Much of Ahmed‘s book is directed towards Muslims, which is strange because it was written in English, but that may explain why Ahmed focuses upon Muslim honor rather than American or European honor. He argues that despite the faults and problems that exist in the West, the problems of the Muslim world cannot be laid at the Western doorstep - much of what is going on in the Muslim world is self-inflicted, and this means that Muslims must work to fix things.
Unfortunately, Ahmed falls into the common mistake of arguing about what Islam "really" teaches - for example Islam "really" teaches peace, not violence. It's as if there was some disembodied Islam out there that exists independent of what actual Muslims do and believe, but that isn't really true. Islam "teaches" nothing - Muslims say and teach things, acting as though their thoughts and ideas were the "real" Islam.
Ahmed's ideas about Islam are no more "real" than anyone else's, and while his arguments are in accord with the teachings of most mainstream scholars, it isn't fair to assume that this is the only "real" Islam and everything else is illegitimate. Such an assumption only serves to shut down discussion before it can even start.
Ironically, this is the same error made by Osama bin Laden and those Ahmed struggles against. They also adopt the position that theirs is the only "real" Islam, that what they teach is what Islam teaches, and that therefore everyone else can be dismissed. Yet it is dialogue, even with those who hold diametrically opposing view points, which is so critical. For Islam to come out of this, Muslims themselves much engage in more dialogue with each other.
Despite its flaws, however, Ahmed's book is a solid contribution to that dialogue. I don't know how many of the people who need to read it will actually do so - probably not enough, but perhaps a few will and that will make a difference over time. Those hoping to get a better handle on how a better expression of Islam might be achieved in modern society should seriously consider reading what Ahmed has to say.
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