Book by local Muslim family aims to educate and support

Dilara Hafiz of Paradise Valley, her son Imran and daughter Yasmine were in a bookstore a few years ago when Yasmine noted the lack of books on Islam written specifically for teenagers. The Xavier College Preparatory student saw plenty of teen-focused books on other religions, but not hers. This launched a family conversation that resulted in the American Muslim Teenager’s Handbook. The 144-page book is written in a humorous, non-judgmental tone that will appeal to teenagers who are trying to fully understand and follow Islam. The opening sentence of Chapter 10—“The 4 D’s: Dating Dancing Drinking and Drugs”—reads, “Did you turn to this chapter first?” and then dispels any hope that Islam allows one to freely indulge in these activities. But what follows is a discussion sympathetic to teenagers caught between dictates of their religion and the pressures they may feel from a more permissive American culture. The book also was written to educate and illuminate non-Muslims. “We want to shatter the misconception people have of Islam,” says Imran, 16, a sophomore at Brophy College Preparatory. It presents a moderate interpretation of Islam intended to appeal to the millions of Muslims living in the U.S. whose views and spiritual lives are not represented in the media. Published by Acacia Publishing in Phoenix, the book retails for $11.95. theamth.com.