Irshad Manji calls herself a Muslim refusenik. ' That doesn't mean I refuse to be a Muslim, ' she writes, 'it simply means I refuse to join an army of automatons in the name of Allah.' These automatons, Manji argues, include many so-called moderate Muslims in the West. In blunt, provocative & deeply personal terms, she unearths the troubling cornerstones of Islam as it is widely practised: tribal insularity, deep-seated anti-Semitism & an uncritical acceptance of the Koran as the final, & therefore superior, manifesto of God. In this open letter to Muslims & non-Muslims alike, Manji breaks the conspicuous silence that surrounds mainstream Islam with a series of pointed questions: ' Why are we all being held hostage by what's happening between the Palestinians & the Israelis? Who is the real coloniser of Muslims
- America or Arabia? How can we read the Koran literally when it's so contradictory & ambiguous? Why are we squandering the talents of women, fully half of God's creation?' Not one to be satisfied with merely criticising, Manji offers a practical vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities & fosters a competition of ideas. Her vision revives Islam's lost tradition of independent thought. The recipient of death threats as well as heartfelt support from her co-religionists, Manji will inspire struggling Muslims worldwide to revisit the foundations of their faith. She will also compel non-Muslims to start posing the questions we all have about Islam today. In that spirit, The Trouble with Islam is a clarion call for a fatwa-free future.