Where both parties put down their preconceived notions of the others and provide a safe space for debate and disagreements, where there are respect, understanding and compassion. This is how interfaith dialogue is meant to happen. That’s the second thing I absolutely loved the conversation. But Sh Akram was having none of that! He told it how it was meant to be, and gave Carla the choice to agree or not. Especially now where we’re seeing a rise of people trying to make Islam ‘fit in' with the social norms and change the interpretations of verses according to what society thinks is right today.

Facing all the difficult questions and refusing to sugar coat answers is not an easy feat.

Firstly, how unapologetically Muslim Akram Nadwi was. An unlikely friendship, but together they challenge their worldviews as they debate and clarify controversial verses, discussing them from cafes and lecture halls in London all the way to Mecca and India.ģ things I absolutely loved about this book. If the Oceans Were Ink is a memoir by Carla Power, an American journalist who sets out on a yearlong journey through the Quran with Sheikh Akram Nadwi, a madrasah-trained scholar. And, definitely for the Muslim to understand what their own religion is really about! I think this is a perfect read for anyone interested in knowing a bit about what Islam is. Although we’re discussing heavy topics ranging from the role of women to the concept of jihad it never felt like a heavy read since the narrative was a story of Carla and Sh Akrams conversations. This book literally covered every single controversial topic surrounding Islam and deconstructed it beautifully and seamlessly for the reader.

If the oceans were ink