If Oceans Were Ink

by Carla Power

[Beth C.]

I will admit that, coming into this book, I was extremely naive about Islam and the Quran. My sole hard-core belief was the same belief I ascribe to any serious religion - that there will always be those who pick and choose parts of their belief to harm others, whether it is gays in Christianity or "Westerners" in Islam. I'm not sure if my ignorance on this topic helped or hindered the reading of this book, but it certainly gave me a sense of peace about what could be possible between the 3 religions that are more similar than different.

Carla Power makes a strong case in this book that Islam and the Quran are much more than what many (including most jihadists) have been told. Repeatedly, the point is made to "Think!" - not just follow rote memorization. The Sheik, Mohammad Akram Nadwi, makes it his goal to try and teach people to think about the Quran - study and ask questions and *always* go back to the sources. This sort of encouragement to not just follow blindly is far different from my own Protestant upbringing. Power ties together her studies with Akram, as well as current and past events, to demonstrate that Islam is not a static religion, but one that can grow and learn in accordance with the Quran.

For those like myself with little or no knowledge of the Quran, this book is an elegantly written way to get a basic understanding. For those who are more well-versed in Islam and/or the Quran, this book is a way to "think" and to study and to learn more about the basic sources from the past. And for those who believe Islam is evil, this should be required reading. I firmly believe people are entitled to their own opinions, but I do believe that those opinions should at least be based on the further gaining of knowledge. A few half-truths, left unresearched, leads to nothing but stunted growth and rotten ideas.

Please do not think this book is a boring text - it is the furthest thing from it. It is interesting, and even comforting - sort of like the meetings over tea that Power often had with Akram during her year of studies. It is extremely well-written and her background as a journalist definitely shows. Something that could have been boring, dry or pushy ended up being much more intriguing than I anticipated. I find myself having finished this book and interested in learning more, so a hunt for further reading is in order.

Long story short? Read this. Knowledge is important, and should never stop. Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world today, and it is imperative that we strive for a mutual understanding based on facts rather than panic and fear.