Rediscovering Genuine Islam: The Case for a Quran-Only Understanding

There are many reasons why this book is an important work to add your library. It highlights many rituals practices, by majority Muslims, that have no spiritual value whatsoever. You don't have to agree on everything the book has to say, of course, but I found the author did a wonderful job about dismantling key Quran verses and put them in perspective and in relation to Islam of traditions. If liberating your mind is important to your wellbeing while being a Muslim, you would find the book scintillating. It inspires you to read Quran carefully with curious mind. Let your mind wonder and innocent. Don't make excuses that you're not Arab or you don't master classic Arabic. If you are a Muslim and you don't care to understand Quran, you would endlessly be jerked around. You would get confused and distress. I'm a master artist and I witness many artists, in particular in fine arts, abandon their God given talents and get trapped in cult or superficial spiritual pursuit. If you want to liberate your mind, this book would get you started taking Quran under a different light, and see the textures and colors you have never seen or heard before. And probably, this book would help you reassess your own faith; take it to a different dimension altogether and your spiritual life would never be the same.

Refreshing look at Islam. If your belief is that nothing is wrong with Islam despite the fact that this "religion" has not offered humanity an iota of benefit over the last 5 centuries or more then you need not read this book. However, if you are a skeptic and a rationalist with humanist principles uncorrupted by "Religion", I would recommend the book to glimpse how the Quran defines Islam, not how Boukhari et al, Shayks, Muftis, Ulema and Mullahs define it. The book is replete with references supporting the arguments contained therein. I would not pay attention to the negative review of the book. It is evident the criticizer knows little of the Quran or Hadith. Any free thinking human would see that the Quran says it is complete ( Surah Bakarah ) and that not an iota has been left out. Now, if that is the case why do you need Hadith ul Boukhari et al? There are only two logical possibilities. The Quran is contradictory and requires Hadith ul Boukhari OR the latter are not required. The typical uneducated response to this that one needs to know how to "pray". Of course, the Hadith Ul Boukhari et al do not tell you a consistent way to pray and are contradictory in this respect. Many different methods of prayer are mentioned in these books. Most "muslims" do not even know that the arabic word "salat" does not mean prayer in the ritual sense. Likewise most do not know that the Hadith and Sunnah were never written by Mohammed and are the hearsay opinions of Boukhari et al. The voodoo ( not science ) of verification of these sayings is comical. A full review of these can be found in any number of scholarly works on Hadith literature. For a review of Islamic History I recommend Sense and Sensibility in Islam. For a review of how the Deen was corrupted I recommend Conspiracies against Quran.

If you have been questioning what Islam is, and how it is portrayed today, this a great short book to read. Dr. Rab quickly and easily shows not only why Islam is corrupted today, but also how simple and easy it is when followed as intended. My review will focus on one chapter, as it is the chapter I was mostly interested in, which is hadith. Hadith is the supposed sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammed while he was alive. Most Muslims today regard them as the 2nd source of Islam behind the Quran. This book easily picks apart this assertion, particularly in chapter 9, using reference after reference, point after point. If you are a Muslim, you MUST read chapter 9 and 10. Buy the kindle edition if you want, just read it. What you've been taught, what you've been told, is nothing more than propaganda to control you and your families before you.

“Nowadays, artificial birth control measures are widely practiced everywhere and are being advocated and extensively used as a way of controlling population growth. This is being done out of the Malthusian fear that population growth tends to outstrip food production in the world.” This assertion is only part of the truth. Additionally, the author charges that birth control use amongst women encourages promiscuity. Access to birth control DOES NOT promote promiscuity. That is a dangerous way of thinking and it can keep Muslimahs from seeking it for health reasons like PCOS because they are afraid of being labeled. This could have been an excellent chance to ensure that the Quran only perspective is assessed fully, and that Quran remains the primary source of our guidance. The book largely fails to deliver that, getting sidetracked and shining only within the last sections of the work.

A must read for those who say Islam needs reforming. There is nothing wrong with Islam from all of God's Prophets. There is something wrong with those who do not practice the Islam of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Islam of today that is supposed to be representative of the Islam from God is causing confusion even to those who profess to be following the real Islam of the Prophets.

Book Review Rediscovering Genuine Islam The Case for a Quran-Only Understanding By Abdur Rab If we are asked to describe the Muslim community in one word, generally speaking, the word would be "defiant". It is this attitude we wear about ourselves - I am Muslim and, make no mistake, I am proud to be one. Why must we underline the pride? Because of the many questions and challenges thrown our way, the many fingers that point accusingly. Some we have answers to, others leave us mute, and, yes, defiant. But there are some of us that will stare these questions in the face to seek the truth, with courage that comes from unshakeable faith. And that is what Abdur Rab has done in his book - Rediscovering Genuine Islam. He makes the case for rejecting hadith that have polluted the purity and sanctity of the Divine Word, and draws us to our Criterion, the Furqan, the Quran um Mubeen - the Book that makes it all clear. And he takes every controversial subject head on. You may not even realize it as you read, because of the didactic manner in which it is addressed. As you work your way through the book keeping an open mind and absorbing the points he makes, the defiance that defined you will be replaced with calm assurance. What this book gives you, whether or not you agree with all of it, is the confidence that you, personally, can seek the truth, the real truth, by reading the Quran. As he quotes ayah after ayah to make his points, the fog continues to lift, your vision clears and your spirit strengthens. You will now read the Quran, not for barakah, but to understand what it is that your Lord has personally communicated to you. For those who are discovering Islam, this book is the ideal way to start - recognizing the Quran as the source.

I am not a muslim, but I find Islam interesting. That said, I found this book interesting. A good case against the hadith, and a good place to start it find many scholars (muslim and non muslim alike) who argue against hadith. Plus, it's free on your Kindle with amazon prime!

A futile attempt by munkaree-e-hadith (Hadith deniers) to advance a case against using hadith (specially Sahi sita) as a source in interpreting not only Quran, but also its implementation. The author references Rashad Khalafa, Syed Ahmed Khan, Fazul Rehman etc. to present and strengthen his arguments. Needles to say, for majority of Muslims, the references used are rather notorious as they in their respective times held similar views. For people following Sunnah (mainstream muslims), this book will be a big disappointment. A basic principle for centuries that has been applied for accepting hadith has been if hadith contradicts anything in Quran, its not accepted. The author, conveniently ignored to mention this principle in his book.

This is a special book which is eloquent and comprehensive in it's approach. The author has put the case for the Quran only approach. Aspects relating to spirituality and reformation of one's character have not been ignored as ultimately it is these which bring about a wider change in society. The author has tackled common misconceptions about Islam and addressed key issues of tolerance, pluralism, human rights from a pure Islamic perspective. Crucially there is a chapter devoted to marriage, divorce and the status of women. The authority of the Ahadith literature, it's unreliability and their shortcomings have been addressed. This is a great read for muslims who must first unlearn the traditional teachings in a journey to find pure Islam. This book will serve as a a great tool in the journey to discover the Islam that set humanity free from the shackles of slavery, poverty, injustice, social, moral and cultural degradation. The Islam that changed the nomadic Arabs into a world force is not the Islam that is practiced by the majority of 'muslims'. A must read!

The children of today are the ones suffering during their childhoods from prejudice and fear. It is vital that children can go to school with out the religious hatred (on both sides) that adults sometimes promote, ruining childhoods and thus perpetuating the hatred. It is for all moderate religious people from all religions to promote peace within and without their religious communities for the sake of all children. A book giving a balanced view point is to be welcomed.

Well made arguments, now well known facts like the unrebiality of Hadith collection is clearly highlighted bit too much on vision for an idealistic Islamic State but good read for those after the Truth.

I purchased this book a while ago, and found it to be well written, and not full of the unresearched, opinionated drivel found in some other books written about Islam. The author thoroughly debunks the idea of using a secondary source of literature for Islamic law, and provides references to back up the points he makes. Well worth reading!

This is a gem in the much needed Islamic reform collection. It dispels quite eloquently misconceptions about Islam. Further the author has successfully argued that the source of guidance should be Qur'an only. It also provides a much clear exposition of what God has meant by his ''Deen''. This book is highly recommended for those seeking the Truth regarding Islam.