Growing Up Muslim: Understanding the Beliefs and Practices of Islam

Growing up Muslim in Southern California, Sumbul Ali-Karamali, author of the adult volume, The Muslim Next Door, found herself answering questions from friends and schoolmates about her life: What do Muslims eat? Why do they dress the way they do? Why do they pray five times a day? What do their holy days celebrate? Who is Muhammad? What do Muslims believe about him? What are the tenets of Islam? 

A comprehensive introduction to one of the world's major religions, Growing Up Muslim explores the fundamentals of Islam, Muhammad and his mission, and the Muslim perspective, as well as the development and spread of Islam and current demographics. Ali-Karamali also provides young people with essential information about Islam in the everyday context of Muslim life in America, encouraging tolerance and acceptance. 

Author Sumbul Ali-Karamali offers her personal account, discussing the many and varied questions she fielded from curious friends and schoolmates while growing up in Southern California—from diet, to dress, to prayer and holidays and everything in between. She also provides an academically reliable introduction to Islam, addressing its inception, development and current demographics.

Through this engaging work, readers will gain a better understanding of the everyday aspects of Muslim American life, to dispel many of the misconceptions that still remain and open a dialogue for tolerance and acceptance.

SUMBUL ALI-KARAMALI grew up in Southern California, answering questions about Islam. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University, a J. D. from the University of California at Davis, and a graduate degree in Islamic Law from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. She has served as a teaching assistant in Islamic Law at SOAS and a research associate at the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law in London. Her highly praised adult book is The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and that Veil Thing, an academically reliable introduction to what Muslims believe and practice, but one written in the personal, anecdotal, everyday context of growing up Muslim in America.