The Great Theft

Wrestling Islam from the Extremists

El Fadl is a professor of Islamic Law at UCLA and is an appointee of the Bush administration to the U.S. commission on International Religious Freedom. While there are plenty of Muslim academics in his position, his astutely vocal stance sets him clearly apart from his peers.

In The Great theft, El Fadl successfully examines how the image of Islam has been tarnished and robbed by a Saudi originated sect known as the Wahhabis.

From its humble beginnings as an unpopular splinter sect till its chance connections with the Saudi Royals, the origins and spread of this ideology has been meticulously documented. Along the way, El Fadl also points the way as to how the teachings of this movement directly contradicts the message of Muhammad and Islam.

Wile this may sound like another tale of the moderates versus the puritans, the book does offer some refreshing perspectives on the events happening around us today – all done in 336 pages.. The only thing lacking in this work that would have made it a classic text is it lack of viable solutions. A recommended read for both non-Muslims and Muslims alike.