Haroon Siddiqui

Written for muslims and non-muslims alike, Being Muslim, a book authored by Haroon Siddiqui, is a modern history that attempts to explain the complexities of Islam in the 21st century and the political events leading to western cultures perceptions of the religion and its followers.
Haroon Siddiqui, native of India, began his career as a journalist in 1963 and worked his way to become an award-winning Canadian editorial writer and one of Canada’s most decorated journalists. Mr. Siddiqui has spent most of his career as a journalist working on the Iraq-Iran Crisis and championing human rights for the Muslim population. Over his 42 year career, he was recognized by the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Islamic Congress, York University, the National Press Club, and the University of Regina for his work as a journalist.

Siddiqui demonstrates tremendous scholarship. For the six chapters, Siddiqui provides provides anywhere between four and twenty-eight news, media, and scholarly sources. All of his citations can be found in the back of the book titled “Notes.” What impresses me most about Siddiqui’s scholarship is the fact that he provides his readers not only with a list of sources where he drew his information, but also a list of twelve resources and suggested reading if the reader chooses to further research the questions he raises.

Siddiqui does make distinctions between what is fact and what is opinion. It is very clear when he is quoting or referencing various sources and when he is not. His opinions come mainly in the form of interpretations and justifications of statistics. Siddiqui does paint with broad brush strokes and make use of generalization when he is oversimplifying and stereotyping the Western and Christian worldview, but I think he does this in order to argue that Muslims around the world, especially in Europe and North America, are victims of similar stereotyping and generalizations.

All in all, Being Muslim is an informative read and a relevant text that I think helps the reader understand several of the basic tenants Islam and the complexity of the political situation surrounding western interest in the Middle East. I enjoyed it.… (mer)