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My Name Used to Be Muhammad:A True Story of a Muslim Who Became a Christian
by Tito Momen with Jeff Benedict
LDS Nonfiction
November 12th 2013 by Ensign Peak
November 12th 2013 by Ensign Peak
208 Pages
Summary
Tito Momen was raised Muhammad Momen. He was born in Nigeria and was taught to observe the strict teachings of Islam. At age five he woke at 4:45 every morning to attend the mosque and perform dawn prayer with the other men in his village. Training to memorize the Qur’an began at age six. It was at this same age that he began copying the entire Qur’an word for word. He was being raised to emerge as a leader among clerics, capable of leading a jihad, or holy struggle, to convert nonbelievers to Islam. However, Tito’s path took an unexpected turn when he was introduced to Christianity. His decision to believe in Jesus Christ cost him his family and his freedom. Tito thought he would spend his remaining days enduring a life sentence in an uncivilized Egyptian prison. For fifteen years he suffered and waited and prayed. Tito said, “I never gave up hope. I never stopped believing.” Although he was falsely imprisoned, beaten, and ridiculed, Tito’s remarkable true story is one of faith, forgiveness, and testimony that God does hear and answer prayers.
My Review
I don't sign up to review Nonfiction very often. However, I had heard really good things about this book and the story it contained and so I decided to go out of my usual genre to give this a try. I'm glad that I did.
This is the first book that I've read from the perspective of a native Nigerian and Muslim. I learned about the MC's, Tito's, initial religion back in college when I took a religion course and have learned other things about it since then. I have a great respect and love for other religions. I like finding out what they believe and why they believe what they do. I still didn't know very much about what it means to be a Muslim and I definitely didn't know how the culture is so drastically different from mine. I knew it was different, but not to the extent that I understand now.
What I appreciated about the narrative is that the facts and events are stated in a simple factual matter. There isn't a lot of prejudice or underlying meaning per se to the story. It is just telling about Tito's life growing up and how he was raised and then what happened as he grew up. It is how he saw things and felt about them. He really was definitely challenged for his eventual choices versus his upbringing and the desires of his father and those around him. Then the circumstances he was put through are quite devastating. Lots of heartache.
I feel like I know a lot more about this country, its people, and the Muslim faith after reading this. Overall this was just a good story. It's a story of hardship, love, endurance, forgiveness, and hope.
This is the first book that I've read from the perspective of a native Nigerian and Muslim. I learned about the MC's, Tito's, initial religion back in college when I took a religion course and have learned other things about it since then. I have a great respect and love for other religions. I like finding out what they believe and why they believe what they do. I still didn't know very much about what it means to be a Muslim and I definitely didn't know how the culture is so drastically different from mine. I knew it was different, but not to the extent that I understand now.
What I appreciated about the narrative is that the facts and events are stated in a simple factual matter. There isn't a lot of prejudice or underlying meaning per se to the story. It is just telling about Tito's life growing up and how he was raised and then what happened as he grew up. It is how he saw things and felt about them. He really was definitely challenged for his eventual choices versus his upbringing and the desires of his father and those around him. Then the circumstances he was put through are quite devastating. Lots of heartache.
I feel like I know a lot more about this country, its people, and the Muslim faith after reading this. Overall this was just a good story. It's a story of hardship, love, endurance, forgiveness, and hope.
Content: This is definitely in the Adult genre. There is mature content, nothing specifically descriptive, but some sexual content and some violence.
Source: Publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.
About the Authors
Jeff Benedict is considered one of America’s top investigative journalists He has published several acclaimed books, including Out of Bounds and Pros and Cons. His work has also been published in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among other publications, and he has appeared on ESPN, NBC Nightly News, CBS’ 48 Hours, and ABC News.
This is Tito Momen's story.
Jeff Benedict is considered one of America’s top investigative journalists He has published several acclaimed books, including Out of Bounds and Pros and Cons. His work has also been published in the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among other publications, and he has appeared on ESPN, NBC Nightly News, CBS’ 48 Hours, and ABC News.
This is Tito Momen's story.
Giveaway
One harcover copy of My Name Used to Be Myhammad (US Only).
All my usual requirements apply. Please use the rafflecopter below. Ends 11/22/13.
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