On Thursday, August 12, 2021, I signed a book contract with John Hunt Publishing out of the UK to publish my manuscript, "Muslim Mechanics". The articles posted on this website are representative of the content found in the manuscript.
This book will not be about Muslim mechanics who work on automobiles, although some good ones undoubtedly do. This book is about the study of Islam as a religion, as an organization, as a social institution, and the rules that make it unique. If you look up the term “mechanics,” depending on the source, you will find descriptions like this:
Pronounced muh-kan-iks, noun
1. The branch of physics that deals with the action of forces on bodies and with motion, comprised of kinetics, statics, and kinematics.
2. The theoretical and practical application of this science to machinery, mechanical appliances, etc.
3. The technical aspect or working part; mechanism; structure.
4. Routine or basic methods, procedures, techniques, or details: the mechanics of running an office; the mechanics of baseball.
A basic mechanics textbook covers force and motion, work and energy, and fluid mechanics applied in industrial operations. It explains operation principles for simple machines, such as the lever, inclined plane, wheel and axle, pulley, and screw. Consider Muslim Mechanics as a necessary examination of the rules and principles that guide our understanding of Islam. I propose the following descriptions:
1. A branch of social science that explains how energy and forces affect populations and organizations.
2. The practical application of mechanics to the design, construction, or operation of organizations and institutions.
3. The functional and technical aspects of an activity.
4. Similar to the study of classical mechanics but on an organizational and institutional level.
The purpose of this text is to understand why Muslims do what they do. What rules do imams and jihadists follow? Why do Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims have a history of animosity? To paraphrase an old term, up until now, “it’s been Greek to me.” This text tries to explore the rules and governing laws that Muslims follow. It has helped me immensely, and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing what the rules are.
I am excited to be working with this well known publishing company.