"Akbar Ahmed's voice needs to be heard, and his courage strengthened"

 

"Akbar Ahmed is one of contemporary Islam's outstanding exponents: a role-model of reason in an age of anxiety, tolerance at a time of tension, and hope when all too many are tempted by despair. In Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization he invites us to listen to the many voices of Muslims today as they face a confusing and often threatening world. It is essential reading, wise, literate, insightful, optimistic, honest and humane, the work of one of the great religious sages of our time."
Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth

 

"Really interesting and important. This book is a break-through in our understanding of the complex relationships between globalization and Islam. Based on in-depth interviews carried out in many countries, it gives a detailed picture of life in the Muslim world. The team of researchers has listened in particular to women and to young people. The result is a book that will be an essential resource for anyone interested in some of the key questions of our times, concerning not just the role of Islam in world society, but differing concepts of religiosity."

 

"Like the students who went with him to see how Muslims are reacting to post-9/11 events, the reader could ask for no finer guide than Akbar Ahmed in comprehending the deepest feelings and attitudes of the Islamic world. From the highest leaders to the cab drivers one gains a sense of why fundamentalist leaders have displaced national ones in the admiration of people from the Gulf to Southeast Asia. In this eloquent and insightful study Ahmed combines the erudition of a scholar with the passion of an activist to point the way towards understanding and reconciliation. It is a unique reading experience, rich in on-the-ground perception and realistic hope."

 

"Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization is a stunning achievement by one of the world's leading experts on Islam. Based on field research and profound understanding of anthropological and sociological theory, this is the first book that lets Muslims speak for themselves. Readers will be fascinated, finding both diversity in and common ground with the personalities they meet. They'll be left with a sense of optimism that true dialogue between civilizations is not only possible but essential."

 

"For those of us who have been waiting patiently for Professor Ahmed's report from his explorative journey to the Muslim world, the outcome was well worth the wait. Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization provides a fresh, scholarly and invaluable insight into the mindset of Muslim society in the post 9/11 era, a society that many in the West view as unreasonable and most Muslims view as victimized. Are these two perceptions reconcilable through dialogue? Remarkably, the book is sprinkled with optimism. A must read for anyone concerned with the course of this planet."

 

"Akbar Ahmed has long been one of the beacons of the Muslim spokepersons in the West. Here he breaks new ground by taking the theme of dialogue as guiding light. This is a wonderful way to get a sense of the textures of conversations among contemporary Muslims."

 

"I strongly urge anyone concerned with the fate of this planet to not only read Journey into Islam, but also heed it."

 

"Professor Akbar Ahmed has written a book of extraordinary insight. There are few people in the world with such an intimate understanding of America, Europe and Islam. Equally there are few who have the experience and knowledge to interpret the one to the other. This is a book which exposes the full seriousness of current tensions but one which is full of hope because it not only deepens understanding but charts a better way. politicians, faith and community leaders will benefit greatly from his perceptive analysis and his constructive proposals."

 

"Journey Into Islam is not only a treasure chest of information for the specialist and non-specialist alike: it is also a how-to manual on fostering peace and mutual respect. The book stands in a category by itself. It is refreshingly devoid of specialist terminology, eloquently written, and should be essential reading for anyone interested in making the world a better place."

Khaleel Mohammed, San Diego State University in the Toronto Star.