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Two Billion Caliphs: A Vision of a Muslim Future
Explains the attraction of Muslims to their faith, and discusses the challenges contemporary Islam confronts, and how we might imagine an Islamic theology and identity ready to face tomorrow
Islam is often associated with and limited to the worst of the world--extremism, obscurantism, misogyny, bigotry. So why would so many people associate with such a fundamentalist faith? Two Billion Caliphs advocates for a way of being Muslim in the world, ready for today and prepared for tomorrow. Unlike stale summaries, which restrict themselves to facts and figures, Haroon Moghul presents a deeply Muslim perspective on the world, providing Islamic answers to universal questions: Who are we? What are we doing here? What happens to us when we die? And from description, Moghul moves to prescription, aspiring to something outrageous and audacious. Two Billion Caliphs describes what Islam has been and what it is, who its heroes are, what its big ideas are, but not only to tell you about the past or the present, but to speak to the future.
Two Billion Caliphs finds that Islam was a religion of intimacy, a faith rooted in and reaching for love, and that it could be and should be again. Fulfilling that destiny depends on the efforts of Muslims to reclaim their faith, rebuild their strength, and reimagine their future, on their own terms. Two Billion Caliphs offers Muslim thoughts for the age ahead, to create an interpretation Islam of and for days to come, the kind of religion the world's Muslims deserve, with echoes of the confident faith Muslims once had. The destiny of Islam, then, is not, as so many prefer to argue, a reformation. It is a counter-reformation. A restoration of what once was.
Islam is often associated with and limited to the worst of the world--extremism, obscurantism, misogyny, bigotry. So why would so many people associate with such a fundamentalist faith? Two Billion Caliphs advocates for a way of being Muslim in the world, ready for today and prepared for tomorrow. Unlike stale summaries, which restrict themselves to facts and figures, Haroon Moghul presents a deeply Muslim perspective on the world, providing Islamic answers to universal questions: Who are we? What are we doing here? What happens to us when we die? And from description, Moghul moves to prescription, aspiring to something outrageous and audacious. Two Billion Caliphs describes what Islam has been and what it is, who its heroes are, what its big ideas are, but not only to tell you about the past or the present, but to speak to the future.
Two Billion Caliphs finds that Islam was a religion of intimacy, a faith rooted in and reaching for love, and that it could be and should be again. Fulfilling that destiny depends on the efforts of Muslims to reclaim their faith, rebuild their strength, and reimagine their future, on their own terms. Two Billion Caliphs offers Muslim thoughts for the age ahead, to create an interpretation Islam of and for days to come, the kind of religion the world's Muslims deserve, with echoes of the confident faith Muslims once had. The destiny of Islam, then, is not, as so many prefer to argue, a reformation. It is a counter-reformation. A restoration of what once was.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
21 people are currently reading
1570 people want to read
About the author
Haroon Moghul
5 books41 followersHaroon Moghul is the author of “The Order of Light” and “My First Police State.” His memoir, “How to be Muslim”, is due in 2016. He’s a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, formerly a Fellow at the New America Foundation and the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School, and a member of the Multicultural Audience Development Initiative at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Haroon Moghul is a Senior Correspondent at Religion Dispatches and a novelist. He writes extensively on international affairs, religion and culture.
Haroon Moghul is a Senior Correspondent at Religion Dispatches and a novelist. He writes extensively on international affairs, religion and culture.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2022
A good explainer by my friend Haroon about Islam as he understands it. Lots of personal stuff in the book as well.
July 7, 2022
Deeply immersive & spiritual. Haroon Moghul is indeed a thought leader with remarkable foresight. Please read this, and take your time. It needs to be relished.
February 12, 2023
I was looking forward to reading this book. What would a vision of a Muslim future look like? What might that vision mean for Muslims around the world? What might be some of the steps to that path for the future? To look into the future is to take a step back and understand background and context, both past and present - I get that. I appreciated the tenets of Islam, taking us back to the life of the prophet Muhammad, and providing interpretations of some sections of the Quran. But about two-thirds of the book were in that realm and about the author’s personal experiences, and not enough on visioning the future, which from the book’s subtitle I expected it would be about. Also, the writing meandered quite a bit and I felt the structure of the book could have been more cohesive. The concept of a renewed caliphate approach is intriguing and harkens back to the Ottomans Empire, one of my favorite periods in history. I am glad I read the book. I hope others will enjoy it more than I did.
February 28, 2023
At times deeply spiritual, at times speaking of modern sci-fi and relating it to religious figures, this book had me on a back and forth pendulum of approval and disapproval.
I like the concept a lot: A vision of a Muslim future. Speaking about things Western Muslims don't really speak about. Addressing the old ways and relating it to the modern era.
But the writing was clunky, verbose at times, and could have done with a few less asides. The writing and side commentary itself kept me from truly enjoying the book. But the insights into the spiritual and religious history of Islam really resonated with me, and kept me reading for more illuminating tidbits. While I don't normally recommend books that I rate 3-stars, I would still recommend this to others. Yes, the writing was a bit annoying to get through, the content was mostly there. You have to wade through it and pick up the gems. And that's the thing: it really does have gems. Just ride it out and give yourself some time. Took me a solid month, just about.
I like the concept a lot: A vision of a Muslim future. Speaking about things Western Muslims don't really speak about. Addressing the old ways and relating it to the modern era.
But the writing was clunky, verbose at times, and could have done with a few less asides. The writing and side commentary itself kept me from truly enjoying the book. But the insights into the spiritual and religious history of Islam really resonated with me, and kept me reading for more illuminating tidbits. While I don't normally recommend books that I rate 3-stars, I would still recommend this to others. Yes, the writing was a bit annoying to get through, the content was mostly there. You have to wade through it and pick up the gems. And that's the thing: it really does have gems. Just ride it out and give yourself some time. Took me a solid month, just about.
May 10, 2022
“…a moment of contemplation… is worth 70 years in prayer”
I often say that writers have a way of writing the book that I am searching for. This time Haroon Moghul was that author.
The book, read by the author on audible was like listening to poetry. The author has a talent beyond belief of keeping the attention of someone who is generally not interested in reading a book primarily about religion.
This book, published in 2022, will serve as a beacon for the generations to come. For those who could not accept the answer “…because Quran says so…”. For those who have a deep affiliation with Islam but they cannot explain why. For those who suffer the silent pain of agnosticism, and want to move on in life.
I often say that writers have a way of writing the book that I am searching for. This time Haroon Moghul was that author.
The book, read by the author on audible was like listening to poetry. The author has a talent beyond belief of keeping the attention of someone who is generally not interested in reading a book primarily about religion.
This book, published in 2022, will serve as a beacon for the generations to come. For those who could not accept the answer “…because Quran says so…”. For those who have a deep affiliation with Islam but they cannot explain why. For those who suffer the silent pain of agnosticism, and want to move on in life.
December 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this, and I did not expect it. I’ve never read / learned much about Islam, and this book was a wonderful introduction and explanation of its history, beliefs, systems, and community. I found a lot of it really powerful, something I’ve never been able to see in religion before.
I enjoyed how the author presented a lot of it as a conversation, as well. Although not one for me to be a part of, I like his lens on the possibility of varied interpretations and understandings, and that that is the point of it.
I highly recommend this book.
I enjoyed how the author presented a lot of it as a conversation, as well. Although not one for me to be a part of, I like his lens on the possibility of varied interpretations and understandings, and that that is the point of it.
I highly recommend this book.
September 5, 2023
Despite the promise of the subtitle, most of the book dealt with the history and present of Islam, and only briefly touched on what the future holds. While this wasn't the worst approach for me personally as I learned quite a bit (which really isn't saying that much because I knew very little about the subject to begin with), I was still left with a lot of the same basic questions I had when I started.
There was more autobiographical material than necessary, and while it was well written and helped personalize some of the less tangible concepts, the title is "TWO BILLION Caliphs", not "My Personal Journey". A slightly broader approach would have been more conducive to getting the point across in most cases.
There was more autobiographical material than necessary, and while it was well written and helped personalize some of the less tangible concepts, the title is "TWO BILLION Caliphs", not "My Personal Journey". A slightly broader approach would have been more conducive to getting the point across in most cases.
April 24, 2022
The book is worth reading. Its composition is unconventional from my viewpoint (at times quite complex and even lacking cohesion for my taste and age). Its contents however, reflect strong personal emotions, deep reverence for material and ethical values enshrined in Islam as a religion and way of life for all times. It offers a vision of a "Muslim Future" in a way that perhaps no one else has penned down so far. I particularly find its chapters 10 to 14 relevant to our times and also outright thought provoking.
April 4, 2022
This book is reviewed in my Substack newsletter
https://umarlee.substack.com/p/review...
https://umarlee.substack.com/p/review...
July 17, 2022
A fascinating read. Strongly recommend for anyone interested in Islam or just a good theological thought piece.
September 1, 2022
(3.5 tbh)
October 25, 2022
A good book - a compelling history, interpretation, appreciation, and vision for a modern Islam
March 26, 2023
Great insight into modern Islam for a non-Muslim like me. Wonderful explanations of where certain beliefs, customs, and traditions originate and great dialogue about how they are sometimes clashing with modern secular society. It’s happening to all religious traditions, but the author attempts to answer how we preserve the beautiful tradition of Islam against the bland, corporate, unfulfilling tenets of an entirely secular society.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and realized I forgot to leave a written review. Sorry Haroon! Thanks for the book!
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and realized I forgot to leave a written review. Sorry Haroon! Thanks for the book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews