ISBN 0-9719496-0-3, CLOTH

Muslims in the West : Redefining the Separation of Church & State (cloth) Sami A. Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh, translated by Sheldon Lee Gosline

Are we ready for this new challenge to the separation of Church and State? This book not only defines problems, but offers solutions!

R E V I E W S

A valuable window into the problems faced by Western countries facing large Muslim influxes. - Fall 2004 Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Vol 101, No. 4.

"According to a strict view of Islam, the world is divided into two spheres: Dar al Islam (the territory of Islam) and Dar al Harb (the territory of war). It is the duty of the first sphere to swallow up the second sphere by a battle of boor or sword. ... In each section of the book the author compares and contrasts the requirements of Islamic law with Swiss law and points out the conflicts between them. Though some of the details are specific to Swiss law, the general principles and expected areas of conflict will be similar in most Western countries. ... The stage of this problem in the USA lags considerably behind the situation in some European countries (1% Muslims vs 12% Muslims), but this book brings out one aspect of the looming conflict between Islam and the West." - John F. Brug, reviewer

An original and welcome contribution to Islamic Studies! - October 10, 2002 Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI USA

"Translated into English by Sheldon Lee Gosline, Muslims In The West: Redefining The Separation Of Church And State is accessibly written by Sami A. Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh (Director of Islamic Law, Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Lausanne) who drew upon his more than twenty years of personal and professional experience to examine the cultural, social, and political interactions of Muslims in Switzerland. Individual chapters address everything from conflicts of religion and the right to worship, to issues involving religious cemeteries and burial grounds. A very thoughtful and insightful work offering principles and wisdom that can be generalized to the Western world as a whole, Muslims In The West is an original and welcome contribution to Islamic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists."

It is difficult nowadays to get an objective, nuanced opinion on Islam, neither flattering nor biased against it. If I were to recommend a way to try and achieve that, I would suggest to read several good books on the matter, including this among them: I like it because the author is extremely specific, i.e., he goes down to the detail and critizies what he does not like in muslim behaviour or thought. In that way, even if one does not agree with him on all (or part of )what he says, it is to be praised that he gives a fairly opportunity to answer back. Besides, it is very complete (but only as far as Switzerland is concerned) and reasonibly readable book (without being light).
César González Rouco (Madrid, Spain)

Contents
__________________________________________
7....Preface by Sheldon Gosline
13...Foreword by Guy Hennebelle
17...Introduction
19...Part I. The Muslim View of Minorities
19...Chapter I. Division inside the Land of Islam
29...Chapter II. Land of Islam & Land of Disbelief
67...Part II. Minorities in Switzerland
67...Chapter I. Minorities in General
70...Chapter II. Linguistic & ethnic minorities
71...Chapter III. Religious minorities
75...Chapter IV. Minorities, individual & state
77...Part III. Muslims in Switzerland
77...Chapter I. Recognition of Islam
93...Chapter II. Freedom of religion and worship
121..Chapter III. School and religion
153..Chapter IV. Family law
187..Chapter V. Food prohibitions
234..Chapter VI. Religious Cemeteries
259..Conclusion
269..Appendices
297..Bibliography
307..Key Word Index
310..General Index
314..Detailed table of contents
318..Summary