Why I Am a Salafi

Wie immer äußerst interessant, wenn auch mehr akademisch als leicht verständlich.

As a fellow Muslim convert, writer, and punk rock enthusiast; Michael Muhammad Knight strikes a uniquely relatable chord with me. I discovered 'The Taqwacores' earlier this year, and after it reading it quickly, decided to check out some of his non-fiction work.While "Journey to the End of Islam" contained some frustating conflations, its travel anecdotes were enough to save it as an interesting read. "Why I Am A Salafi", however, is akin to literary vomit.The book starts with Knight summarizing a hallucinogenic drug trip, and painfully detailing how he went to the mosque while still clearly intoxicated (despite this breaking several different Islamic principles.) He then mentally harkens back to how he was a more disciplined Muslim in his teenage years, unofficially following the "Salafi" understanding of Islam. The next 300+ pages are an intellectual masterbation session; while he re-interprets everything from Salifis, to Islamic History, to the Qu'ran itsself through the post-modern eyes of someone that's wasted the majority of their adult life on the broken fringes of a lifestyle and belief system they seemingly can't understand.The end product does both a disservice to the author and reader. It's obvious that Mr. Knight is hopelessly confused; as he routinely rejects every MAS, ICNA, and ISNA-sponsored sheikh and institution in favor of ancient heretics and drunk 5%ers - (who are not Muslim at all) - that he's encountered at different times in New York City. He also misguides readers with his tongue-in-cheek book titles and attempts at presenting serious accounts of Islamic history and theology; despite the majority of his sources ranging from non-Muslim academics, to rappers, to his often drug-addled self.Ultimately to call Mr. Knight or this book any form of "heresay" would create too much delight; as that's exactly the sort of thing he's openly inspired by. I would instead caution young Muslims to NOT take this book seriously, and non-Muslims to not read it at all. Only someone that's studied similar subject matter and been through the types of experiences Mr. Knight details will stand a chance of deciphering some of the fact from fiction in this smorgasbord of a book. And even if they could, the juice simply isn't worth the squeeze. 2 out of 5 stars.

Excellent choice

Knight could write the copy on the back of Raison Bran cereal and I would crack up while eating. Seriously, he grapples with complex issues of identity and "branding" of ideologies in the current debacle of Muslim-on-Muslim violence. Continues to confront his readers with their own cherished preconceptions of what Islam and Muslim men should "look" like. Brilliant and creative, the author has his chops in serious Islamic Studies. Keep your eyes on this writer. I have a feeling MM Knight is going to take us all on quite a ride of questioning the religion of Islam and the wide spectrum of flavors it comes in. Thanks, masked man.