Minarets in the Mountains: A Journey Into Muslim Europe (Bradt Travel Guides (Travel Literature))

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We’re made to feel like we don't belong here but to discover that we have this heritage that goes back 14 centuries, it feels almost criminal that this stuff is not being discussed,” Tharik told TRT World. He added on how Europeans have been actively trying to erase the glorious history of Muslims in this region, despite the Ottomans having brought civilization to this corner of the world (and hence to the Western Europe too). Tharik has the reader captivated as he travels from place-to-place reinvigorating the beautiful Islamic heritage. There are plenty of humorous cultural references as well: Pokemon Go, The Gilmore Girls, Game of Thrones … but my personal favourite was the hat tip to Castle Greyskull (really showing his age there).

An interesting, little-written-about part of the world (Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro) where I’ve spent some time travelling myself in recent years. I’m a Bosnian Muslim from Sarajevo, now living in the UK, and I found this book a frustrating and irritating read. As a Muslim myself, I certainly stress the opinion of the importance of “adab” or “manners” in educating the Muslims, let alone the non-Muslims. While European Islam lives on, the negative attitude towards ‘Turks’ and ‘Muslims’ continues to thrive in the West, and we have seen it play out in the US, European nations and in Britain with the Brexit campaign. Tharik revitalises the existence of these monuments with his mastery writing - ladened with sincerety, warmth and real connection.

Tharik's story is one of several in this delightful anthology of writing by Muslims from across the globe.

I hoped for a different perspective - the author was travelling as a family (with a wife, and 2 girls) and yet, all interviews with locals were exclusively with men. All of this work is to essentially just try and move towards a normalisation of Islam being a part of the Western cultural landscape. If you want to know what cities in the Balkans have remaining/active mosques, this book is perfect for you. His - theory that most of western Europe’s xenophobia for eastern Europe is probably wrapped up in historic Islamophobia is bizarre given that, if nothing else, the vast majority of the Iron Curtain cultures weren’t Islamic. We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed.He marvels at the history of Islam in Europe, through a unique modern lens coated with centuries of Islamic history. Damn, the Islamophobia was deep”, said Saleh [a tourist from Manchester], no longer sounding surprised. Tharik’s previous work has often served to decolonise popular religious and cultural histories and narratives.

In 2016, Londoner Tharik Hussain set off for the western Balkans along with his wife and two young daughters. However, while the perception of Muslims may not change as quickly as he would like, it definitely had an immediate and lasting impact on him and his family.And paints a more subtle and differentiated picture of the different strands of Islam which I for one wasn’t aware of.