No comments about Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr (Festival Fun for the Early Years).

No comments about De l'Islam.

No comments about Reformismo Musulman, El - Desde Sus Origenes.

No comments about Ramadan Sonnets / Poems.

No comments about IN THE SHADOW OF SADDAM.

No comments about Les musulmans d'occident et l'avenir de l'islam.

1 comments about Islam, the West, and Challenges of Modernity.

1. How do we define modernity today? Is Islam a backward religion, preaching barbaric practices or does it have progressive ideology? In the advent of the colonialism of many Muslim lands and the subsequent formation of independent nation states in the Muslim world the issue of modernity and Islam has been the most debated topic of the 20th century and new millennium. Few studies have detailed the link between Western and Islamic thought as Ramadan's book. Ramadan a Professor of Philosophy and Islamic Studies at Fribourg (Switzerland) was born and raised in Switzerland and differs from his grandfather (Hassan Al-Bannah founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt) in certain ideologies. Although their respective place in history can be regarded along the same line of thought as far as reconstruction of Islam towards a more Social empowering force. With an endless source of references to the greatest thinkers in history and an impressive academic pedigree; Descartes, Kant, Aristotle, Prometheus, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), etc. Ramadan tries to soften the extremist voices in the West and Islamic World so common roots and solutions to social dilemmas can be found.
   
   Tariq Ramadan's thorough study of western civilization through technology, innovation and other fields that occurred during the renaissance, a consequence of the victory of rationalism over the clergy. However, Ramadan asserts this renaissance has deep roots in Muslim Spain, which was the learning center of Europe for nearly 500 years. Scholars like; Ibn Sina (Medicine), Ibn Rushid, (Philosophy), Al-Jabr (Mathematics), Ibn Hazim (Geography) and the many works of Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoreus were translated into Arabic and spread throughout Europe. The west must recognize this and at the same time the Muslim world must not demonize the west for eternity. Ramadan explains Islam is a universal faith, incorporating different societies throughout history, while maintaining their culture. He identifies himself as a `European Muslim' in that he finds the common enemy not the South or North (East or West) but a common enemy of illiteracy, poverty, crime, drugs. etc. Elaborating on Jihad and it's true meaning in Arabic of `struggle' a social Jihad must take place against illiteracy, poverty, crime, drugs, etc. Ramadan also cites an important saying of the Prophet Muhammad, "the bigger Jihad is fighting with one's spiritual (desires) and the smaller Jihad is the right of physical self-defense in protection of land, family, elderly, wealth, promoting and prohibiting evil".
   
   Muslims must criticize that which is wrong and of utmost priority begin with their own societies, grass-root movements on a `Social Jihad'. Ramadan maintains a balanced approach to the civilizations, maintaining there are certain forces in the West who's sole interest lies in the resources of Muslim lands and feed off exposure of fanatical Muslims. Citing the ignorant support of certain western governments of human right violations in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and ignoring the social contribution of Islamic Movements. While in Algeria showing no support for the FIS (Islamic Salvation Front), which won the 1992 election but was later violently canceled by the military.
   
   From a social religious aspect Ramadan sharply criticizes the narrow mindedness of some `ulema (Islamic scholars) in their literal interpretation of doctrine without taking into account the social context and condition of Muslims during the revelation of the Quran, which was sent down over a span of 23 years. Thus he argues stoning of adulterous women no longer applies, there is no constant in Islamic Law it is a case-to-case scenario that requires ijtihad, reasoning from the sources of Islamic Law. Also modernization, development and progress must not be defined as a purely western phenomena (Japan and the Orient) as there exist many social problems in the West.
   
   In conclusion Ramadan strongly criticizes the Muslim World in their denial to criticize societies and resorting to violent reactionary behavior. He calls for a `Social Jihad' waged against illiteracy, poverty, crime, drugs, etc. Islam, Ramadan strongly contends is not naturally against development and thought as the Quran enlightens the ummah (Muslim Nation) to ponder and think of creation, there exists no dichotomy between development/rationality and religion.

No comments about Understanding Islamic Law: From Classical to Contemporary (Contemporary Issues in Islam).

No comments about The Ramadan War, 1973.

5 comments about The Heat of Ramadan.

1. This was an outstanding book. I was very impressed with Steve Hartov as an author. This book gives you a good insight to the Israeli intelligence community.You can tell that Hartov has good working knowledge of his subject matter. After a botched attempt to kill an Arab terrorist the Israeli hit team becomes the hunted. The terrorist settles his score one by one. In the mean-time the terrorist has altered his face through plastic surgery thanks to Russia. He is going to kill the Israeli prime minister. The final scenes in the book turn into one exciting action sequence after the other. This book gives excellent description of the scenery in the Middle East. This is a very good book. Be sure to read it.



2. Eytan Eckstein is one of Israeli Military Intelligence's finest field agents. A fatal error in attempting to assassinate one of the world's deadliest Palestinian Terrorists sends Eckstein's career crashing down nearly to ruins. Amar Kamil begins a program of personal vendetta against Eckstein and his entire team. It's a clash of monumental proportions, richly detailed with characters and places that live in your mind as this novel grabs you and wraps itself around your imagination and carries you to its stunning conclusion. This is writing of the first order. Author Hartov clearly knows the inside workings of Israeli Intelligence. His Characters are real. None of them are bigger than life or made to be superheroes. You can identify with the Antagonist and Protagonist alike in this magnificent portrayal of Mid-Eastern tension and drama. A Book well worth reading more than once!



3. First of all, I couldn't tell you how it ended, cause I never got that far. Except for the execution in the beginning of the book, and the ensuing chase, this book had litterally nothing to keep the reader interested enough to bother with finishing the story.
   The author spent way to much time dealing with the main, and secondary character's background lives to the point where it become down right boring!
   I read it to the halfway point, where I could no longer stand it, tore it up, and threw it in the trash can, like I do with all the books that thoroughly disgust, or bore me!
   Note: there was a movie based on this book, with Christopher Lambert playing the lead role. Suggestion: see the movie, like Bond, it was far better than the book.



4. Let's be honest here...there are two kinds of people who write spy novels: those who have been through the thick of covert ops and those who think they have because they've seen a few Bond films. Hartov is the genuine article and then some.

   Having some intelligence experience of my own, the Heat of Ramadan is without question the most neatly assembled, accurately derived, and beautifully written spy novel I've read in years. For anyone who thinks they know about intelligence work from Hollywood, I recommend reading this book to see the haunting dangers of reality as told through the pen of a master.

   Hartov's work is a masterpiece. The type of classic other books in the genre will be measured against.




5. This is one of the more compelling espionage thrillers I've read - found myself sneaking chapters in the middle of work, staying up late - well-developed, deeply sympathetic, but flawed lead characters - both protagonist and bad guy; support characters were intriguing enough I want to follow their stories; nice insider-info feel; and plot and writing style move you steadily along with very few missteps or bog-downs. My only quibble was the two obnoxious bureaucratic officials were too one-dimensional. This book was a delight. Hartov just made my must-read author list.