A Long Jihad: My Quest for the Middle Way [Paperback]

In this memoir, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari asks us to look beyond the extremism and violence that all too often defines the Muslim community toward those, like himself, navigating a middle-way life. A path defined in Islam as the 'natural way', far away from the cliff of radicalisation that causes some to harm themselves and others.

Through his personal journey as an Air Force officer in Bangladesh to the leader of the Muslim Council of Britain during the ill-advised War of Terror and beyond, Muhammad's reassuring reflections come to light: the importance of community engagement, civic responsibility, and what it means to live a good life.

In articulating his positions Muhammad Abdul Bari offers Muslims, and everybody else, guidance on going forward as engaged, confident individuals, down a path that rejects radical views and seeks to stay in the centre, living a life of moderation that is, as the Qur'an says, 'justly balanced'.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist, community activist, author, parenting consultant and commentator on social and political issues. Dr Bari has written for various newspapers, blogs and journals includingThe Huffington PostandAl-JazeeraEnglish, and is the author of a number of books on marriage, family, parenting, identity and community issues from contemporary British Muslim perspectives.

Acknowledgement

Foreword

Prologue  Joy and despair

Chapter  1 On my way to Britain

Chapter  2 Into the world of Community Activism

Chapter  3 Inclusive Muslim Identity

Chapter  4British Muslims into the 7/7 Maelstrom

Chapter  5The Coming Storm (2010)

Chapter  6Summer 2012: Best of Britain

Chapter  7Radicalisation and Terror

Chapter  8 Family, Faith and Community spirit

Conclusion  Striving for the Middle WayThis book offers an interesting reflection of British Muslim engagement at the highest levels of public life and should be read widely by policymakers, media prolă•