The Taqwacores

This book crosses every line with a relish and it's almost a shame that it does as it perhaps detracts from some very valid points that it makes. The author, a revert to Islam, details the lives of several punk Muslims living in Buffalo. You have every category of Muslim represented, the hard line Salafi, the permanently burka wearing Muslimah, the pot smoking Mohawk sporting Sufi type and the Shia with Kerbala hang up as well as a whole host of other Muslims. The protagonist, Yusuf Ali is more mainstream and its through his eyes we see the punk drama enacted.The book seems aimed squarely at Muslims; indeed it's hard to see the average non-Muslim being able to appreciate most of the writing. Nor is book for the faint hearted, if blasphemy, profanity and textual pornography aren't to your liking than chances are neither will this book (though rest assured you don't have to be a complete pervert to enjoy this book, just have a strong stomach). There are serious points within the book and points that are well worth reading for the insights they give into the way people are trying to direct Islam and the way different types of Muslims try to live.

The Taqwacores is a fictional novel of a "taqwacore" movement, core as a suffix from the punk style of "hardcore" and "taqwa", from Arabic, meaning "piety". It's this portmanteau of words that best describes the book as a whole.It follows the journey of Yusuf, an American-Pakistani who moves into a house in Buffalo, New York. Despite his promises to his Mum that his house mates are pious, the reality is anything but. Quranic ayats are torn apart and reconstructed and the idea of Islam as we may know it as it is around us, is swallowed and regurgitated in a completely different form.But, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad form. Religion is cut up and taken apart, put together in different ways. Ideas that plague the public on the role and meaning of Islam or its prophet are discussed throughout, giving Islam a more human face as we see a new side of it. It crosses boundaries, thus I wouldn't recommend this book to the particularly Orthodox or pious, but maybe it's exactly who this book is written for. The language weaves in and out finely, like a golden thread through a high quality needle, bringing in characters, themes and motifs in the same way thread is woven through an already intricate rug. Arabic slang is brought in with Punjabi and lots of references to particular Islamic practices that may be difficult for those from a non-Muslim background to necessarily read, but in the British edition there's a dictionary at the back for words that may not be understood. The Taqwacores, in all its glory, addresses complex theological questions and points in Islam that should have been raised much before its times.However, it's the novelty in some ways of this novel that detracts from that. A book about this shouldn't be a novelty just because the main characters are "punk" in their outlooks, fusing Iggy Pop with Sufi thought; but religion has always been meshed with what's currently around us. It's the novelty that in some ways has been the best and worst thing for this novel; Muslim punks have always been around, but it's this novelty of the punk that draws people to it. Either way, it makes for a more interesting read. All of the characters represent something unique in Islam, and even in this book, personalising a concept that's otherwise abstract to western civilisations since the dawning of the War on Terror. There's Jehangir, with his Mohawk who plays Adhan on his guitar, and there's Ayyub. Ayyub's like a Bukowski, he drinks, he smokes, he sees a lot of women, but he's also a Muslim. Then there's Rabeya who wears a Burqa that's adorned with punk patches.The Taqwacores is a riveting read through identity, politics, identity politics, culture, religion, society, music, spirituality and what it means to be the subaltern when they reject most of the duelling civilisations around them, only taking what they want and putting up fingers to the rest.In addition to the points it raises, the beautiful prose of the book that's a cross between Burroughs, Hakim Bey and F Scott Fitzgerald, it gives a real life portrayal of punk scenes. And sure, for most of us punk scenes aren't really anything, but it provides an insight to an insular community who live on the edges. It's only within punk that the Taqwacores could ever be, and that's where it was and where it grew out of, forming the movement that it did.To paraphrase Public Enemy, don't believe the hype. But, in this case, the case of the Taqwacores, do believe the hype, and buy this book. It'll be the best couple of quid you ever spend.

Hi ,i recieved the book quickly and in perfect condition.So great seller.Thank you very much.Best regardsImmy

Der Vesuch, westliche Jugendkulturen mit dem Islam zu verknüpfen und die Rebellion gegen beide Welten durch diesen Versuch, verknüpft mit den verschiedenen Charakteren dieses Romans - ergibt eine spannende Lektüre.Die Jugendlichen versuchen ihren eigenen Weg im Glauben zu finden und ecken somit überall an, nur in ihrer Gemeinschaft finden sie ein zuhause scheitern jedoch am Ende.

I bought this book after hearing about it from a friend who has led the punk rock lifestyle through and through. I frequented an anarchist collective and was involved in the anti-war movement, so I found the portrayals of punk rockers quite accurate. It was nuanced; it was not all "get p***ed, destroy" that some people perceive punks to be or the ideological and philosophical legends that each punk rocker and anarchist imagine themselves to be. It portrayed the Muslim punks as torn between their Muslim identity and the attraction of the Bacchanalian abandon of punk rock.Yes, Knight's writings probably appear to be blasphemous to believers, as main characters discuss their dismissal of Hell and engage in haraam and self-proclaimed bid'a activities. But these people are as realistic as the evangelical "Leave it to Beaver"-types. Yes, young Muslims engage in premarital sex, and like many other normal teens, may have mixed or confused feelings about it. Yes, young Muslims imbibe alcohol and other psychoactive substances, like other teens. And young Muslims, like many other people in the world, question the faith of their parents and grandparents. It is actually refreshing compared to the hyper-devotion of Islamists and the seething hatred of Americans towards Islam today.The characters show noticeable development. Jehangir Tabari is your typical male punk, and tries to wax philosophic about having sex with multiple women. Unlike most male punks, he has an epiphany about the direction of his misogyny. Yusuf Ali transitions also, from not caring, to condemning the hypocrisy and infidelity of the punks in the house, to cautious acceptance. Of course, it comes crashing down at the end--just like anarchist collectives or the unified umma before the death of Muhammad.A great book to read, although if you're not familiar with the punk culture or Islamic terminology and exegesis, you might want to pass on this. I just had the strange fortune of being a former anarchist with lots of Muslim friends.

A technically difficult read for a non-Arab, non-Muslim, but this book will reward the persistent reader with an eyeful of Knight's Taqwacore Muslim "Punk Rawk" scene. The story is an immersion tour of the punk-decadent world inhabited by a group of young American Muslims living in upstate New York. Post 9/11, Knight's characters are more consumed with what makes real punk rock and what is true Islam than modern American Islamic politics. The story deceptively builds to a manic crescendo, with the narrator's own Zen/Sufi awakening. Readers should come prepared for a heavy dose of Arabic sayings; the Arabic is more integral to the text than a casual reader might expect. A base familiarity with Islam would also be handy.

I read this book five years ago and have never stopped thinking about it. It is so filled with life and truth -- there's almost no way to summarize it. Read it. You'll never regret it -- and you'll find yourself laughing at passages so real because they capture things we don't want to admit about ourselves. Disclosure: I publish Mike but not this book. Wish I had.

A compelling read after watching the documentary based off of this film. This book gives a new perspective on the Islamic faith that is very different than what you see portrayed in the media and gives a lot of information for someone like I who is a complete outsider to the culture.As you begin is should be noted that there is a lot of references in Arabic so it is compelling to look up what they mean after reading them. Most of the characters are well developed as you come to genuinely like them. One character Rabeya is very likeable but could stand to be further developed as I was left wondering more about her and never finding out more as the book ended.

As a new Muslim, I'm looking for books that help me explore all aspects of my faith. I'm an outsider in a lot of ways, so I can relate to this book. Plus, I got to hear a lot of slang being used in every day conversation. **There is a small scene with animal abuse. A dog gets kicked.**

This is one of those uncommon books which deserves all of its praise and each of its criticisms. Everything which may be said of Taqwacores is true in some way. With apologies to EST, so what? Knight has done something valuable: he has staked out the other end of the playing field for Islam and, in doing so, has shown us just how big it really is. There are only two take-home points in this entertaining novel, but they're really good. First, Islam and punk are the same thing - or they used to be, back in the day. Second, America can save Islam by providing the freedom for each Muslim to practice Islam has s/he understands it. While France is banning headscarves, and Switzerland is banning minarets, the USA can forge the future by doing what it does best - leave us alone to believe whatever we want.

Top 5 books I read last year, for sure. Just wish I ordered more copies because this is one of those books you gotta make someone else read after you're done.

While the movie was terrible, the book is still a great read. Passed this around to many friends and had them write their names behind the cover. It is a cult classic in the Muslim community.

Both entertaining and spiritually satisfying. What every faith has to do to survive.

I can see how this started a movement. Although I was shocked and offended at parts, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Good quality for a great price!

one of the more interesting and unique Islamic books I have ever read. Sometimes insulting to my sensitivities, but at the end I appreciated even the mold breaking effect of those insults.

It's always great to discover another segment of American society that strives to create it's own identity and challenges assumptions, the mainstream and stereotypes. The Taqwacores does all of this in Spades!

Came quicker than i anticipated, and in insanely good shape!The only difference is the cover -- it was bright red, instead of the black shown in the display picture for this product. STill cool nonetheless.