No God but God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam

As an Egyptian who came to America I was amazed by an American who had such a clear view and analysis of what is going in Egypt, and I hope many American and non-Egyptians would read her book. She tried (with a great success) to let her readers be "Egyptians" in their view to what is happening in their country. Her best conclusion, and which she, intelligently, leaves to the reader to conclude, is that a grassroots solution is always much more effective (and democratic) than an imposed solution (where the solution here is having an Islamic society)

Abdo's work is very impressive and timely. While Abdo has made clear a clear distinction between Orthodox and militant Islam, she seem to have been completely unreceptive to other genuine forms of Islam such as Sufism or moderate Islam. As such, she has adopted a narrow view of Islam, that of Orthodox Islam or Brotherhood's Islam and saw all others as either secularists or militant. The Jest of Abdo's findings of the non violent nature of the vast majority of Fundamentalist or Orthodox Moslems was very well presented in her first chapter. Her analysis of the multitude of educated and affluent women willingly taking up the veil was enlightening. Most fascinating was Abdo's contrast of the situation in Iran to that of Egypt, and how the non-political social Islamic movement in Egypt has produced a more religious society than the Political imposed from above Islam of IranMost disappointing is Abdo's failure to represent the alternate pious views of Islam in Egypt, views that accept the religion but see a separation between Government and religion. Such as separation, contrary to Abdo's reading of history is more than the norm of an Egypt that had separate roles for the Sultan, and the Caliph for centuries

"No God But God" offers a wonderful glimpse inside contemporary Egypt as this ancient society struggles with how it will integrate the precepts -- and spirituality -- of Islam into today's secular world. Ever since the Iranian revolution, we have been bombarded by an all-out media effort to demonize Arabs and marginalize their religion, especially the "threat" posed by fundamentalists. Geneive Abdo, an American journalist based in the Middle East, has made an extraordinary effort to track down and interview a vibrant cross-section of believers and has courageously asked them about their vision for Egypt and their agenda for realizing it. Her cast of characters is unforgettable: some frightening in their narrow-mindedness; some amusing in their depiction of the changes around them; and some wise in their capacity to envision a different world view.I found that her reporting and her insights forced me to reconsider many assumptions about Islam and its followers. After reading the book, it's easier to understand why so many millions of people are clamoring for change and for an opportunity to express their religion the way they choose. During this intense time in the Palestinian/Israeli crisis her respectful and inquisitive treatment of the second-largest Islamic community in the region can help inform the debate ... and calm passions. By finding sources on the front lines of change -- those without access to the media -- she has made her book both intimate and credible. For me, someone without much knowledge about Egypt or Islam, shw was able to paint a very detailed foreground picture while expertly filling in much-needed background information: about the Koran, politics and politicians in Egypt, and the reasons for the "triumph of Islam."

Texas-born journalist Geneive Abdo's application of street journalism and cultural anthropology yields a fresh way to see Egypt, and the Middle East, as less a place of religious fanaticism and more of one of hope and moderation. It is hard to imagine what she went through to research this book and, to her credit, surprising that others have not previously documented what ultimately appears to be the driving influence of moderate Islamic sheikhs and their followers to reform Egypt--before or after President Mubarak takes his leave. Buy this book and you never have to trust the New York Times again.

In "No God But God," Texas-born Abdo applies the wiliness of street journalism and the observational wisdom and patience of cultural anthropology to write a tale that reveals so much about the relevance of moderate Islam to modern Egypt, you wonder why no one else wrote tbe book first. Why Abdo sees meaningful change when others see only a seemingly stable U.S. ally unthreatened by religious activism, who knows? But her account is a quick read into changes just around the bend--perhaps as soon as President Mubarak steps down or otherwise leaves the public stage. It is good to know that next Abdo, a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper, intends a book on the shifting scene in Iran. When she's done, folks will be slapping their foreheads again at why she caught the obvious that others could not. Until then, "No God But God" ranks as a must-read for all of us, Arabists and non-Arabists alike.