Here are my thoughts and comments.

I really like the way you started the book with relevant contemporary questions and defined various sources such as Quran and Hadith that Muslims use to search for answers. You made your case for the primacy of Quran as the principal source of information and very clearly without taking anything away from Hadith or Sharia, which have been subject to differences of opinions and minor inconsistencies. Your chapter emphasizing the principles and values espoused in Quran is a very powerful chapter that sets the stage for the rest of the book. I think you successfully conveyed the message that Quran underscores certain basic principles and values, such as compassion, kindness, justice, and forgiveness, which are universal and not confined to any geographical area or time. I thought your separation of religion into devotional and behavioral realms complemented your idea of Quranic principles and values. Devotional religion is something very personal and spiritual between a man and his creator while behavioral religion is about a man’s relationship with his peers in society.

I thought your introductory chapters firmly laid the foundation for your subsequent arguments. Your hypothesis that religious practices can evolve, change, or vanish depending on the evolution of human society and acquisition of temporal knowledge, but Koranic principles that are universal and timeless was brilliant.

Your argument that Koranic principles are totally compatible with modern ideals like democracy, freedom of thought and expression, women’s rights, scientific education, and modern investment and banking, are refreshing and backed by copious data that you have cited from Quran and other Muslim sources throughout the text. I particularly enjoyed your argument in favor of industrial society, and modern banking and finance, against any illogical notions of Islamic interest-free banking.

Overall, I think this book will a be valuable resource for those who want to see an enlightened and informed discussion on the universality of Koranic principles in the contemporary world, supported by empirical data and a rational thought process.

Please accept my congratulations on this formidable work, which reflects your rational scientific outlook on life.”

Muzaffar Qazilbash is a senior hematologist at MD Anderson the well-known cancer hospital in Houston. Besides being very highly thought of in his field of research, he is a voracious reader of books and deeply interested in religious thought, various disciplines of humanities and history. A deeply intellectual person.

Second, the discussion of devotional religion and the behavioral religion is excellent and for me personally as a reader, it clarified a lot of confusion that I am experiencing in my own mind and heart. If this discussion can be expanded in the book it would be helpful at least to readers like me. Clearly stating, as you have that the manuscript deals with behavioral religion while devotional religion is clear and unchanging is a very powerful concept to draw in readers.

The point that the Quran is the shortest of all religious books and deliberately so, because it sets up only the most general principles and exhorts us to use reason, thinking and logic to live our lives is an excellent point. I think this will resonate with readers who are trying to reconcile Islam with modern life, and if the Quran and modernity can be understood in this way then it will help readers understand behavioral religion as distinct from devotional religion.

Chapter 3 sets out the basic principles beautifully. The chapter is also appropriately divided into sections around the principles; some of the other chapters can benefit from smaller organization.

Chapter 5 is excellent because it shows that behavioral Islam has changed in many ways in the last 1400 years, giving us the courage to continue to bring it into alignment with the fundamental principles, values laid out in the Quran. Logically then, if behavioral Islam has evolved tremendously in many matters such as slavery, then there is no reason why it cannot continue to evolve in a direction that brings it closer to the principles, values laid out in the Quran.

Because you have derived your arguments from the first principles, the discussion on polygamy in chapter 7 is outstanding – the most logical that I have ever read on the subject. Likewise, the discussion of poll tax in chapter 8.

[This is a book for those] who are struggling with understanding their holy book in the modern age.”

Tasadduq Shervani is a Professor at Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, Dallas. He is a consultant with a very large number of big US companies.

Ahmad Durrani is a Retired Professor of civil engineering in Rice University, Houston. He was Vice Chancellor of Lahore University for 3 years.

Aziz flinches from nothing and is frank, even cutting, on the divergences between the theological injunctions and actual Muslim practices.”

Mani Shankar Aiyer is a Former diplomat, politician, Cabinet Minister in Government of India, author of several books and a regular columnist.

Published in Biblio a Book Review quarterly October – December 2024.

Talmiz Ahmad is a former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and UAE. Presently he holds the Ram Sathe Chair for International Studies, Symbiosis International University, Pune, India. He has authored several books on West Asia.

Published in The Wire December 3, 2024.

Ronen Sen (Indian Foreign Service) has held important positions in the Ministry of External Affairs as well as Ambassador of India to Russia, Germany, High Commissioner to UK and Ambassador to United States.

N.C. Saksena (Indian Administrative Service) has held important positions in the Government of India including Secretary to the Minorities Commission.

You have highlighted the basic message in all its sublime glory as a blessing and ‘Rehmat’ Mercy for all mankind urging justice, fairness, charity, piety, good conscience, equity, forgiveness, patience, tolerance above all else compassion…… Every act, deed, regulation etc. must meet this acid test. Is it fair, just, compassionate, and well balanced? If not, it should not be accepted.

The Muslim diaspora is ill at ease and confused. It is they who should most benefit from your book.

It is a great book and should be read with the attention which it deserves.

Please accept my congratulations on your great enterprise.

Habib Farooqi retired from Indian Income Tax Service and recently passed away. Extremely well read he had a brilliant academic record from Lucknow University.

Riaz Siddiqi had a very successful career in private equity investments especially energy.

I think it [the Book] can help provide Muslims a logical and modern perspective without challenging the legitimacy of the Quran, the prophet Mohammed or Islam. This is a very important point because we either have theocratic and dogmatic interpretations which are clearly not compatible with modern world, or we have modern perspective which does not recognize the Quran, Hadith or Religion. What you have set out to do is to connect the two. At the very least this provides liberal minded Muslims, who often question or doubt that they are not truly religious enough, or that it is religion or modernity, a logical reconciliation. As an author I really like that you do not come across as pushing any idea but rather present facts and let every subject end with its own logical conclusion. For Muslims who do not study philosophy as a subject this book is a lesson in philosophy too.

The more I reflect on the book the more I realize how well you have philosophically presented the book not just argued through legal jurisprudence.”

Sabiha graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with Honors, in Business Administration. After graduating she decided to pursue a career in education. She is an Educationist and started the first Progressive Preschool in Dallas, inspired by the Reggio Philosophy. She is a strong proponent of Education reforms and early childhood education. She believes the Education system needs to be more Progressive with more room for creativity, aesthetics, and freedom of thinking. Interested in serious subjects like politics, international relations, religion, and ethics.

Some of the most powerful aspects of your book are dealt in the chapter ‘Way of life.’ This chapter clarified a lot of things that were different from my understanding of Islam… I shall go back to that chapter multiple times as it resonated with me at a very fundamental level.

It [the book] is extremely important. Islam provided most of us a foundational value to base our lives. When questions about Islam are left unanswered, I felt that it shook the foundations upon which my life was built. Your book has stabilized that foundation and equipped me to be at peace with my religion.

It is probably even more important for kids. When kids are growing up, they need a solid foundation of values and this book helps the parent provide that set of values to the kids.”

Mohammad Amin leads an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts responsible for the smooth functioning of all processes and outcomes associated with Dell’s Tech Support organization part of Dell Technologies Services business unit ($16 B in revenue). Amin has been with Dell for the past 18 years and has graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering & Business from the University of Alabama (Birmingham) and the University of Texas respectively. Besides his professional studies Amin is deeply interested in the causes of conflicts, both interfaith and intra-faith, and how to resolve them.

The first two chapters lay down a very solid foundation on which you have built the logic of the rest of the book. I really like how you substantiate the pragmatism of the Quran by giving examples of cost-benefit analysis and the use of the term moderation and balance. The 99 names of Allah as the guiding force was an idea that really resonated with me. It ties in with the Kabbalah principle that to attain closeness to something we must be like it. So, we should strive to be Godlike to attain closeness to him.

In chapter 8 you have excellently explained the principles of secularism and its correlation with Koranic principles. I have never read such a well worded definition and explanation of secularism.

In chapter 11 about knowledge learning in science you have made some very revolutionary arguments about the need for patience for scientific discovery, and as a prerequisite for objectivity. It got me thinking.

Overall, an excellent and very in-depth study greatly needed by Muslims today.

In terms of the audience, your book will definitely get the attention of progressive Muslims who realize that Islam and modernity must coexist and are not diametrical opposites. The average Muslim might struggle with wrapping their head around some very basic yet logical premises that you have laid down. Also, as you say in your book, patience is a prerequisite for learning which majority of Muslims prefer getting from online bearded scholar rather than devoting their own time and efforts.

I focused on chapters that deal with topics that I was interested in or had doubts about such as women, banking, and interest. You very strategically and logically present your train of thoughts which go back to the points you made in your introductory chapters about focusing on principles of equality, justice, and fairness.

What I liked was the coherence of the book. Even if a chapter was being read in isolation, you successfully managed presenting enough background and summary of the founding logic that it still made sense.

You deserve a huge applause for taking on and completing such a daunting task.

[Hopefully]… this book will open minds and hearts and much-needed discussions.”

Hiba Tanvir is a radio show host on a leading global radio station, Radio Azad. She finds purpose in volunteering, empowering, and mentoring forgotten populations such as refugees and elderly.

Mir Ayoob Ai Khan is a seasoned senior journalist who has worked with newspapers Saudi Gazette (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Deccan Chronicle and Times of India, Hyderabad (India). Currently he is Consultant Editor with Siasat.com.

On the contrary, the book very patiently explains how the Quran is one of the original proponents of scientific study, investigation, human rights, inclusiveness, gender equality, secularism, and justice.

A refreshing, and much-needed piece of work that was very thought-provoking and eye-opening.”

Shamsa Tanvir is a homemaker as well as a School Teacher.