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2011] BUT WILL IT SELL IN ISLAMABAD? 279
could not understand his pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian positions (79).
Tarek’s depiction of Ms. Manji may lead some to the misconception that
she is anti-Palestinian. This is the farthest thing from the truth. I remember
some colleagues from Israel complaining to me that Ms. Manji had refused
to pose for photographs with an Israeli tank crew. When I asked her about
the incident, she pointed out that she did not wish to give the impression she
was siding with any occupation by force. Both Tarek Fatah and Irshad
Manji are reformist- minded Muslims who have the same positions on
many issues; it behooves Tarek to be more judicious in his representation of
allies in his cause.
In rating Tarek’s book, I am reminded of my Arabic-language professor
at McGill. I dreaded receiving my corrected research papers from him;
they would invariably be covered in notes. Yet, I never received less than
an “A”—because the professor was a perfectionist; his comments were
meant to be constructive. My voluminous critique of Tarek’s book is in that
category. But for the fact that Tarek has lauded me in it, I would have given
it an A+. Since I do not wish to be accused of favoritism, however, I must
award it only an A. Yet, however, in my department, we do not give A+s,
so in the end, his book still gets the top grade. This book should be in every
mosque, every church, every synagogue, every library—every institution
that promotes knowledge as empowerment.
*Khaleel Mohammed is an associate professor of religion in the Department of
Religious Studies at San Diego State University. He has a bachelor’s in religion
and psychology from Universidad Interamerica (Mexico), an MA from Concordia
University (Canada), and a PhD in Islamic law from McGill (Canada). He has read
law at Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and held a Kraft Hiatt fellowship
from Brandeis.