Ramadan and Id-Ul-Fitr

Gr 2—4—This British import is divided into two-page chapters with colorful photos on every spread. The pictures are the book's greatest strength; they capture different aspects of the festival in many countries (the United States is not represented). However, the writing has a tendency to generalize and confuse cultural practices with the religion proper. For example, Kerven states that "...women often wear a scarf over their hair. Islam teaches that women and girls should cover their whole bodies…." Many Muslims would dispute this interpretation of the Qur'an, and the book itself has a photo of a woman with her head uncovered. Islamic studies scholars discourage the use of phrases like "Islam teaches..." when discussing matters subjected to diverse interpretations because the inevitable question is, Whose Islam? Kerven also mentions that special perfume is worn by women and that Muslims celebrate Id with music and dancing. Some popular religious authorities would discourage celebrating this way. While the book presents a positive, humanized picture of the global Muslim community, readers will have a hard time distinguishing between cultural practices specific to certain regions and common religious practices rooted in primary texts.—Justin Parrott, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH