Essay Questions

What was the attitude of the Whites towards Yousaf and his friends?

The whites had a stereotypical attitude towards Yousaf and his other Muslim friends owing to their religion. The White community was prejudiced against them because of the views about Muslims that they are conservative, terrorists and illogical people. However, the author has demonstrated that they were just the opposite of what the westerners thought about them.

Who was Rabeya?

Rabeya was one of the Muslim students who were living in the apartment which Yousef took on rent. She was considered as a conservative Muslim girl because she wraps herself from head to toe in burka. Despite of living in the western society, she was following the path of Islam. The author has demonstrated that she was unlike the common westerner’s views regarding her personality. She was a logical woman with creative ideas. She was very confident and open-minded girl.

How has the author portrayed the diversity among Muslims?

Although all the Muslim individuals were from same religious background but their interpretations of the Holy Quran and their principles regarding their actions were diverse. Rabeya was a practicing Muslim because she was not conservative regarding her beliefs and her relations with other human beings. She was following her religion without listening to the false interpretations. Umar was a conservative Muslim because he often argues with his friends because of understanding Quran at the literal level. Yusef and Jahangir possessed liberal thoughts regarding their religious beliefs.

How have the misconceptions regarding Islam been corrected in the novel?

By portraying different and diverse Muslim characters in a western world, the author has shown that the Muslims are neither terrorists nor conservatives instead, they are normal human beings like people in other parts of the world. They have different views and personalities like people who belong to other religions. The world should not treat them with prejudice because Islam is a religion of peace and love. It respects the difference in opinions and urge its followers to empathize with others.