Threading my prayer rug : one woman's journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim

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 Selection This enthralling story of the making of an American 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. This Enthralling Story Of The Making Of An American Is Also A Timely Meditation On Religion And Culture. Beginning With A Sweetly Funny, Moving Account Of An Arranged Marriage In Pakistan That Would Become A Love Match Lasting Forty Years, Threading My Prayer Rug Is The Story Of Many Journeys: From Pakistan To America, From Which Her Husband-to-be Returned To Wed And Collect Her While He Completed His Medical Residency; From Masters Candidate To Young Bride And Mother; From Secular Muslim In An Islamic Society To Devout Muslim In A Society Ignorant Of Islam; From Liberal To Conservative To American Muslim; And Finally From Pakistani Immigrant Intending To Stay For Only A Couple Of Years To An American Of Pakistani Origins, A Successful Businesswoman, Grandmother, Community Leader Who Helped Found A Mosque, Advocate For Interfaith Understanding, And Cofounder Of The New York Chapter Of A National Organization. Threading My Prayer Rug Is A Richly Textured Reflection On What It Is To Be A Muslim In America Today. It Is Also The Revealing, Always Hopeful Story Of An Immigrant's Daily Struggles, Balancing Assimilation With Preserving Heritage, Overcoming Religious Barriers From Within And Distortions Of Islam From Without, And Confronting Issues Of Children Growing Up Muslim-while They Lobby For A Christmas Tree. Sabeeha Rehman Was Doing Interfaith Work For Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, The Driving Force Behind The Muslim Community Center At Ground Zero, When The Backlash Began, And She Also Offers An Insider's Account Of That Experience And What It Showed About Us-- This Enthralling Story Of The Making Of An American Is Also A Timely Meditation On Religion And Culture. Threading My Prayer Rug Is A Richly Textured Reflection On What It Is To Be A Muslim In America Today. 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 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 Master's Candidate To Bride And 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. In Chapters Leavened With Humor, Hope, And Insight, She Recounts An Immigrant's Daily Struggles Balancing Assimilation With Preserving Heritage, Overcoming Religious Barriers From Within And Distortions Of Islam From Without, And Confronting Issues Of Raising Her Children As Muslims--while They Lobby For A Christmas Tree! Sabeeha Rehman Was Doing Interfaith Work For Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, The Driving Force Behind The Muslim Community Center At Ground Zero, When The Backlash Began. She Discusses What That Experience Revealed About American Society-- Prologue: Not A Mosque, And Not At Ground Zero -- Part One. An Arranged Marriage In Pakistan -- 1. It's Arranged -- 2. I Never Said, I Do : The Marriage Contract -- 3. A Silver Watch : My Splendid Pakistani Wedding -- 4. Marital Advice -- Part Two. A Pakistani Muslim In New York -- 5. A Pakistani Bride In New York : I Wouldn't Do That If I Were You -- 6. Where Are You From? -- 7. A Muslim Girl In New York : A Holiday Muslim -- 8. Pakistani Pregnancy, American Delivery : A Baptism Of Sorts, Plus A Circumcision -- 9. Ramadan Without Ramadan : Why I Stopped Fasting -- 10. The Christmas-ization Of Eid -- 11. A Muslim Among Orthodox Jews -- 12. The Americanization Of Yours Truly -- Part Three. Creating A Muslim Space -- 13. Where Do I Begin? -- 14. Building A Muslim Community -- 15. A Muslim Sunday School And A Mosque -- Part Four. Rediscovering Islam : Religion Or Culture? -- 16. Born-again Muslim -- 17. Lower Your Gaze -- 18. Pakistani Islam Or A Hybrid? -- 19. Moon Sighting -- 20. Tradition Versus Women's Rights -- 21. My Brand Of Islam -- 22. Abraham's Sacrifice -- 23. Grounded In Roots -- Part Five. An American Muslim In New York -- 24. An Arranged Marriage For My Sons? -- 25. The Shia-sunni Schism -- 26. Don't Ghetto-ize Islam -- 27. Flashpoints -- 28. And Then Nothing Was The Same : September 11, 2001 -- 29. Extremism And Islamophobia : Viewed From The Eyes Of A Muslim -- 30. Upgrading Islam Into The Twenty-first Century -- 31. An American Muslim In Pakistan -- 32. An American Muslim In New York. Sabeeha Rehman. SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING. ONE OF BOOKLIST' S TOP TEN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY BOOKS OF 2016. ONE OF BOOKLIST' S TOP TEN DIVERSE NONFICTION BOOKS OF 2017. Honorable Mention in the 2017 San Francisco Book Festival Awards, Spiritual Category A 2019 United Methodist Women Reading Program Selection This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on being Muslim in America today. Threading My Prayer Rug is a richly textured reflection on what it is to be a Muslim in America today. It is also the luminous story of many from Pakistan to the United States in an arranged marriage that becomes a love match lasting forty 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 student to bride and 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. In chapters leavened with humor, hope, and insight, she recounts an immigrants daily struggles balancing assimilation with preserving heritage, overcoming religious barriers from within and distortions of Islam from without, and confronting issues of raising her children as Muslimswhile they lobby for a Christmas tree! Sabeeha Rehman was doing interfaith work for Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the driving force behind the Muslim community center at Ground Zero, when the backlash began. She discusses what that experience revealed about American society. This acclaimed memoir of Islamic faith, marriage, and motherhood in America is “a culturally rich and rewarding personal chronicle” (Kirkus). Threading My Prayer Rug is the captivating tale of a woman’s pursuit to define an American Muslim identity for herself. With warmth and wisdom, Sabeeha Rehman recounts a multifaceted journey: from Pakistan to the United States; from arranged marriage to lasting love match; from liberal to conservative to American Muslim; and from an immigrant who intends to return to her native country to an American citizen, business executive, grandmother, and tireless advocate for interfaith understanding. Beginning with a moving and disarmingly funny account of her arranged marriage, Sabeeha undercuts Muslim stereotypes and offers a refreshing view of American life. She also recounts her experience of doing interfaith work with Imam Feisal A. Rauf, the driving force behind the Muslim community center near Ground Zero, when the backlash began. In a new preface, she discusses American Islam in the time of Trump. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE A BOOKLIST TOP TEN RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY BOOK ONE OF BOOKLIST'S TOP TEN DIVERSE NONFICTION BOOKS This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on being Muslim in America today. Threading My Prayer Rug is a richly textured reflection on what it is to be a Muslim in America today. 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 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 student to bride and 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. In chapters leavened with humor, hope, and insight, she recounts an immigrant's daily...