Tharik also brilliantly dissects the more recent political events and idealogies which attempted to eradicate any semblance of Islamic history.

This book is exclusively about Islam and Ottoman history in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. During the many weeks of their travel, of course they encountered some unpleasant personalities and alarming experience, or even confusing practices, but those occurrences did not make them suspicious towards everyone they met in the country, nor deter them from enjoying other places. It presents a refreshing alternative take on the usual travel book and certainly opened my eyes to the Islamic influence on a part of Europe I have not visited.Liam Neeson is Islamophobic for negative criminal portrayals of Albania in film, but ten pages later Hussain walks away from an Albanian Airbnb over a nebulous suspicious feeling about the hosts. I think the eastern European hatred and Islamophobia were all wrapped into one and there’s no surprise that the two were interchangeable during the Brexit rhetoric,” he says.

It’s not a part of Europe I’m familiar with, and the author’s perspective as a Muslim adds depth to his descriptions of the places he visited.He also bemoans the spread of forms of Islam that reject religious pluralism but actively avoids engaging with the people who hold these beliefs. I was aware of Muslim Bosnians but their trip uncovers Ottoman heritage in Albanian, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia which changes the picture of Europe and Christendom being one and the same. His title is romantic, but not his vision: he ignores neither current sectarian tensions, nor histories scarred by violence and hatred. Each of the countries is home to sizeable Muslim populations – communities that were first established centuries ago, during the reign of the Ottomans. With thoughts and advice on staying positive in Ramadan, this little book will be a source of strength, offering spiritual support and guidance as you venture on a journey of reflection and purification.

We use Google Analytics to see what pages are most visited, and where in the world visitors are visiting from. The first, the Arap Mosque was built in 1528, while the second, a 16th century building, was designed by Ottoman architect Muslihudin Abdulgani. Author Tharik Hussain discusses how his travels to the Balkans shed light on issues like identity and belonging, the roots of Islamophobia, and the European fear of the ‘Turks’.When asked how to get rid of these Islamophobic attitudes, Tharik believes it is not straightforward nor a quick fix. Over the course of several weeks, they travelled through Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. On Mostar’s bridge – “Did you know that Western ‘experts’ of Bosnia for years couldn’t get themselves to admit that the Ottomans had built the bridge? Some nice bridges, some random acts of kindness, some interesting insights into the Balkan war in Bosnia in particular, a smattering of Ottoman history (though categorised by place, it tended to lack flow and blend into itself after a while), and a couple of places I’d like to visit. Tharik’s previous work has often served to decolonise popular religious and cultural histories and narratives.

I am so impressed with a number of young people at the places the author visited who knew so much about the history of the places they live in especially regarding the mosques - the art, architecture, and the story behind them. The last chapter with Jakov and his trauma really broke me, and Tharik's ability to capture these moments was really great. A deep dive into the historical roots of European Islamophobia, and the places where Muslim Europe still exists make this one of the most compelling books for readers who wish to see the world through a wider lens. This is a wonderful and truly heartwarming travelogue by the creator of The Woking Trail and The Muslim Cemetery Walk, which is a Muslim herotage trail in the UK. This is one of my favorite non-fiction reads from last month, as Hussain's account makes for a riveting read, especially if you're familiar with the countries he visited.

It was one of those books where I didn’t want it to finish and savouredthe last few pages by reading them slowly.