SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING. ONE OF BOOKLIST’S TOP TEN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY BOOKS. ONE OF BOOKLIST’S TOP TEN DIVERSE NONFICTION BOOKS. Honorable Mention in the San Francisco Book Festival Awards, Spiritual Category A 2019 United Methodist Women Reading Program SelectionThis enthralling story of the making of an American is a timely meditation on being … is a timely meditation on being Muslim in America today. Threading My Prayer Rug is a richly textured reflection. It is also the luminous story of many journeys: from Pakistan to the United States in an arranged marriage that becomes a love match lasting forty-five years; from secular Muslim in an Islamic society to devout Muslim in a society ignorant of Islam, and from liberal to conservative to American Muslim; from bride to mother; and from an immigrant intending to stay two years to an American citizen, business executive, grandmother, and tireless advocate for interfaith understanding.
Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving account of her arranged marriage, the author undercuts stereotypes and offers the refreshing view of an American life through Muslim eyes. Sabeeha was doing interfaith work for Imam Feisal A. Rauf, the driving force behind the Muslim community center near Ground Zero, when the backlash began. She recounts what that experience revealed about American society and in a new preface discusses Islam in America in the time of Trump.
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Being allowed into the life and heart of the author was a tremendous gift. I have a clearer understanding of Islam, immediately grants and the wonderful Pakistani culture. Thank you.
I gained a better understand of Islam. traditions, practices, and history.
Informative and educational towards the Islamic Faith. I learned a lot!
This book provides great insight into the life and experiences of a Pakistani born American Muslim woman.
I really enjoyed learning of the Suni Muslim faith through this woman’s eyes. Her story of emigrating to America and learning how to keep her faith alive for her children was insightful. I recommend.
Excellent memoir of a talented immigrant who has maintained her positive cultural and religious values while creating a fulfilling life in the United States. A story of a Pakistani Muslim woman’s life that will make you cheer and inspire hope.
This book will make the reader think. Empathize. Care. Understand. Great for book clubs!
Such uninteresting story of her amazing life changes. It was so well written, that I kept wondering what would happen next and how she would adjust ti that change.
Great and very informative read!
Love reading about different cultures.
Excellent book – I highly recommend it. Always love reading about cultures that I don’t know too much about. Very informative in a caring and loving way.
An interesting biography which furthers understanding the Muslim faith and the practices and problems of imigrants and first generation Muslims in our country. Only by reading books llike this can we hope to be more understanding and accepting
this book describes a Muslim woman’s upbringing in Pakistan, her marriage to a Pakistani Muslim doctor in America which included her immigration. It describes how Muslim’s formed a community of faith, fellowship, and prayer in New York with some accommodations to the American culture. (Some Pakistani customs just do not work in the USA.) They also developed a program for Interfaitih Dialogue. I am 83% into the book and have enjoyed reading it. It’s a story of a Muslim family with two sons. Answers the questions “what are American Muslims like?” They are much like everyone else.
Didn’t resonate with me but may appeal more to others.
A wonderful tutorial on Muslim family life.
Every kid in High school should be required to read this book to build tolerance and understanding.
The life of a Pakistani woman who migrated to the US prior to 9-11 is the personal perspective of one person. I enjoyed learning her challenges and more about the specifics of her culture and religion as it impacted her personally. She shared the process of an arranged marriage and then the evolution in the US for her. Having read about muslim cultures it filled in the gaps on how people deal with things on a personal basis. Easy reading and informative.
Very educational.
I never finished this book. The storytelling was interesting at first, but I eventually became bored with the pace and the fact that the author says “more about this later.”
This book gave me a little insight into American Muslims.