Viral Storytelling with The Story Lady, Ronda Del Boccio

Today I am excited to introduce you
to nonfiction author Amir Makin.  Amir is the author of A Worthy
Muslim:  Quranic Tools Needed to Overcome
Oppression and Imperialism in Order to Institute Justice.

You can purchase Amir’s book at AIC
Publications and Amazon.

Blurb/summary of book

This material
provides an examination of the Islamic way of life and offers solutions to
problems concerning situations of injustice which underprivileged minority
communities in different parts of the world regularly experience. Socioeconomic
issues such as racism, poverty and legal system imbalances are analyzed. The
author compares these issues with the religious texts of Islam and identifies
imperative tools needed to successfully overcome and conquer them. What
does Islam say about tyrants? Why is Islam not a religion? The answers offered
here address these questions and more.

The book also explains how oppressed communities can
handle and overcome oppression by seriously examining the practice of true
Islam. The author analyzes the difference between what is incorrectly perceived
as Islam and the way of life called Al Islam while also detailing how different
prophets implemented Quranic teachings when standing against injustice.
Information is then used to examine real world situations of oppression that
occur in today’s climate with a particular emphasis on the disadvantaged and
impoverished of American society from not only a socioeconomic standpoint, but
a psychological and spiritual vantage as well.

Do you set writing goals and write them
down?

First, allow me to
express my thanks to you for being able to share this side of me with your
audience. I always set goals by asking myself first what true message am I
trying to convey, what audience am I addressing, and if a layman were to read
my literature would they be completely lost, if so then I’ll modify my writings
to provide a basic education on the subject matter so unfamiliar readers don’t
feel ignored. 

Do you set goals for your physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual aspects of your life with specific action steps and
deadlines?

I establish daily
spiritual goals in my life. I believe in developing one’s spirit first which
can enhance the intellectual and psychological as well. The main one is to make
right today what I did wrong yesterday. If I can enjoin what is right and
forbid what is wrong then I’m satisfied with the man I am. I get regular
inspiration from the Qur’an when it comes to self improvement from the approach
of optimizing one’s manhood development as well.

What aspects of your own life are woven into
your book?

Since the book
deeply examines oppression and many of its depravities, I’ve definitely included
instances of oppression that I’ve experienced and observed such as racism, or
religious discrimination that may come as a result of misunderstanding a
concept of jihad.

How do you spark your creativity?

I am generally
motivated by current events, especially affairs attributed to the Middle East or Iraq or Africa. What I normally do is look at how these
situations are reported and try to understand the information that is suspect.
This search fuels a great deal of my creative fire.

How do you relax?

I normally try to
distress by watching episodes of Mission Impossible. I like the intriguing
plots of that era. I also relax by reading success stories of entrepreneurs and
those who have risen above all odds. This serves to help keep me motivated, and
energized about future possibilities. But my most relaxing moments are with my
family. Ramadan (month of fasting) is also an extremely relaxing time for me
because this is time where four of the five pillars is Islam can be practiced
at one time.

What do you enjoy doing with friends?

I enjoy watching
football games on any given Sunday, where we all gather at someone’s home,
potluck style and leave off the worries of our own personal lives and for those
3 hours the only thing that matters is what happens on the screen.

What quality do you most desire to develop
in yourself as a person?

I’d like to improve
my ability to not take all things so seriously, be a bit more jovial. My uncle
was really good at this and since he passed away I have thought about being
able to do this much more frequently than ever before.

What themes and/or issues predominate in
your work?

I pride myself on
writing about things that many are afraid to discuss or unwilling to address. I
often write from the theme of overcoming the devastating effects of
colonialism. Additionally, I address areas where social justice has been
forgotten and the results felt by those powerless to change it. I’m very much
into trying to stop the “little guy” from getting stepped on, and it’s time
that books on Islam by independent authors began to articulate similar
positions.

What is better about your life now than it
was 5 years ago?

Five years ago I
didn’t have a family, now that I do, I have a better sense of collective
responsibility, and a greater understanding of what it means to be selfless as
opposed to the selfish mentality that comes when you only have yourself to be
concerned about.

What was the most important lesson you
learned about yourself as a person during the writing of your book?

The most valuable
lesson for me is that I need to adopt an attitude of perfection. This means
that in whatever I seek to accomplish I must try to make it perfect in every
way and in all things, regardless of its intended purpose.

Thanks Amir
for stopping by the blog that shows you how to awaken the hero within YOU!