El Fadl takes the explanation millions of Muslims have been trying to make for years and articulated it for the world to hear. Instead of denying that "extremist" Muslims who take part in suicide bombings and death are not actually Muslim at all, El Fadl points out the distinctifying differences between the minority under the say of puritanism and the majority that is all too unspoken for in the Western world.

This is the only way to make a definitive point to many Westerners, since many take to heart much of what they hear. El Fadl realizes that many of the horrible things heard about Muslims is indeed true but indicative of the acute minority that hardly represents the whole. Thus, El Fadl does not attempt to redefine what the average Western audience has heard rather than expand on what they've heard and make the difference between puritan ideaology and the majorly-supported moderate ideaology.

Also, El Fadl realizes that lauding any particular part of the Qur'an or going beyond observation will make a cause for debate. For this reason, El Fadl does not make his own points rather than refer to doctrines on both sides of the argument that are highly supported. He also distinguishes between any of his opinions and the factual blueprints of the separate ideaologies. This method not only allows the reader to make his or her own opinion, it allows them to see the obvious contradictions in a school of thought rather than the Qur'an itself. This distinctifies the obvious difference between man-made twisting of Qur'anic verse and the more grounded interpretations that have been established through ages of highly intellectual study.

El Fadl also addresses the harsh subject of declining jurisprudence in Islam. El Fadl explains the reasoning behind the explosion of extreme Qur'anic interpretations of today and why groups of the sort have obtained the opportunity to prosper. El Fadl points no fingers, but makes it obvious that outside influences and Imperialistic domination contributed to the end of over a millenium of peaceful jurisprudence responsible for the quelling of suck extremist and contradictory uprisings.

This book speaks for the silent Muslim population which has lived in harmony with the world for over a millenium. Because this majority characteristically does not believe in religious compulsion or widespread preaching to those not seeking, political and public connections are weak for many of these people. El Fadl speaks for the masses who have been all too misjudged in this trying time in human history.

Excellent book by one of the greatest Islamic scholars around. It's about time this book was written and Dr. Abou El Fadl is the one to do it.