Capturing the Zeigeist
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It is quite surprising, having seen the glowing reviews which feature here and which adorn the cover of the book itself, to actually read the book which purports to offer an honest narrative of Ed Husain's involvement with Hizb ut Tahir ('Why I joined radical Islam in Britain, what I saw and why I left').
Initially there is an attempt by Husain to explain how he became involved, a process which he links to feelings of alienation informed by his experiences at school, and by a growing anger at images relating to Muslim experience abroad. The overriding impression is of a very young and intellectually moribund man emerging strongly as an empty vessel waiting to be filled. This can be seen by his apparent engagement with texts written by Qutb and Mawdudi which refer to the Qur'an - and by Husain's description of listening and reciting the Qur'an under the apparent guidance of his beloved 'Grandpa' -the commonality being that both of the practices described are not predicated on rational discourse or thinking, and Husain was clearly not able to engage meaningfully with either.
And it continues. Husain finally chooses to disengage with HuT after the death of a fellow student, and because of the love of a good woman ('Faye') - who remains a relatively opaque figure despite her apparent importance. He then discovers the joy of philosophy and politics at University (p160-164) - leading to a few pages in which Husain eulogises about his marvellous realisation that much of what he had been exposed to as a member of HuT had drawn from the political language and systems which he so despised. Finally we see Husain teaching abroad, and being exposed to attitudes which lead him to recognise the plurality within Islam, the apparent irrationality of views which he had once shared and promulgated and a re-engagement with a traditional Islam practised by his family and wider community.
Repenting of, and recognising the error of his ways, he then returns to the UK vowing to expose HuT and others of their ilk, which leads him to offer his views on the failure of multi-culturalism and the need for wider society to engage and challenge the Muslim community.
Given this apparent experience, the book might appear to offer an important and timely explanation regarding radical Islam, with its authority deriving from the experience and expertise of a former practitioner. Yet despite this, in my view, doubts remain. There can be no disguising the superficial nature of Husain's description of his radicalisation, and his failure to convincingly justify or fully explain his involvement. Indeed a cynic could opine that Husain's narrative is little more than the description of typical teenage angst, with all the questions that arise with that state (alienation, over exaggerated sense of self importance, a need to belong), but placed within slightly different narrative terms. This sense of superficiality continues through his self-described Damascene moment and the turning away from HuT - which begins when he is confronted with real, bloody violence and death. A cynic might see this rather as a young inexperienced man losing his nerve - not the reaction expected of a self-described radical Islamist and potential Jihadist.
Furthermore, given the political context against which this narrative is set, one is forced to question the apparent ease with which a self-described Islamist can go to Saudi Arabia to work for the British Council (a representative arm of the United Kingdom PLC), without attracting the attention of the UK Security Services. And this leads to further questioning of the authenticity of this narrative, and the intention behind its production and the timing of its publication.
All of this leads to the conclusion that this book truly is an example of 'the Emperor's new clothes', it offers nothing new to the study of radical Islam, and offers nothing by way of enlightened insight or discourse. Husain might very well have had an experience with HuT, but he lacks the required intellect to construct and provide a penetrating and worthwhile analysis of the subject matter. And yet, despite this, the simplicity of this book appears to have seduced readers in to unquestioningly accepting the purported wisdom contained therein.
To understand this book, it is worth considering the fact that Husain is actively involved with the Quilliam Foundation, which recently announced the launch of its mission to actively counter and challenge radical Islam and HuT in particular. This is an organisation seeking to establish a meaningful presence regarding policy making and also obtaining government funding and backing. The superficial analysis offered by Husain appears to offer the solution to the questions being asked at the present time regarding radical Islam, and the Quilliam Foundation and this book are part of that easy analysis.
Most significantly, despite Husain's engagement with Western political and philosophical thought, this is a book which sees the future engagement with radical Islam as being determined and framed by and for Muslims - conditionally based on the unquestionable legitimacy of Islam. Thus Husain's exposure to rationality appears to have singularly failed to lead to any critical consideration, examintaion or reappraisal of Islam itself.
This is not a 'captivating and terrifyingly honest' (The Observer) book, nor is it 'persuasive and stimulating' (Martin Amis). It is a book that offers a single testimony of questionable legitimacy and authenticity which (despite claims to the contrary) offers no credible or original analysis of use to the ongoing debate within the UK regarding 'radical Islam'.
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Inside Islam
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The Islamist
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By Ed Husain
A Review by Neville Moray, Nigel Freedman and Barry Hibbitt on
Behalf of the Cote d'Azure Men's Book Club
It takes great courage for a would- be Enemy of the People to shed his protective armour and present himself to those he would have harmed but such is the character of Ed Husain who could so easily have been one of the army of unseen killers whom President George Bush seeks to eliminate in his War on Terror
Husain, the son of Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom, found himself living in the East End of London as a sixteen- year- old and going through the rites of passage at school and among his family and friends. He was born in Britain so that in many ways he was the boy next door, just as were the bombers from Leeds who brought death and devastation to Central London on 7/7.
It was this realisation that the enemy could easily be that handsome and smiling boy next door that brought a new dimension to the now long- running war against Iraq and the interminable battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Britain had an enemy within, and an enemy who was not as British as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding but a Briton of a different hue.
The Cote d'Azur Men's Book Club felt this is a very important book. It is a striking
Testimony to the courage and strength of Husain and is a wake up call to a nation that prides itself on its democratic heritage and its multiracialism.
Ed Husain kicked over the traces at the age of sixteen when he was living with his parents in Tower Hamlets in an era when `Go home Pakis' was all too often the cry of the ignorant. Young Ed found his religion thanks to the teaching of Grandpa, a holy man who was a father figure to his parents, and a leader idolised by the Muslim world in places like Brick Lane.
It is useful to digress slightly at this point to say that Young Ed confesses that he did not feel British at all, he saw himself as an Indian, the country where his father was born.
So Grandpa, a shaikh from Fultholy and master of five mystical Muslim orders, and a man much loved in India and Bangladesh, became the boy's mentor. Husain carried the master's books, an honourable task, knelt at his feet and absorbed his teaching.
It was not this religious leader who preached or spoke of the jihad; that was more the function of the youthful extremists at school and in the mosques, and Ed Husain became an extremist just as have many young people over the years. (Remember the Pioneers, the young communists, the Hitler Youth, children recruited to war by means of -propaganda.) So it was with Husain. Peer pressure, the need to belong, or merely a new rite of passage for a youngster seeking permanence in an oddly alien land brought about his conversion to an `Islamist' as he calls radical fundamentalist Muslims who pursue political rather than religious aims.
The Islamist has given the author celebrity status, the BBC and other media to comment on Islamic matters call him in and, as he writes,`this book is a protest against political Islam based on my own experience as a British Muslim.who saw the error of his ways.'
His moment of truth came with the realisation that his fellow students were taking over colleges and muslim organisations with a gospel of violence. He literally launched himself on a Road to Damascus experience and, with his wife Faye, lived in the Syrian capital for two years, living and breathing a much as possible as an Arab. He says he needed to learn Arabic to understand the real nature of his religion.
With the British muslim leadership choosing a way of conflict, using the mosques to preach political Islamism less than the words of the righteous, he felt his years of religious ranting had become hollow and he found solace in the Koran, and the realisation that `God was around us, in us, for us'
Damascus changed his perception of the Christian world, the Arab Christians using the word Allah for God. He had thought that Allah was the preserve of the Muslims. This was the true Road to Damascus experience, God and Allah are soul mates, as it were Then came Saudi Arabia and Wahabism the even more extremist branch of the Islamic world and He was repelled by it and the Saudi lifestyle of sexism, racism and the kingdom's ill treatment of women. He compared the manner in which Britain had given refuge to thousands of black Africans to the harsh treatment they received in Saudi Arabia `I longed' he says, `to be home again.' And he meant Britain. Still, he leaves hints that warn of darker days ahead, perhaps, again the enemy within, a sort of Fifth Column, but a large body we would do well to eye with suspicion if not fear of more violence, not a pretty thought.
This is a very important book. In the last paragraph he writes, `without doubt a British Islam is emerging...will it be in harmony with the world? .... The future of Islam is being shaped now.'
It is lucidly and intelligently written, providing valuable insight into many of the main
religious and political factions in the world of Islam, also with useful historical perspectives"
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Honest, intelectual & above all very spiritual
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Having a keen interest in all religion, i found this very very interesting and honest. Ed is extremely articulate and offers his own personal experience and take on all of the things in his life. He openly talks above his involvment in different fundemental groups - what these groups were about and why he became involved. This man is very much in touch with his spiritual side, and has a clear relationship with God, something he amits he lost sight of for a while.
I'm someone who is pretty well versed with the world religions. I'm by no means a scholar, but i'm certainly able to have a debate and have a good understanding. This in mind, there was certain aspects of the different groups he talks about that I found a little confusing to start with, and had to re- read certain parts to refresh my memory and understanding. So for someone that has no understanding of Islam, some of it may be a too difficult to grasp. For that reason i am giving 4 instead of 5 stars. But well done, a brave and honest book.
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Page Turner
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I love this book, so easy to read, i couldn't put it down. So true to reality and reveals lots of the reality which young british muslims are facing. I would highly recommend reading it.. so you can judge for yourself.
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Interesting but leaves important questions unanswered
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This is a personal account of a British born Muslim. He writes how he became a radical Muslim as the result of encounters with gradually more extreme and politically ambitious Muslim radicals. This ranges from Islamic radicals at his sixth form college who wanted to force all Muslim women to come to college in the veil, to Hizb ut Tahrir, who wanted to set up a global Islamic state. The book is dotted with his very interesting descriptions of buildings where clandestine meetings took place, and his frank admissions of his initial views.
The book then switches quite dramatically, when he begins to meet American people in the flesh. His hatred of America slowly thaws, and he begins to embrace more gentle, liberal strains of Islam. He gives special focus to the Sufis, and again, Americans he meets are instrumental in his de-radicalisation. The book's main weakness is that Hussain never really tells us why he made this journey to the brink and back, and never explains fully why he came back. His writing style about the new liberal Islam he embraces is rather sickly sweet in places. He also seems very keen to name drop prominent Islamists he met on his journey.
All in all, the book is a genuinely interesting peak into the lives of radical Islamists in Britain. His account of his time in the Middle East is also very revealing, especially his time in Saudi Arabia, which bitterly disappoints him as the kingdom transpires not to be quite the moral paradise he imagined it to be. However, the book does leave some important questions unanswered, and the author's sudden switch in writing style is rather abrupt and testing. Nevertheless, a good read.
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