Letters to a Young Muslim

Written by Omar Saif Ghobash

Narrated by Omar Saif Ghobash

"As the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Russia...Ghobash records from a uniquely broad perspective about being Muslim in a post-9/11 world. His Oxford-educated British accent lends further gravitas for American ears." — Library Journal

From the Ambassador of the UAE to Russia comes Letters to a Young Muslim, a bold and intimate exploration of what it means to be a Muslim in the twenty-first century.

This program is read by the author.

In a series of personal letters to his sons, Omar Saif Ghobash offers a short and highly readable manifesto that tackles our current global crisis with the training of an experienced diplomat and the personal responsibility of a father. Today’s young Muslims will be tomorrow’s leaders, and yet too many are vulnerable to extremist propaganda that seems omnipresent in our technological age. The burning question, Ghobash argues, is how moderate Muslims can unite to find a voice that is true to Islam while actively and productively engaging in the modern world. What does it mean to be a good Muslim?

What is the concept of a good life? And is it acceptable to stand up and openly condemn those who take the Islamic faith and twist it to suit their own misguided political agendas? In taking a hard look at these seemingly simple questions, Ghobash encourages his sons to face issues others insist are not relevant, not applicable, or may even be Islamophobic. These letters serve as a clear-eyed inspiration for the next generation of Muslims to understand how to be faithful to their religion and still navigate through the complexities of today’s world. They also reveal an intimate glimpse into a world many are unfamiliar with and offer to provide an understanding of the everyday struggles Muslims face around the globe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jan 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781427287724

Omar Saif Ghobash

Omar Saif Ghobash is the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Russia. In addition to his post in Moscow, Ambassador Ghobash sponsors the Saif Ghobash-Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation and is a founding trustee of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in collaboration with the Booker Prize in London. Ambassador Ghobash studied law at Oxford and mathematics at the University of London.

Reviews for Letters to a Young Muslim

[michael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Words of wisdom from a father to son cautioning him to stay away from Islamic extremism and to open his mind to possibilities. The advice is worthwhile for any young person considering extremist beliefs of all sorts. The text introduces non-Muslim readers to discussions occurring within the Islamic world.

[ilsass · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Islamophobia at its best disguising as « moderate Islam » which leads to no enlightenment really

Probably produced by the CIA or a governmental organisation

[WiteCastle112 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written with a lot of great information, advice, and thoughts for all modern Muslims no matter where we live.

[Chris Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fantastic series of letters from a father to his sons. Everyone of any religion should read this. Naturally, every father has the same desires for his children whatever his religion, yet I was struck by the myriad of similarities between this man's thoughts about Islam and the thoughts I and others have within the world of Christianity. Islam and Christianity are not the same faith, but it is surprising how many of the same questions of faith arise within these pages. Humans are human around the world, and we can all see the same tendencies in ourselves—toward violence, or fear of others' opinions, or self-censorship, or desire for "freedom" which actually enslaves and limits our lives. Ghobash speaks unapologetically from within Islamic culture, with words for all.

[Yasmin Ahmed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It says exactly what I feel my beautiful Islam is

[Um Kulthum Mmari · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I highly recommend this read. Covers the life of a Muslim from so many perspectives. I wish I had this book when I was a young adult.