Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty [ハードカバー]

Among the central questions of our time is whether or not democracy -- or, in the larger sense, free societies -- are possible for non-Western cultures. Here in America, many ask if our understanding of "liberty" will translate to other, non-western cultures that do not share our Judeo-Christian legacy.

This question is all the more important now, as we observe the fallout from the Arab Spring of 2011. It is not rare to hear someone ask if there is something inherently authoritarian in Islam. Is democracy even worth trying? Should we be concerned, for example, that an Islamist regime will be elected in Egypt, replacing one kind of authoritarianism with another?

This excellent book by Mustafa Akyol, apparently written before the Arab Spring, speaks to these questions. It is an useful aide to those of us trying to understand these exciting and challenging times.

Akyol first traces the history of Islam, a survey which alone is incredibly helpful to this American reader.

Next Akyol points to a problem that should not surprise western Christians or western readers at large: the confusion of tradition/culture with scripture. By separating these two things, he argues, we can see seeds of liberalism within the scripture. Sharia -- which many fear and some for good reason -- is not scripture, and, Akyol reminds us, is written by men. Therefore it can be amended by men.

With such bold statements, one wonders if Akyol is nailing theses to doors. Only he is, apparently, not the first to do so. Others have come before him and, he says, it is worth taking a look at their work... as well as at the historical events that crushed it.

Finally looking to his home country, Akyol reports exciting news from Turkey. Thriving new economies, new (and old) means of public and private expression, discussions of freedom of religion. All these Turkish experiences, and others, give us means for optimism for the people of the so-called Middle East.

Key to it, Akyol argues, is not to throw away a "backward" religion but instead to embrace it. In fact, Akyol argues, stripping away the religion in Turkey -- just as others have imposed it elsewhere -- has been tried and resulted in disaster. Instead, a marriage of a secular (not "secularist") state and a free people is the recipe for not just the success of the state, the economy, and the nation but also for the faithful and free hearts of the people.

I have recommended this book, already, to many. The subject matter is interesting, as I have said, but in addition, Akyol somehow makes this rather intimidating topic into an enjoyable read. This makes Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty a unique and important work.

I was looking forward for Mustafa Akyol's new book since I had seen his Tedtalk. [...] Definetly it was well worth the wait.

I think this book is not only important to clear up the minds from Islamophobia but also inspiring for muslim world and societies struggling for their freedom and seeking new ways to shape their future with the Arab Spring. Both muslims and nonmuslims would gain a dinamic, inspiring and convincing new perspective from this reading.

Also his command of English as a non native speaker is incredible. Akyol expresses his arguments with an extensive but still quite easy reading way.

Thanks and congratulations Akyol both as an author and as being an idealist intellectual seeking the truth!

Mustafa Akyol is a columnist for Hürriyet Daily News and Star. He has also written for Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune among others ([...]). His book starts out with his account of childhood years. He recounts his eye-opening visit to the Mamak Prison to see his father, who had been imprisoned after the September 12, 1980 military coup, which catapults him to the question of authoritarianism in a secular democracy like Turkey, as well as most Islamic states. His thesis is that Islam and liberalism can co-exist and when that happens, Islamic civilization is at its peak. He retraces the history of Islam with the explanation that, after a brief period of liberalism, it was the authoritarian zeal of the Umayyad rulers who sided with the Traditionalists that brought an end to the dominance of the People of Reason in Islamic civilization. He retells the history of the Ottoman Empire, highlighting the achievements of Islamic culture as it correlated with liberalism. He concludes by presenting late 20th, early 21st century Turkey as a model which synthesizes liberalism and Islam.
I do not share the same optimism about the synthesis of liberalism and Islam in Turkey. Unfortunately, liberalism is very vulnerable to radicalism and today's so-called mildly Islamic government might easily transform into a radical authoritarian rule once it has gained enough power. However, the book is a good read on how one would wish the state of affairs in Turkey might turn out.