“Akbar Ahmed’s profound and careful inquiries have greatly enriched our understanding of Islam in the modern world. His latest study, based on direct research with a group of young scholars, explores the complex interfaith reality of Europe, both in history and today, from an Eastern perspective, reversing the familiar paradigm. It is sure to be yet another influential contribution, one greatly needed in a world riven by conflicts and misunderstanding.”—Professor Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“Akbar Ahmed has a well-earned reputation as one of the most balanced, learned and original interpreters of Islam in its engagement with the non-Muslim world. It is hard to exaggerate the importance of this work, like so much else he has done, at a time when myths and fantasies still stir up corporate fear between our communities. A deeply welcome and thoroughly professional study.”—Dr. Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury and Master of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge
“Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is a treasure. His voice, insights, wisdom, and experience are desperately needed right now when so much U.S. and European policy toward the Muslim world is guided by fear, ignorance, and greed. We applaud Akbar Ahmed, perhaps the best-known scholar of Islam today, for continuing to enlighten us through his quartet of studies. Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration, and Identity, the fourth in the series, is indispensable reading given the state of affairs today.”—Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, filmmakers and authors of The Untold History of the United States
“A deeply engaged and brilliantly executed book by one of our most distinguished anthropologists and public intellectuals. I know no other that throws as much light on the subject as it does. Read widely as it should be, it will make the world a less agonizing place.”—Baron Bhikhu Parekh, former professor of political theory at the University of Hull, vice chairman of the UK Commission for Racial Equality, chairman of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain, and Centennial Professor in the Study of Global Governance at the London School of Economics
“Journey into Europe is a timeless and valuable contribution to the understanding of the diverse Muslim communities in Europe that helps the reader to overcome stereotypes and fears.”—Angeliki Ziaka, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
“Ambassador Akbar’s exploration and insight into issues affecting European Muslims is needed now more than ever. Extremism fosters in an environment of suspicion and suspicion is born from ignorance, therefore Professor Akbar’s detailed analysis will undoubtedly help governments, policymakers and civic society to better tackle radicalisation in Europe.”—Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands, former Minister for Europe and International Development, and member of the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Scotland
“The Muslim world faces the most critical challenge in modern history with Islam under siege both from within and by the West where Islamophobia is now widespread. Amid the unconscionable silence of Muslim political leadership and the faint voices of Islamic scholars the inhumanity of radicals has come to represent Islam. Akbar Ahmed, who I have the pleasure of knowing since we trained together at the Civil Service Academy in Lahore half a century ago, has emerged to offer a rare voice of exceptional force, clarity and dare I say sanity. His landmark study in four volumes representing outstanding scholarship should have a lasting historical impact in improving relations between Islam and the West and is indispensable reading.”—Touqir Hussain, a former Pakistani diplomat, diplomatic adviser to the prime minister of Pakistan, and currently adjunct professor at Georgetown University and senior Pakistan visiting fellow of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
“This is precisely the message that must resonate loud and clear. Christians, Muslims, Jews and people of other beliefs must join hands and promote peace. We cannot just nod our heads and not be proactive. We must within our sphere of influence try to eliminate sowing discord and suspicion against those whose beliefs may differ from ours.”—Tariq A. Al-Maeena, Columnist, Saudi Gazette
“The final element of his “quartet,” Journey into Europe provides an insightful and moving analysis of Islam and Muslims in Europe, the roles of culture and identity, and how they interact with the frayed modern democratic ideal. Akbar Ahmed delivers his argument with clarity and care, while his plea for more communication and more understanding of our common dignity represents the only true way forward for reconciling the many differences at the root of the crisis of violence, terrorism, and the rise of a nationalistic populism in Europe. Combining theories and insights from anthropology, sociology, political science, history, philosophy and theology, this study challenges many misconceptions about Europe and Islam, while giving us all hope for the future.”—Todd Landman, professor of political science and pro vice chancellor of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
“Dr. Ahmed and his team explored the length and breadth of the continent as part of the project to examine the place of Islam and Muslims in European history and civilization. . . . It goes without saying all this is aimed at what the don calls “building bridges in an uncomfortable time” between the followers of the great Abrahamic faiths who form nearly half of the world. And given the yawning gulf that currently exists between them, this is nothing short of a Herculean task. A true jihad, if you will—the great jihad that all of us need to fight. This may be why the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, as often quoted by Prof. Ahmed in his lectures, that “the ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr.”—Aijaz Zaka Syed, columnist, “The News”
“Akbar Ahmed cuts across disciplines with geographical breadth and historical vision allowing him to illustrate that understanding Islam today means understanding ourselves. ‘Us and Them’ are intimately connected. As anthropologist, ambassador, and humanitarian, Dr. Ahmed pursues policies of sanity, replacing fear with co-existence, and ignorance with documentation using film and the written word. All are issues of national security both here and elsewhere.”—Laura Nader, professor of anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
“Dr. Ahmed‘s Journey into Europe is about Europe. It is about how Europe should be more cohesive, more coherent, and more integrative. His captivating and gripping odyssey takes us from Andalusia to Sicily to the Balkans to Britain to France to Germany to Denmark—all places jolted periodically by the tremors of simmering religious discord. He gives us hope.”—Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
“Like his study of America, the readers will also perhaps think they know the local situation when it is exactly by revealing much that is below the surface for which Ahmed’s contribution is so vital. . . . In this sense Ahmed’s splendid blend of scholarship and reportage is unmatched in the literature.In each chapter, in each life. . . . Particularly in the context of a series of elections now taking place in Europe that depend in no small part on the image of the Muslim migrant, this timely study is, like Ahmed’s other ventures, an indispensable accompaniment to any policy conversation. The Brookings Institution should take great pride in having facilitated this series and take special pride in its latest addition.”—Lawrence Rosen, Cromwell Professor of Anthropology, Princeton University
“Akbar Ahmed's historically deep, anthropologically rich work is an incredibly important contribution to building understanding between peoples in this dangerous time of growing intolerance in Europe and worldwide. “A way has to be found,” Dr. Ahmed writes in Journey into Europe, “where different peoples can live together in peace irrespective of their race and religion.” Dr. Ahmed deserves tremendous thanks and credit for the many ways he is helping to forge that way toward peace.”—David Vine, associate professor of anthropology, American University, and author of Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World
“Journey into Europe travels across the continent narrating stories of Islam that are inspiring, heart breaking and sensitive to the region they are a part of. It provides a much-needed intervention in a polarized debate on Islam in Europe that vacillates between the veil, the terrorist and the refugee. As the Syrian crisis deepens and Europe closes its borders to migrants, Akbar Ahmed’s measured insights give us an original and compassionate understanding of the histories of Muslim communities and their integration in Europe. With a passionate commitment to scholarship, interfaith dialogue and bridge building this path-breaking study shows us how and why the story of Islam is an essential component of European life.”—Amina Yaqin, senior lecturer in Urdu and postcolonial studies, SOAS University of London
“I don’t exaggerate when I say that today Akbar Ahmed is the most knowledgeable scholar writing on Islam and the way the religion is affecting global affairs. In his extensive coverage of the subject he has brought new insights policymakers in the West would do well to understand. In my own work what I have found most helpful is Professor Ahmed’s finding that Islam’s appeal to some of the extremists elements in Muslim societies should be understood in the context of the survival of tribalism in the structure and value systems of some of the societies that are contributing recruits to Islamist causes. In dealing with these dissidents, the use of force is not the preferred solution. What would work ultimately is the development and modernization of these societies.”—Shahid Javed Burki is former Vice President of the World Bank and former Finance Minister of Pakistan. He is the author of several books most recently, Rising Powers and Global Governance
“Ambassador Akbar Ahmed’s tireless quest for coexistence and peace is essential for the planet's future. Either we explore the path to coexistence, or we shall be condemned to perish. Akbar Ahmed shows us the right path in this book. It is a treasure of understanding and wisdom. We are grateful to him for pursuing his admirable and noble quest.”—Fadela Mohatar, President of the Institute of Cultures; Minister of Culture and Festivities, Autonomous City of Melilla, Spain
“Of all the scholars I have studied, the work of none is quite so uniquely characterized as that of Akbar Ahmed by what traditional Islamic scholars called looking at the world through “two eyes” or Dhul Aynan—the capacity to see the exterior and the interior, the spiritual and the physical, the emotional and the scientific—which enables the accurate and fair understanding of different perspectives. He brings the same quality to his project on Muslims in Europe, and he makes me especially proud as a Muslim European.”—Mirnes Kovac, editor, Preporod Islamic Magazine, and author, The Siege of Islam, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
“In the midst of a world burning down fast in the fires of xenophobia and hatred, where suspicion against Islam in particular is widening the divide between Muslims and the West—a divide which is an artificial construct in the first place—Akbar Ahmed offers invaluable insights by drawing our attention not only to his lived experience as a South Asian in postcolonial Europe but also to the “missing millennium,” and a transformative chapter of European history when Europe’s Muslims initiated a legacy of convivencia or “peaceful coexistence,” enabling Western civilization to be lifted out of “the dark ages.” This book demonstrates why the West’s omissions and distortions of Islam are damaging not only to Muslims who are increasingly being made targets of Islamophobia, but symptomatic of a diminishing civilization, one that perpetuates falsehoods that are ultimately self-destructive. The greatest gift of this work is that it teaches us the art of bridge building across differences as it reinvigorates the historical ties that have been mutually beneficial to Muslims and the West in the past.”—Shadab Zeest Hashmi, poet and author of Baker of Tarifa and Kohl & Chalk, and former visiting professor at San Diego State University
“Akbar Ahmed has that rare combination of brilliance, enthusiasm and empathy. He bridges communities by tearing down mythologies. As Islam continues to be vilified, his latest project shows how Islam has shaped the European experience and how Muslims have enriched life on the continent. This is an extraordinary and welcome intervention.”—Arjun Singh Sethi, former legislative counsel/policy adviser with the ACLU and Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center and Vanderbilt University Law School
“Akbar Ahmed follows his earlier Journey into Islam and Journey into America with this brilliant new book Journey into Europe. Along with his team of researchers, he has crisscrossed the continent to meet with a wide range of political figures and religious leaders of all faiths to help us understand social, political and religious dynamics within Europe today. His deep empirical knowledge and engaging writing style will ensure this book is of interest to scholars, policymakers and general readers.”—James Goldgeier, dean of the School of International Service, American University
“Akbar Ahmed cotinues his lifetime’s work of building bridges of understanding between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. Against simplistic views of a “clash of civilizations,” his combination of historical rigor and deep humanity reminds us of the long history of Muslims in Europe. Journey into Europe is an important and timely reminder that what binds us together is more important than what separates us. Where before this work was important, I would venture to say that now it is a matter of survival. Take courage my dear friend; as Shelley said, “Ye are many, they are few.”—Peter Morey, professor of English and postcolonial studies, University of East London, and RCUK Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellow leading the for Muslims, Trust and Cultural Dialogue project, and co-author of Framing Muslims: Stereotyping and Representation after 9/11
“In these times of rising fear and uncertainty, xenophobia, and re-emerging tribalism in the Continent of Europe, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed's Journey into Europe is essential reading. As a Dutch native and global citizen, I—as so many but by no means all of my fellow Europeans do—strongly reject the recent rise of intolerance in my region of origin. Akbar Ahmed's work combines his anthropological knowledge, historical insights, and his considerable wisdom into a cohesive message to us, Europeans—guidance we most certainly need in building a more inclusive Europe for the 21st century. Akbar’s monumental four-year study gracefully offers us the tools: now Europe, the choice to hear his message is ours.”—Bram Groen, senior professorial lecturer, School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C.
“Set against the background of increasing nativism and religious prejudice, Journey into Europe gives us deep insights into the current mood in Europe with respect to Islam. Professor Ahmed’s thought-provoking and meticulously researched book based on extensive fieldwork throughout Europe points to the urgent need to find constructive strategies for overcoming these pervasive divisions.”—Anthony Quainton, Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, American University
“Akbar Ahmed and his globe trotting team of young scholars have done it again! Adding to a vital and urgently needed body of exemplary work, Journey into Europe provides an antidote to the fear and ignorance that is too prevalent in contemporary discourse. Ahmed delivers empowering knowledge combined with heartfelt compassion. Read it and share it.”—John Milewski, Director of Digital Programming and Moderator and Managing Editor of Wilson Center NOW, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
“Akbar Ahmed has rightly acquired a reputation as one of the foremost scholars on Islam and Muslims in the modern world. His latest project, Journey into Europe, demonstrates yet again his unique talent for conveying complex ideas through accessible language, combining rigorous scholarship with compelling personal anecdotes based in intensive fieldwork, and relating today's problems to their oft-forgotten historical context. I strongly recommend this outstanding study to anyone interested in the ongoing discussion about Muslims and their contribution to European society.”—Masood Ahmed, president of the Center for Global Development
“Ambassador Akbar Ahmed stands out among the global thinkers and leaders working to illuminate the way in our darkening landscape. His latest project on Muslims in Europe is yet another illustration of his vision by offering us understanding of, commitment to, and hope and compassion for humanity.”—Haris Silajdžić, former Chairman of the Presidency and Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“A dense but rewarding anthropological account of European reactions to Islam and Muslim immigrant communities, and vice versa. . . . Academic but of considerable interest to any student of current affairs and geopolitics.”—Kirkus Reviews
