The book Why I am a Muslim written by Asma Hasan discloses the position of Muslims living in the USA. The author tried to show the peculiarities of Islamic religion and its interactions with American society and its traditions. Hasan disclosed her biography as a Muslim woman living in America trying to connect it with historical stories and religious aspects. She managed to underline God’s attitude to people and the way they are united through Islamic religion.
According to Hasan global functions of religion are considered to be the following:
- Ethical source;
- Religion is to explain the world;
- It is to engender a community sense;
Quran is perceived as the basic elements of sound ethics; the author managed to disclose modern interactions of Muslim rules and American democracy. God’s perception and expectation of human beings are based on their mutual understanding and relation with religion.
“Islam does not preach violent aggression against one’s enemies. Do you honestly think I would be Muslim if that were true? ”
The book discloses the fact that it is Muhammad who created Islam, though he is the massager of the religion. God is the only founder of this religion. The author tried to compare female Islam experience in the USA culture and traditions atmosphere. According to the religion of Muslims relations between God and people are holy, unique, and individual.
“When a Muslim prays, it is between him and God. There are no clergy that must conduct the relationship…”
Islamic vision of society is God-centered. Quran states that people are to keep God in their consciousness and be aware of Judgment Day. The power of God is to proclaim the sins committed against the will of religion.
Hasan highlighted the peculiarities of Islamic jurisprudence which is also based on the principles of religion. She notes that pregnant women who are lonely, unmarried have no right to have a child because it can be regarded as criminal action followed by punishment. This fact is explained by the will of God interpreted in the Islamic religion.
“…a legal fiction of sorts, designed to discourage adultery but unenforceable on its face”
The difficulties of Hasan’s life in the USA being a Muslim provided her with a broad experience. She tried to show similar elements uniting Americans and Muslims such as freedom of speech, but the power of religion remembered about profound differences.
So, as a matter of conclusion, the author underlined the most important issues as to relations between people and God in the Muslim religion. The analysis of this book allows evaluating Hasan’s vision of the Americans and Muslims unity. She disclosed the power of God and the impact of this power on human beings’ life activities. The basic element of Islamic belief is complete harmony between people and God.
References
Hasan, Asma. Why I am a Muslim. Element books, ltd. P.192, 2004.