Salam Hazem

Just done reading it, I couldnot stop with out finishing.

 EXCELLENT  book is sooo awesome,and is enjoyable to read. This book should be part of every Ones library, it changes how you live and think, It has the power to change minds, increase faith and make you a better Muslim just from the experience of reading it. I Highly recommend it to everybody Muslim and non Muslim ,

I felt like it has a healing effect by clearing the mind and helping us stop worrying and just depend on Allah, we all know  this but we don't apply it all the time , Seeking peace book bring it all together , in a simple uncomplicated ways,

Thanks Hazem for sharing

Great job

☯   Arwa Atwan L Ac.  ☯

 Licensed  Acupunturist

Sa’adiah ben Yosef Gaon (or Sa’adiah Gaon) was born in Egypt in the 9^th century and died in Baghdad in 942. He served as the head of the Academy (Gaon=Excellency) in Sura, Babylonia and was a prominent rabbi, philosopher and the first translator of the Hebrew Bible into Arabic. He included a commentary in Arabic with his translation. Life, Sa’adiah felt, is the gift of God and it is man’s duty to be grateful, to savor and appreciate the remarkable bounty of this gift.

It is in the spirit of Sa’adiah Gaon that I offer a few words in tribute to my colleague Hazem Said (and his co-author Maha Ezzeddine). What greater gift can there be than the gift of peace, shalom, salaam.

Seeking Peace is a brilliant short book that illuminates the Prophet Muhammad (PBU”H) and the hadith teachings on bringing peace into every aspect of our lives. The authors build on the foundation that “faith is not an internal sensation but a flowing force that shapes every aspect of our life” (p. 31). So it is that peace comes to inform every aspect of the devout Muslim’s life and should similarly inform the life of every believer no matter what name they give to the Creator, the One. In each commentary the authors present beautiful, touching illustrations from everyday life to help the reader absorb the central message of the Quranic texts.

This short book is an excellent educational offering to bring peace into our lives and to meditate on the gift of As-Salaam.

Rabbie Abi Ingber

Founding Director, Interfaith Community Engagement

Xavier University

Seeking Peace presents vivid snapshots of how the messenger Muhammad
is the most relatable icon for all of humanity in the 5th and 21st
century world citizens. These snapshots are descriptive enough to move
us to action and betterment of our personalities in real time-- right
as you are reading. However these snapshots leave enough room for a
healthy sense of wonderment of  this man and the potential for impact
in this world. Most powerful will be the messages Seeking Peace packs
for people who do not know our beloved Prophet as these stories
resurrect the distinct beauty in his character across many facets.

This is a 21st century book written for the young and old mind in
words that inspire you to action. All young people who have ever felt
lost in religious texts that are complex and heavily detailed will
find the comfort of understanding these words which are simply
inspirational.  This isn't a book you read once and I know for all of
the buyers, it will become a staple we will cling to during the best
and worst of times. I can already add the tweets as there are a ton of
140 character-long tokens of wisdom in this book.

“Seeking peace” is a great tool for self-development in general and spiritual development in particular. And in a world that is pervaded by materialism and anxiety, people are in dire need for spiritual revival.

Peace is a foundational Islamic concept and a vital human need, and together with justice constitute the cornerstone of the divine guidance and purpose. 

There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,- Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety [5, 15-16]

And the prophet linked the success of his mission to the prevalence of peace.

The book covers the various aspects of peace in the right sequence, starting with inner peace (peace with God and with oneself) to global peace.

There are countless books of hadith especially in Arabic and in other languages that are prevalent in the Muslim World. And the hadiths have very compelling meaning/message and are almost self-explanatory. But the value that the book adds is in the thematic and systematic selection/compilation and in the comments that are very relevant to our time and to the younger generations. That’s what makes it a great resource for self-development. Indeed, being at peace with oneself and with one’s environment is a requirement for anyone who aspires to realize his or her full potential and become a difference-maker.

The book is also special because it breaks some taboos that are crippling the Muslim mind and precluding the renaissance of the Muslim community. It does so by daring to go directly to the sources of guidance rather than relying on the Islamic literature, and by daring to comment on the hadith, something that has been the exclusive domain of scholars.

None of this comes as a surprise to me having known the authors as very promising young leaders. 

Souheil Ghannouchi, PhD - American Muslim Leader and Author of "Muslim American Renaissance Project"

Hazem,

I received the book today and began to read.  I must say that I am enjoying it; it is well written, reflective and thoughtful.  It obviously comes from a mature faith on the part of both authors, but it is gentle and down-to-earth.  It strikes me that the 28 chapters could easily be read one at a time, one for each day for four weeks.  Each short chapter has a message worth carrying around and comtemplating, worth trying to be aware of and practice each day.  I don't know if you thought about that, but the "reflection for the day" format is often used in Christian popular literature!

So, thanks for sending it.  I hope that many people benfit from your work.

Peace,

Bill Lonneman

Franciscans Network - Cincinnati, OH

As a blogger and a person that deeply believes that one of the main ways change happens is at the tip of a pen, “Seeking Peace” is a book that truly contributes to the world of self-discovery and understanding.  People of all nationalities and religions live their lives day-in day-out in search of peace.  This book explores different aspects of peace, from the micro to the macro aspects of society.  Said and Ezzeddine make a great team in collecting the words of Prophet Mohammad and reflecting upon them in terms of everyday life. 

I”Seeking Peace” is written in simple English, it is light and easy to read.  The chapters are like a whisper, guiding the reader to look deeper beyond the words and into life itself.  While reading it I could not help but think of how important it was for me to take in the words beyond the pages. Life is full of turmoil and worry, to appreciate life one must find peace beyond the mundane. I highly recommend this book for anyone needing a beneficial and easy read.

Mona Banawan

Freelance Editor and Blogger at JustAskAMuslim.com