Islam - A critical reading list (50 books)

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Books critically exploring Islam and Muslims.

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1	A Blessed Olive Tree: A Spiritual Journey in Twenty Short Stories by Zain Hashmi (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 166 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
1	Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait by Mohamad Jebara 4.46 avg rating — 622 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	And God Knows the Soldiers: The Authoritative and Authoritarian in Islamic Discourses: The Authoritative and Authoritarian in Islamic Discourses by Khaled Abou El Fadl 4.23 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 271, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Sexual Ethics and Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur'an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence by Kecia Ali 4.07 avg rating — 534 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari'ah in the Modern Age by Khaled Abou El Fadl 4.65 avg rating — 81 ratings score: 176, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Feminist Edges of the Qur'an by Aysha A. Hidayatullah 3.98 avg rating — 119 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Women in the Qurʼan : An Emancipatory Reading by Asma Lamrabet 3.89 avg rating — 272 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Before Homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic World, 1500-1800 by Khaled El-Rouayheb 3.99 avg rating — 168 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Men in Charge?: Rethinking Authority in Muslim Legal Tradition by Ziba Mir-Hosseini 4.09 avg rating — 76 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	"Believing Women" in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur'an by Asma Barlas 4.26 avg rating — 1,412 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Women with Mustaches and Men without Beards: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Modernity by Afsaneh Najmabadi 4.13 avg rating — 757 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Desperately Seeking Paradise: Journeys Of A Sceptical Muslim by Ziauddin Sardar 3.93 avg rating — 561 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Liberal Islam: A Sourcebook by Charles Kurzman (Editor) 3.69 avg rating — 39 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Striving in the Path of God: Jihad and Martyrdom in Islamic Thought by Asma Afsaruddin 4.36 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Homosexuality in Islam: Critical Reflection on Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Muslims by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle 3.95 avg rating — 237 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism by Tariq Ramadan 4.02 avg rating — 397 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective by Amina Wadud 4.22 avg rating — 2,369 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Living Out Islam: Voices of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Muslims by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle 3.90 avg rating — 83 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Radical Reform: Islamic Ethics and Liberation by Tariq Ramadan 4.09 avg rating — 295 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Inside The Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam by Amina Wadud 3.82 avg rating — 170 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Female Homosexuality in the Middle East: Histories and Representations by Samar Habib 4.14 avg rating — 28 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity's Moral Predicament by Wael B. Hallaq 4.02 avg rating — 969 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Islam and Homosexuality(2 Volumes Set) by Samar Habib (Editor) 3.62 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today by Farid Esack 3.93 avg rating — 118 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books by Khaled Abou El Fadl 4.50 avg rating — 698 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Qur'an, Liberation and Pluralism: An Islamic Perspective Of Interreligious Solidarity Against Oppression by Farid Esack 4.19 avg rating — 59 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists – A Scholar's Defense of Moderate Muslims and the Future of the Faith by Khaled Abou El Fadl 4.16 avg rating — 743 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong 3.95 avg rating — 6,797 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Speaking in God's Name: Islamic Law, Authority and Women by Khaled Abou El Fadl 4.47 avg rating — 176 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong 3.89 avg rating — 53,430 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Place of Tolerance in Islam by Khaled Abou El Fadl 3.94 avg rating — 139 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Islam and Modernity: Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition (Volume 15) (Publications of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies) by Fazlur Rahman 4.01 avg rating — 169 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Contemporary Developments in Indonesian Islam: Explaining the Conservative Turn by Martin van Bruinessen (Editor) 3.88 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The New Voices of Islam: Reforming Politics and Modernity - A Reader by Dr Mehran Kamrava (Editor) 3.90 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam (Issues in Islamic Thought #5) by Taha Jabir Fayyad Alwani really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 65 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Apostasy in Islam: A Historical & Scriptural Analysis by Taha Jabir Al-Alwani 4.35 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Making of a Forefather: Abraham in Islamic and Jewish Exegetical Narratives by Shari L. Lowin 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Issues in Contemporary Islamic Thought by Taha Jabir Al-Alwani 3.43 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Moral World of the Qur'an by M.A. Draz 4.31 avg rating — 223 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty by Mustafa Akyol 4.19 avg rating — 734 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	This Law of Ours and Other Essays by Muhammad Asad 4.05 avg rating — 82 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Lives of Muhammad by Kecia Ali 3.79 avg rating — 109 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Marriage and Slavery in Early Islam by Kecia Ali 4.06 avg rating — 72 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Reforming Modernity: Ethics and the New Human in the Philosophy of Abdurrahman Taha by Wael B. Hallaq 4.30 avg rating — 50 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Feminism and Islam: Legal and Literary Perspectives by Mai Yamani 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Restating Orientalism: A Critique of Modern Knowledge by Wael B. Hallaq 4.19 avg rating — 126 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Feminism in Islam: Secular and Religious Convergences by Margot Badran 3.74 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	الدولة المستحيلة: الإسلام والسياسة ومأزق الحداثة الأخلاقي by Wael B. Hallaq 4.02 avg rating — 969 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Women Claim Islam: Creating Islamic Feminism Through Literature by Miriam Cooke 3.67 avg rating — 39 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Religious Difference in a Secular Age: A Minority Report by Saba Mahmood 4.18 avg rating — 100 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars