Yahiya Emerick

Book 1. 42 pp, grades 2-3. A well-written, interesting adventure when Layla figures out how to catch the thief that stole their iftar left on the window sill. Only problem is that the children disobey their parents by leaving the house after dark and then follow the thief into the woods.

The author is a convert from Christianity to Islam (Sunni). Yahiya provides an overview of Islam from many perspectives (origins, history, future, sects, beliefs, and lifestyles). He provides a positive description of Islam and contrasts it to Christianity and sometimes other religions. While interesting, the author is biased and is basically a salesman for his religion. He tries to smooth over the many shortcomings of the actions and beliefs of Muslims. It is sad that there are many people show more who still believe such illogical ideas. show less

The book ought not to be used as a textbook from which non-Muslims learn about Islam. Instead, it serves usefully only as a way by which Muslims can learn about their own faith. Obviously biased; includes many stretches and conjectures and even a few outright fabrications concerning Islam's more cotnroversial aspects.

I got this book right after 9/11 to help me understand a faith I knew very little about-back when I didn't even know what an Imam was. One of my friends had just converted and I had so many questions. This is a great addition to a basic religion collection-it's clear, consice, and provides explinations of both day-to-day Islam and some of the more publicised aspects of it (the burkah, Hajj, and jihad, for example).