Struggling to Surrender: Some Impressions of an American Convert to Islam is a very personal account of one man's search for God and meaning in the midst of a culture that places no value on such a quest. Dr. Lang was brought up as a Catholic and educated in a Catholic school. However, one day he found that his religious beliefs could no longer provide satisfactory answers to his questions.

And so his quest began: reason, agnosticism, atheism, and, finally "coincidence" - a chance encounter with a Muslim student in one of his classes that eventually led to his conversion. As he soon found out, however, this was not the end of the matter, for now he had to fit in with his new community, its beliefs and traditions, and the Islamic worldview and lifestyle.

For American Muslims, most of whom come from a Judeo-Christian background and a mental framework that is almost totally alien to that of a traditional Muslim, this is no easy feat. How does one deal with demands for the blind acceptance of hadiths and accepted interpretations, the gulf between what the Qur'an says and the reality of Muslim life, the "status" of women, the presence of religion in every sphere of one's life, cultural conflicts, and many other issues? Ever since his conversion, Dr. Lang has struggled to answer these questions for himself. At the request of numerous Muslim acquaintances, he decided to write about his experiences so that other American and western-educated Muslims could benefit from his insights.

In Silent No More Findley shares his personal impressions and experiences in dealing with American Muslims, their communities, and issues and events that figure prominently in their concerns and consciences. He narrates how he, like many Americans, harbored misinformation and stereotypes about Islam and its followers until middle age. An unexpected journey to South Yemen to plead for the release of an imprisoned American, put him unwittingly on the trail of discovery of Islam and the Muslims for the last three decades. He examines the false images of Islam that linger in American minds; the impact of these stereotypes on U.S. national interests, particularly the well being of U.S. Muslims; what is being done to promote accurate understanding of Islam; the adequacy of these measures; and additional activities that are needed. Findley chronicles his long exploratory record of pioneering endeavors by Muslims and other activists who form the vanguard in a worthy, long-neglected cause. Being a keen political observer he documents the entry of American Muslims in mainstream American politics and the impact of their bloc voting in 2000 state and presidential elections.

Among Those Who Challenge Stereotypes

"Pictured on the front cover and on the insert placed inside this book are some of the remarkable American citizens I encountered during my journey through the world of Islam. They represent various vocations. Not all are Muslim, but each challenges in a significant way the stereotypes of Islam. They do so by example, word, or deed.

"They are typical of thousands of people who deserve recognition for advancing interfaith understanding. I wish I could meet-and list them all." Paul Findley

This book covers most of the social issues related to parents, husbands, wives, and children. It is beneficial for all members of the family, those starting out on family life and those families which have already developed as a basic unity of society."

Dr. Ekram Beshir is a medical doctor by profession. She was born in Egypt and has been living in Canada sicnce 1975.While rasing her four children, she has developed excellent knowledge of and experience in child psychology. Currently, she is volunteering her time as the director of Rahmah school in Ottawa, Canada, a weekend Arabic and Islamic school. She is very active with the Muslim community in Ottawa in the areas of study circles, children and youth camps, sisters programs, and marriage counseling. She has trveled within North America presenting parenting and stress management to Muslim communities.

Muhamed Beshir is an engineer by profession. He has over 20 years of experience in da'wah work-having held various positions with MSA and ISNA on both the national and local levels, and participated as a speakers in ISNA conventions as well as the English program of MAYA conventions. He may be seen regularly delivering Friday Khutbahs in Ottwa-area mosques and Islamic schools. He is the current vice president of Muslim American Society(MAS) for canada (a society that promotes self-improvement and dedication to Islamic work)and a member of its traning programs to Muslim communities in North and South America in the areas of time management from the Islamic perspective, strategic planning, and tarbiyah. He has traveled all over the world participating in various Islamic workshops and programs.

'Umdat al-Salik wa 'Uddat al-Nasik (Reliance of the Traveller and tools of the Worshipper) is a classic manual of fiqh. It represents the fiqh rulings according to the Shafi'I school of jurisprudence. The appendices form an integral part of the book and present original texts and translations from classic works by prominent scholars such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Qudamah, al-Nawawi, al-Qurturbi, al-Dhahabi, Ibn Hajar and other, on topics of Islamic law, faith, spirituality, Qur'anic exegesis and Hadith sciences. It has also biographical notes about every person mentioned (391 biographies) , bibliography of each work cited (136 works), and a detailed subject index (95 pages). Of the 136 works drawn upon in its commentary and appendices, 134 are in the original Arabic. The sections and paragraphs have been numbered to facilitate cross-reference.

"There is no doubt that this translation is a valuable and important work, whether as a textbook for teaching Islamic jurisprudence to English speakers, or as a legal reference for use by scholars, educated laymen, and students in this language."

"...We certify that this translation corresponds to the Arabic original and conforms to the practice and faith of the orthodox Sunni community (Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'a)."

"This translation is a remarkable piece of work that will prove to be indispensable to the English-speaking Muslims and to any Western student of Islam ..."

"This is a truly magnificent piece of work that will prove to be indispensable to the English-speaking Muslims and to any Western student of Islam ..."

"...We have here in English an authoritative compendium of Muslim Law. All this makes it a valuable resource and reference, which anyone interested in Islam will want to have in his/her library."

This is an impressive piece of work...We recommend it to all English-speaking Muslims, and to anyone who is interested in Islamic Law."