from blind following of religious leaders among their communities.
In the second part, the authour has dealt with the misconceptions and blind hate demostrated by the Islamophobes. He has answered the claim of the Islamophobes that Islam is a violent religion by presenting the statistics of violence demonstrated by Judaism and Christianity as compared to Islam. By doing that he has made it clear that Islam is the least violent religion. I found this part of the book fascinating.
I think this book should be read by everyone, especially those Muslims who find certain aspects of their religion puzzling and confusing. This book will give them a historical perspective to free them from blind following of religious leaders among their communities.
December 31, 2024
The author provides extensive detail and supports his narrative with well-researched claims.
He demonstrates a clear passion for the subject and expresses a strong opinion on the freedom to interpret Islam.
The book is at its strongest in the first chapter, which outlines the historical development of Islam and how it has evolved over time. The second chapter, however, has its ups and downs; at times, it feels repetitive, relying on too many examples to make the same point, which can cause the reader to lose track of the argument. That said, the book concludes on a powerful and inspiring note.
Additionally, the author’s extensive references and citations offer readers numerous opportunities for further exploration, ranging from Rumi’s Masnavi to Albert Memmi’s The Colonizer and the Colonized.
He demonstrates a clear passion for the subject and expresses a strong opinion on the freedom to interpret Islam.
The book is at its strongest in the first chapter, which outlines the historical development of Islam and how it has evolved over time. The second chapter, however, has its ups and downs; at times, it feels repetitive, relying on too many examples to make the same point, which can cause the reader to lose track of the argument. That said, the book concludes on a powerful and inspiring note.
Additionally, the author’s extensive references and citations offer readers numerous opportunities for further exploration, ranging from Rumi’s Masnavi to Albert Memmi’s The Colonizer and the Colonized.
September 19, 2025
Reading Being Muslim Today felt like Saqib Qureshi was addressing questions I have carried for a very long time. He takes the time to research them carefully and answers with depth, humility, and clarity. The book is both thorough and balanced, yet written in a way that is practical and easy to connect with.
What I appreciated most is his optimistic but pragmatic outlook—he doesn’t shy away from the difficult issues or the “elephant in the room,” yet he does so without alienating or hurting anyone. It is an excellent exposé on what it means to live as a Muslim today, and one that speaks to both young and old.
Highly recommended for anyone seeking a thoughtful, honest, and hopeful perspective.
What I appreciated most is his optimistic but pragmatic outlook—he doesn’t shy away from the difficult issues or the “elephant in the room,” yet he does so without alienating or hurting anyone. It is an excellent exposé on what it means to live as a Muslim today, and one that speaks to both young and old.
Highly recommended for anyone seeking a thoughtful, honest, and hopeful perspective.
December 26, 2025
Really great historical context of how Islam became what it is today in addition to exploring some unknown to me philosophical schools and influences. The part about Islamophobia was the weakest part of the book for me because it felt very reactionary whereas the rest of the book felt very balanced. I would’ve wanted the book to explore more of the root of Islamophobia rather than trying to drive home how the other religions are more violent.
May 25, 2026
i read “being muslim today” and honestly it felt like the author just collected random facebook comments, rumors, and personal opinions, then turned them into a book. there’s so much misinformation and weak claims presented like facts. after finishing it, i realized good marketing can sell almost anything these days.
I hope Mustafa doesn’t read this book and get confused…
Goodluck to him tho…
I hope Mustafa doesn’t read this book and get confused…
Goodluck to him tho…
June 3, 2025
A very thoughtful book, mainly aimed at folks who have a Muslim background, but also a very important read for non-Muslims like me.
May 17, 2024
This well-researched book provides a compelling introduction for the lay person of the faith’s beginnings making this an accessible access point for anyone curious about the religion’s journey throughout the last 1,400 years.
Well researched and easily read, Qureshi excels at simplifying complicated academic debates and revealing facets of Islam which he contends are extensively ignored in modern times by so many of its two billion adherents.
From discussions about the origins of Islam, and the changing face of Islam through the ages. Qureshi describes the twin perils of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, both of which badly ignore historical records. In a final chapter, Qureshi confronts the stereotype of Islam as an inherently violent religion.
This is a badly needed book in these divisive times and does a fine job pushing the propaganda and distractions out of the way to offer a well researched conversation about Islam. Clearly designed to be both a starting point and jumping off point for understanding Islam, this book’s well considered perspective offers a breathing space around the contradictions that are part and parcel of the post 9/11 world that has so many on both sides of the religion living life on the defensive.
Well researched and easily read, Qureshi excels at simplifying complicated academic debates and revealing facets of Islam which he contends are extensively ignored in modern times by so many of its two billion adherents.
From discussions about the origins of Islam, and the changing face of Islam through the ages. Qureshi describes the twin perils of Orthodoxy and Islamophobia, both of which badly ignore historical records. In a final chapter, Qureshi confronts the stereotype of Islam as an inherently violent religion.
This is a badly needed book in these divisive times and does a fine job pushing the propaganda and distractions out of the way to offer a well researched conversation about Islam. Clearly designed to be both a starting point and jumping off point for understanding Islam, this book’s well considered perspective offers a breathing space around the contradictions that are part and parcel of the post 9/11 world that has so many on both sides of the religion living life on the defensive.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews