Jeffrey Lang is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Kansas and an author of several memoirs on converting to Islam. He is an inspirational speaker for MeccaCentric and serves as an advisor to Generation Islam.
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"Conversion to Islam today is often a journey from individualism to traditionalism, from learning to illumination, from the sensible to the unseen, from reason to intuition, in the end, ideally, harmonizing the whole" (21). This summary statement from Lang at the beginning of this reflective work resonated profoundly with my own conversion experience. From his extensive citation of Muhammad Asad to authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Martin Lings and even Edward Said, one can sense that Lang's self-described progression from Christianity to atheism to Islam was not only a profound spiritual experience, but much like the above quote was a totality of intellectual and spiritual seeking. This culminated for Lang in the realization that only a path derived from the ancient wisdom traditions could lead him to authentic truth, and much like my own path, I sensed in him a need to break in a sense from the traditions he'd known to something that - for his own experience - was much more universal.
This universality for Lang is genuinely so, as he wrestles with issues of justice, traditionalism as applied to other religious traditions, applications of exoteric elements of Islam to modern times/The West and the role of politics in modern societies. The book is more of a reflection on Lang's opinions/thoughts on these elements of Islamic life than it is a chronicle of a conversion per se, as for all practical purposes the story of his journey to Islam stops after the first 20 or 30 pages.
For the Western reader (Muslim or not) the book provides challenging insights into Muslim beliefs and tenets of faith, with a particular importance placed on how to approach and/or read the Qur'an. One of Lang's goals is understanding - in the sense of cross-religious understanding between the monotheistic traditions in particular and all religions generally. His admonition for increased study and knowledge of other faiths has become even more crucial than when this book was written 20 years ago, and in many ways it's both easier and harder to gain this important understanding. Easier in the sense that never before has so much information been universally available, yet harder in the sense that the propaganda (particularly in the Western world against Islam) has never been greater. Both Christians and Muslims must be careful about the sources they use to gain information about the "other" just as they must be sure that they are returning to the true universal teachings of their own faiths. Highly recommended for those who are not afraid of the tough questions.
Although Dr Lang considered this project as some impressions of a Muslim convert when it first came out, it proved to be far more profound and insightful for Muslims and non Muslims alike. One can personally relate with Lang鈥檚 struggle at many levels and his approach towards making sense of religion vis-脿-vis life is remarkably honest. One thing that impressed me most is the depth with which Lang approaches to analyze the source of shariah, especially Hadith. From the standpoint of a new convert, even his mention of Azami and Nabia Abbott is enough to show the breadth of Islamic literature he has dealt with.
even some Muslims still struggle with their faith. born as a Muslim is not a passport to heaven unless you truly understand n learn Islam by heart n examples.
This is a good book, but I wish he had spent more time writing about his personal experience and not as much about theology. It's not easy to be a convert and there is a dearth of books out there about what it's like to make the transition from non-Muslim to Muslim.
The author does a good job in tackling topics that are often wondered upon by the curious mind and criticized by people that just love to hate on everything.
This is a good, informative book for someone with questions about Islam, someone who is new to their faith or someone just interested in studying religion. I saw the talk "Purpose of Life" by Jeffrey Lang that got me first interested in him and I went into this book thinking it would focus more on his journey with Islam which in a way it did but it was more of a commentary on the linguistic analysis of the language used in the Quran, the cultural adaptation of this religion, how it feels to be a convert in a foreign community and some historical context and narration of events that have passed in regards to religion and politics.
For some odd reason I found myself bored a lot whilst at the same time liking the in depth representation of all the social and religious discussions addressed in this book. My disappointment is my own fault because I had high expectations of a spiritual high that would boost my Iman as an outcome of this reading experience which it sadly did not fulfill, at least not as much as I wanted it to. Still a good book.
After reading "Even Angel Ask" I was eager to know more about prof.Lang and his journey to find peace in his new religion ; Islam.
with his education background as mathematic lecturer in Univ. of Kansas, Lang had carefully written this second book with more detail research, he supported his points with selected Noble Qoran verses and Hadith.
And even I, who was born as moslem, still fascinated by his insights, for example, Lang had explained about the necessity of calamities or disasters in moslem's life, as for the good moslem will consider calamities as a warning from God and also the "test" for faith. sadly even we as moslem often see calamities as wrath of God, and we tend to put blame to those victims of that calamity as if they had committed serious sins......so I'm glad that Lang had different point of view, and we can be "in peace" to know that calamities are not the "Wrath of God" but rather "blessing in disguise"
All and all, it's always nice to read about story of my religion from an american's point of view, so I could see how it was feel to be the minority of this last religion on earth.
A book about questions and difficulties he encountered/thought about as a convert. Just as the title says..it's about his struggle to surrender to Islam. The book sounds as if addressed to fellow converts. But, really i have gone through pretty mych very similar thoughts. I am pretty sure most born Muslims can relate. Insightful book.it amazed me how much insight and knowledge he has. Not all if his arguments are convincing or even complete but I really really liked his neutrality/objectivity.