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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Helped me understand Muslims and their religion.
This book made me realize to an even greater extent how lucky I am to have been born in America.
I learned much about Islam and how she evolved in her personal faith. A very strong call for all faiths to find common ground and work together.
Interesting look at Muslim American life.
I enjoyed reading about her journey from Pakistan to America, and all that she has done to learn about her own religion while fitting into a culture that was once open to Islam, but has become more hostile to it since 2001. Good read!