
If the Oceans Were Ink
An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran
- 352 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
"A welcome nuanced look at Islam . . . combat[s]the dehumanizing stereotypes of Muslims that are all too common. . . . Mandatory reading." â
The Washington Post
PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST â˘Â NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTÂ
An eye-opening story of how Carla Powers and her longtime friend Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi found a way to confront ugly stereotypes and persistent misperceptions that were cleaving their communities. Their friendship--between a secular American and a madrasa-trained sheikh--had always seemed unlikely, but now they were frustrated and bewildered by the battles being fought in their names. Both knew that a close look at the Quran would reveal a faith that preached peace and not mass murder; respect for women and not oppression. And so they embarked on a yearlong journey through the controversial text.
A journalist who grew up in the Midwest and the Middle East, Power offers her unique vantage point on the Quran's most provocative verses as she debates with Akram, conversations filled with both good humor and powerful insights. Their story takes them to madrasas in India and pilgrimage sites in Mecca, as they encounter politicians and jihadis, feminist activists and conservative scholars. Armed with a new understanding of each other's worldviews, Power and Akram offer eye-opening perspectives, destroy long-held myths, and reveal startling connections between worlds that have seemed hopelessly divided for far too long.
"A conversation among well-meaning friendsâintelligent, compassionate, and revealingâthe kind that needs to be taking place around the world." âFareed Zakaria, author ofÂ
The Post-American World
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Introduction: A Map for the Journey
- I: The Origins
- II: The Home
- III: The World
- Conclusion: Everlasting Return
- Authorâs Note
- Glossary
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
- Contents
- Copyright