Exploring Islam: Theology and Spiritual Practice in America

I traveled to four majority-Muslim countries recently (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan), and I took this book along as part of my reading for the trip. It was such an excellent introduction to Islam for a person who is not so familiar with the religion. I found the text very readable, and the concepts very clear and approachable. We saw many beautiful mosques, madrassas, and Sufi shrines on the trip, and this book helped me understand some of the context for this amazing culture. My Uzbek guide, who grew up during the communist era, was himself not very knowledgeable about many aspects of Islam. So after I finished the book, I passed it along to him. As in this case, Salih Salyilgan's work will be useful to Muslims (such as my guide) who need to learn more about their religion, as well as people of other faiths, such as myself.

I was fortunate to get this book in both Kindle and Paperback. I was devouring the chapters as the author was taking the reader through a journey to discover Islam. The book follows a very logical breakdown. It first sets the stage by explaining the historical context in which the religion was born. It then explains the foundations on which the religion is built. Following this it outlines the main theological beliefs and spiritual practices that Muslims embody and practice. It concludes with tackling the lives and challenges facing contemporary Muslims.The book is written for the American audience (though others will certainly benefit from its universality). I loved how many chapters begin with an anecdote from the lives of American Muslims. For example, in Chapter 13 where the author discusses the five daily prayers, he begins with the story of Aisha. She is an American Muslim who narrates her struggles of balancing her spiritual needs with her law career.For those who are new to Islam, please keep a few things in mind as you approach this book. The first is that some chapters will be quite an easy read while others are quite dense. Some parts of the religion (such as its history) will simply require more explanation. To keep the book short, the information will be quite condensed, making it a heavier read. Just keep at it as the book is worth it. The second aspect is terminology. Islam was revealed in an Arabic environment. As such, you will encounter many Arabic words. The author both translates and explains the terms.This is a book worth reading for both non-Muslims who wish to have a proper introduction to Islam and Muslims who want to solidify their understanding of the religion.

Where to begin if your understanding of Islam is limited? Begin with Exploring Islam! Author Salih Sayilgan is a true scholar who can recite verses from the Bible as easily as verses from the Qur’an. His depth of understanding of Christian and Jewish traditions enables him to effectively counter misunderstandings non-Muslims may have about Islam as the describes the history, traditions and beliefs of his own Islamic faith. Who is God? What are our responsibilities to our fellow human beings? Are there angels? Who are they? Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe in prophets. But what is a prophet?In addition to touching on diverse practices and beliefs within Islam, Dr. Sayilgan provides a view of Islam in America, post-9/11. It is a minority religion in a quite secular environment. Some of the specific examples of the experiences of individuals and communities are familiar from news accounts, others are not. They are real, lived experiences and they add a glimpse of Muslims in contemporary America. This is a book well worth reading by an author who is practiced in teaching about Islam and in facilitating inter-faith dialogue.

Dr Salih Sayilgan is fast becoming a gifted writer on introducing the new and the old to the beauty of Islamic practice and faith. It’s an immensely accessible book on Islam with a erudite and concise prose. It is stunning in its ability to covers a huge array of topics relevant to Muslim practice in the 21st century while not shying away from topics where the western obsession looms large over Islam's view of women, on splits in schools of thought and on the everyday challenges Muslim face including Islamaphobia. Viewed from the lens of the US Muslim experience it’s a much welcome discovery of the authentic Islam and muslims that will be helpful to many wanting a spiritual awakening in their lives and a reconnection to the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad peace be upon them all.

This book is well written and easy to understand book on Islam. I highly recommend it!

The book covers many different dimensions of Islam. Dr. Sayılgan is a very knowledgeable and insightful scholar. If you are looking for a book to better understand Islam, this is highly recommended.

Dr. Sayilgan does a great job of addressing the questions most non-Muslim Americans have about Islam. Thank you for making Muslims real, not just people we see on the teevision!

I purchased this book to be more informed about Islam in general and its practice in America. The book covers many dimensions of Islam including the Qur'an, the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, sharia, major beliefs and rituals as well as questions about Sufism, diversity, women, and jihad. Each chapter is supported by a case study from the lives of American Muslims. This is a comprehensive introduction to Islam and very accessible to the general reader.