Splitting the Moon tracks scholar and author Dr Joel Hayward's intriguing journey into Islam, his fascination with the mysteries of faith, his experiences and observations as a Western Muslim, and his thoughts on the state of the Ummah (Islamic community) today. He writes his poetry to capture events each day in the way that some people keep a diary. They are therefore deeply personal, yet reflect the ever-changing world around him.
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"a very skilful and gifted poet whose way with words is impressive. ... [He] is able to blend the personal, emotional, spiritual and existential dimensions of human experience, and do so without in any way over-playing or undermining any aspect. This is a very rare skill for a poet to possess."
- Muhammad Khan
The Muslim News
"The poetry of Joel Hayward, grounded in his wide experience of the Islamic world and his deep study of Judaeo-Christian and Islamic scriptures, depicts a modern spiritual journey inspired by wonder and awe while engaging in undaunted self-questioning. This is a journey that embraces important facets of the everyday life of a Muslim: a highly personal response to the Qur'an, an exploration of religious psychology, and a reflection on problems within and surrounding the Muslim community. This volume offers a highly articulate meditation on the experience of faith in an increasingly problematic world."
-- Professor Rafey Habib, Rutgers University, author of Shades of Islam.
"Joel Hayward's poetry is fascinating, deep, intelligent and beautiful. These evocative poems contain verve and pathos and shed rich insights into the complexities of becoming and then living as a Muslim within a western society in which Islam is a minority religion."
--Shaykh Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Founder and Patron, Minhaj-ul-Quran
"Joel Hayward's poetic style is simple yet poignant; embodying much of the emotions that questions of faith and belonging evoke. He effectively explores the numerous intricate and complicated strands of religion and belief, through a personal, introspective voice, which keeps the reader engaged. This is a unique and refreshing collection of poetry, reflecting on Islam in the 21st Century."
-- Sarah Joseph, Editor, emel
- Muhammad Khan
The Muslim News
"The poetry of Joel Hayward, grounded in his wide experience of the Islamic world and his deep study of Judaeo-Christian and Islamic scriptures, depicts a modern spiritual journey inspired by wonder and awe while engaging in undaunted self-questioning. This is a journey that embraces important facets of the everyday life of a Muslim: a highly personal response to the Qur'an, an exploration of religious psychology, and a reflection on problems within and surrounding the Muslim community. This volume offers a highly articulate meditation on the experience of faith in an increasingly problematic world."
-- Professor Rafey Habib, Rutgers University, author of Shades of Islam.
"Joel Hayward's poetry is fascinating, deep, intelligent and beautiful. These evocative poems contain verve and pathos and shed rich insights into the complexities of becoming and then living as a Muslim within a western society in which Islam is a minority religion."
--Shaykh Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, Founder and Patron, Minhaj-ul-Quran
"Joel Hayward's poetic style is simple yet poignant; embodying much of the emotions that questions of faith and belonging evoke. He effectively explores the numerous intricate and complicated strands of religion and belief, through a personal, introspective voice, which keeps the reader engaged. This is a unique and refreshing collection of poetry, reflecting on Islam in the 21st Century."
-- Sarah Joseph, Editor, emel
About the Author
Dr Joel Hayward's career highlights include having being Dean of the prestigious Royal Air Force College for five years and head of a King's College London academic division for six years. He is the author or editor of many works of non-fiction. He is also very active in the literary arts, and has written regular columns in emel and other Islamic magazines and published much fiction and poetry.
His first poetry collection, Lifeblood, appeared in 2003. The Evening Standard described it as "memorable and insightful". Chaff's reviewer wrote: "Hayward's eclectic poetry reflects his enigmatic mind. ... His poems are passionate and full of rich images and exert a strong and dignified intelligence. Hayward exerts a courageous strength, rebelling against his past creative constraints, and in perhaps a flush of originality and ambitious flair, has achieved a work of art." Lifeblood is now available in Kindle format.
His first poetry collection, Lifeblood, appeared in 2003. The Evening Standard described it as "memorable and insightful". Chaff's reviewer wrote: "Hayward's eclectic poetry reflects his enigmatic mind. ... His poems are passionate and full of rich images and exert a strong and dignified intelligence. Hayward exerts a courageous strength, rebelling against his past creative constraints, and in perhaps a flush of originality and ambitious flair, has achieved a work of art." Lifeblood is now available in Kindle format.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Spirit
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having browsed Joel Hayward's website prior to ordering this book, I was eager to discover what I may be surprised with once I started reading it. I wasn't disappointed. There are more than enough poems to make it worth the money. There are poems of different styles, so every reader will find something that resonates with them. Additionally, each poem seems to have been written in a timely manner, making the thoughts expressed by the poet unfiltered and raw. It's more of an insight into one man's spiritual journey with Islam being the vehicle for it, than simply being a book containing "Islamic poetry". I highly reccommend it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Amanda Giles
Format:Paperback
In `Splitting the Moon', Dr Joel Hayward exhibits a lightness of touch yet great depth of understanding and emotion. Through his skilful use of language, composition and poetic metre, he provides insight into his chosen religion and the path he undertook to embrace it. As a non-Muslim - in fact a person who is not aligned with any particular world religion yet a believer in the innate spiritual potential within all beings - I was moved and enlightened by the author's description of life as a Muslim within Western society. By seeing through his eyes, my eyes have been opened to the quiet beauty of this peaceful, loving and dignified religion.
In his preface, Hayward professes his hope that his poems "have captured at least some of the colour, verve and pathos of today's Islamic world". To my mind he has succeeded in achieving this aim and he has done it brilliantly! The poems are by turn enlightening, enchanting, and informative; they evoke deep emotion, wonder and delight but also sadness and profound shame (which Hayward also clearly feels) at the cruelty and ignorance found within extremists who lurk at all edges of society. For me, Hayward's poetry has taught me more about the joys and challenges of life as a British Muslim than any factual account I have read hitherto. I am grateful to the author for providing me with this insight and the delight of discovering a collection of poems which will resonate within me, both emotionally and intellectually, for a long time to come. This book - small in size yet great in stature - is destined to become a dog-eared and tattered personal favourite, affording me repeated and prolonged enjoyment and pause for thought for many years to come.
I unconditionally recommend it to all lovers of fine poetry and searchers for truth.
In his preface, Hayward professes his hope that his poems "have captured at least some of the colour, verve and pathos of today's Islamic world". To my mind he has succeeded in achieving this aim and he has done it brilliantly! The poems are by turn enlightening, enchanting, and informative; they evoke deep emotion, wonder and delight but also sadness and profound shame (which Hayward also clearly feels) at the cruelty and ignorance found within extremists who lurk at all edges of society. For me, Hayward's poetry has taught me more about the joys and challenges of life as a British Muslim than any factual account I have read hitherto. I am grateful to the author for providing me with this insight and the delight of discovering a collection of poems which will resonate within me, both emotionally and intellectually, for a long time to come. This book - small in size yet great in stature - is destined to become a dog-eared and tattered personal favourite, affording me repeated and prolonged enjoyment and pause for thought for many years to come.
I unconditionally recommend it to all lovers of fine poetry and searchers for truth.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a book to be devoured by all lovers of fine poetry.
1 May 2012
By Amanda Giles
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
In `Splitting the Moon', Dr Joel Hayward exhibits a lightness of touch yet great depth of understanding and emotion. Through his skilful use of language, composition and poetic metre, he provides insight into his chosen religion and the path he undertook to embrace it. As a non-Muslim - in fact a person who is not aligned with any particular world religion yet a believer in the innate spiritual potential within all beings - I was moved and enlightened by the author's description of life as a Muslim within Western society. By seeing through his eyes, my eyes have been opened to the quiet beauty of this peaceful, loving and dignified religion.
In his preface, Hayward professes his hope that his poems "have captured at least some of the colour, verve and pathos of today's Islamic world". To my mind he has succeeded in achieving this aim and he has done it brilliantly! The poems are by turn enlightening, enchanting, and informative; they evoke deep emotion, wonder and delight but also sadness and profound shame (which Hayward also clearly feels) at the cruelty and ignorance found within extremists who lurk at all edges of society. For me, Hayward's poetry has taught me more about the joys and challenges of life as a British Muslim than any factual account I have read hitherto. I am grateful to the author for providing me with this insight and the delight of discovering a collection of poems which will resonate within me, both emotionally and intellectually, for a long time to come. This book - small in size yet great in stature - is destined to become a dog-eared and tattered personal favourite, affording me repeated and prolonged enjoyment and pause for thought for many years to come.
I unconditionally recommend it to all lovers of fine poetry and searchers for truth.
In his preface, Hayward professes his hope that his poems "have captured at least some of the colour, verve and pathos of today's Islamic world". To my mind he has succeeded in achieving this aim and he has done it brilliantly! The poems are by turn enlightening, enchanting, and informative; they evoke deep emotion, wonder and delight but also sadness and profound shame (which Hayward also clearly feels) at the cruelty and ignorance found within extremists who lurk at all edges of society. For me, Hayward's poetry has taught me more about the joys and challenges of life as a British Muslim than any factual account I have read hitherto. I am grateful to the author for providing me with this insight and the delight of discovering a collection of poems which will resonate within me, both emotionally and intellectually, for a long time to come. This book - small in size yet great in stature - is destined to become a dog-eared and tattered personal favourite, affording me repeated and prolonged enjoyment and pause for thought for many years to come.
I unconditionally recommend it to all lovers of fine poetry and searchers for truth.
›
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