Originally presented as: Thesis (M.A.)--Western Michigan University, 2008.

Among the unsettling social shifts in the wake of 9/11 was the global attention paid to Islam. Here in the United States, we became divided, often sadly along partisan lines, between those who believed every Muslim was a potential threat and those who believed no Muslim could do wrong. For conservative Wisconsin native and former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, these radical times meant facing a new reality as a devout Muslim and a patriot—a certain betrayal within his faith, and a need to answer a question that crossed the minds of even the most sensitive and politically correct: “Can a good Muslim be a good American as well?” Jasser founded the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) to instill in young American Muslims an appreciation for the distinctively positive impact that this nation’s ideals of liberty have had upon the world. As a nationally recognized expert on Muslim radicalization, he offers non-Muslims a definitive comprehension of the difference between Islam and the spiritual cancer known as Islamism, or political Islam, and how violence and extremism run counter to Islam’s true teachings. As he persuasively argues, until we acknowledge the threat of Islamism in all its forms, the majority of Americans will be gulled into recognizing only the most obvious: terrorism. In A Battle for the Soul of Islam, Jasser embraces both his faith and his country while asking hard questions: * Are American Muslim children learning entitlement as victims, or are they being taught individual responsibility and critical thinking? * Are poisonous conspiracy theories dividing their American identity, or are they gaining exposure to reason, nationalism, and patriotism? * Are Muslims publicly critical of the Islamist movements of the Middle East, or do they remain silent on aspects of religious doctrine that conflict with modernity and universal equality? * Is the American press downplaying the seditious threat of homegrown Islamist radicalism and the influence of Islamists’ propaganda arm on our governmental policies? * Is our culture of political correctness a major obstacle toward long-overdue Muslim reform against Islamism? All these years after 9/11, it’s time for us to understand the true threat of Islamism. It is a Muslim problem that needs a Muslim solution, and A Battle for the Soul of Islam builds a solid, balanced, and imperative must-read foundation for the fight.

The spiritual life in Islam begins with riyadat al-nafs, the inner warfare against the ego. Distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice. Only by a powerful effort of will can the sincere worshipper achieve the purity of soul which enables him to attain God's proximity. This translation of two chapters from The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din) details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the first step, On Disciplining the Soul, which cites copious anecdotes from the Islamic scriptures and biographies of the saints, Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits, and goes on to describe how the sickness of the heart may be cured. In the second part, Breaking the Two Desires, he focusses on the question of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that 'the best of all matters is the middle way'. The translator has added an introduction and notes which explore Ghazali's ability to make use of Greek as well as Islamic ethics. The work will prove of special interest to those interested in Sufi mysticism, comparative ethics, and the question of sexuality in Islam.

The proper burial of a Muslim is a very spiritual and sacred part of our worship. One should seek to understand these rites, which makes for a simple and beautiful occasion. I was inspired to write this booklet after the transitiondeathof my beloved friend Sister Leah Henton. What should have been a beautiful and dignified occasion became a heartbreaking experience because of a decision that Leahs husband made, which would leave her family, especially her parents, with heartbreaking memories of how their daughter, a Muslim, was laid to rest and buried. The purpose of this booklet is to assist and enlighten Muslims and non-Muslim family members in the preparing and arranging of the Janazah (funeral) of our deceased Muslim loved ones. May Allah be pleased with my humble effort. Jamella Jihad

Practiced by over 1.8 billion people, Islam is the world’s second largest faith, yet most of us don’t know what the beliefs of Islam actually are. ‘Inside the Soul of Islam: A Unique View Into the Love, Beauty, and Wisdom of Islam For Spiritual Seekers of All Faiths’ gives a much-needed understanding of this widely misinterpreted faith, and an insight into the essential teachings, universal values, and deep spirituality it offers us all. In this profound yet highly accessible book, the author provides a vital introduction to the essential teachings of Islam. In each short chapter he focuses on a core teaching from the Quran, such as loving kindness, resilience, gratitude or forgiveness, and shares his unique insight into how these teachings can lead to spiritual evolution in anyone, regardless of their beliefs, religion or background. The author also considers the role of women in Islam, as well as the true nature and meaning of the words ‘jihad’ and ‘shariah’. Finally, touching upon current events, the author demonstrates how acts of violence committed in the name of Islam are inherently un‑Islamic, and boldly concludes not only that Islam is not the cause of terrorism – Islam contains the cure for it.

Nafsi is a collection of poetry and prose, calling you to a spiritual revolution. This compelling work examines the relationship between spirit and flesh, through poetic allure. "I have been summoned by the need to illuminate minds that have succumb to the rhetoric that the Muslim is strange - that the Muslim should be feared. I write with the sword that I am most familiar with- that is my pen. I write to declare 'Jihad' on the thing most worthy of defeating, that is my soul- the 'Nafs'" -Kashmir Maryam