January 29 is the National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. On this date in 2017, six people lost their lives at a Québec City mosque. This reading list will help deepen understanding and spark conversations about Islamophobia and the Muslim experience in Canada.
Un-Canadian: Islamophobia in the True North by Graeme Truelove
Un-Canadian: Islamophobia in the True North is a provocative warning to Canadians that the values they cherish are being eroded through a pattern of political, legal and social prejudice directed towards Muslims in Canada since September 11, 2001. Featuring never-before-published interviews with key politicians and journalists, influential Muslim leaders and ordinary Canadians who have suddenly found themselves thrust into what might become a full-fledged culture war.
Islamophobia What Christians Should Know (And Do) About Anti-Muslim Discrimination by Jordan Denari Duffner
This book argues that Christians, not Muslims, should be at the forefront of efforts to end Islamophobia. While focusing largely on American Islamophobia, the author also discusses the issue's international and historical roots and its connection to Christianity, before laying out a proposed Christian response to this insidious problem.
Burqas, Baseball, and Apple Pie: Being Muslim in America by Ranya Idliby
This is the story of one American Muslim family--the story of how, through their lives, their schools, their friends, and their neighbors, they end up living the challenges, myths, fears, hopes, and dreams of all Americans. They are challenged by both Muslims who speak for them and by Americans who reject them. In this moving memoir, Idliby discusses not only coming to terms with what it means to be Muslim today, but how to raise and teach her children about their heritage and religious legacy.
Say Please and Thank You & Stand in Line: One Man's Story of What Makes Canada Special, and How to Keep it That Way by Dany H. Assaf
Moving through the disturbing politics of hate to the uplifting message of togetherness, this is an untold Canadian story of four generations of a Muslim family and their journey through an increasingly fragile multicultural society. It is also a blueprint for hope that seeks to reclaim the soul and spirit of what has made Canada unique.
White Hot Hate: A True Story of Domestic Terrorism in America's Heartland by Dick Lehr
The true story of a would-be terrorist attack against a Kansas farming town's immigrant community, and the FBI informant who exposed it. In the spring of 2016, as immigration debates rocked the United States, three men in a militia group known as the Crusaders grew aggravated over one Kansas town's growing Somali community. They decided that complaining about their new neighbors and threatening them directly wasn't enough. The men plotted to bomb a mosque, aiming to kill hundreds and inspire other attacks against Muslims in America.
The Relevance of Islamic Identity in Canada by Mohamed Abualy Alibhai
This volume examines, from diverse perspectives, what it means to be a Muslim in Canada. Is it a public or a private identity, and as an identity is it compatible with a secular democracy such as Canada? What relation does it bear to historical, cultural, and ethnic identities? Is a total agnostic or an atheist a Muslim? Is a person who disavows being a Muslim still a Muslim? How do Muslims cope with anti-Muslim bigotry, especially when it goes "official?"
Living Out Islam: Voices of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Muslims by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle
Living Out Islam documents the rarely-heard voices of Muslims who live in secular democratic countries and who are gay, lesbian, and transgender. It weaves original interviews with Muslim activists into a compelling composite picture which showcases the importance of the solidarity of support groups in the effort to change social relationships and achieve justice.
Praying to the West: How Muslims Shaped the Americas by Omar Mouallem
An insightful and perspective-shifting new book, from a celebrated journalist, about reclaiming identity and revealing the surprising history of the Muslim diaspora in the west—from the establishment of Canada’s first mosque through to the long-lasting effects of 9/11 and the devastating Quebec City mosque shooting. Discover the book that is sparking conversation from Brazil to Canada’s icy North. Also available as an eBook.
The Islam Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
This comprehensive, accessible, and authenticated guide to Islam is essential to understanding the world's fastest-growing religion. This essential guide to Islam covers every aspect of the Muslim faith and its history - from the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the teachings of the Koran to Islam in the 21st century. Celebrating the scientific, literary, and artistic achievements of the Islamic Golden Age and the ideas of philosophers and theologians across the centuries, it opens a window on the Islamic world.
The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad by Lesley Hazleton
Muhammad's was a life of almost unparalleled historical importance; yet for all the iconic power of his name, the intensely dramatic story of the prophet of Islam is not well known. In The First Muslim, Lesley Hazleton brings him vibrantly to life. Drawing on early eyewitness sources and on history, politics, religion, and psychology, she renders him as a man in full, in all his complexity and vitality.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali
With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It’s the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it’s her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab–a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong. Ages 4-8.
Understanding Islam by Gail Radley
Understanding Islam covers the history of Islam and explores how the religion has evolved and expanded. Readers learn about worship practices, women's roles, and the world contributions Muslims have made. This title also discusses the discrimination Muslims have faced in the West, and explores controversies surrounding terrorism. Ages 11-17.
A Muslim Life by Cath Senker
Islam is one of the world's major religions. With the help of this informative volume, readers can explore what it is like to be a follower of the religion and learn about the many fascinating celebrations and ceremonies that are involved in being part of the Muslim faith. Ages 9-12.
