Exit West

In 2017, Mohsin Hamid published Exit West as a literary response to the 2015 migrant crisis. The migrant crisis of 2015 was a period when a large number of refugees arrived in Europe and sought asylum from the wars and crises in their home countries. His book is written in the lyrical style of prose and tells the story of a fierce young couple that has to leave their homeland behind them as they escape war in their country and seek asylum in Europe. In his novel, Hamid describes the migrant experience while focusing on that of two individuals, Nadia and Saed, as they assimilate into societies foreign to their own, exploring their sense of identity and self. Nadia is an independant and rebellious woman who accepts and embraces her migration from her homeland as a chance to create a new life for herself. Saeed, however, is an educated and romantic young man who works hard to adapt to the migrant lifestyle that forces him to unite his love for family and his cultural upbringing with his new life as an alienated individual forced to leave his home. Nadia and Saeed both experience periods of longing for the comfort of their past but each understand the need to create their own “home away from home” as a response to reclaiming their identity. 

I read this book for a school project, my final high school English paper. 

While I didn't exactly enjoy the book, I didn't "not like it" either. It's just probably something I won't read again. 

3/5 

Here are some quotes I liked

"To love is to enter into the inevitability of one day not being able to protect what is most valuable to you." 

"When we migrate, we murder from our lives those we leave behind." 

The Kite Runner

Yesterday I finished 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini. Today I sit in a Starbucks writing a review about it. 

I feel ashamed that I could read such a heart-wrenching and emotional book sensitive for many and sleep the night like a baby. 

(This review may contain spoilers and will therefore assume that you as the reader are familiar with the various plot points and characters that will be discussed.)

Themes of religion, race, and ethnicity are expressed throughout the novel. As a Sunni Muslim, I was exposed to the harsh treatment many Shias have to face just for their religion, and in the case with Hassan, his Hazara ethnicity as well. Amir, a Sunni Pashtun, and Hassan, a Shia Hazara, represent one of the many divisions that exist in the Afghan society. Naturally, these divisions which fate bores them into pave the course of their lives. 

Amir is the privileged son of a wealthy and well-respected Pashtun man, Baba. He doesn't experience poverty or the nasty glares of others for his facial features. He doesn't have to fear what awaits him at the turn of a street corner... or alley. Amir doesn't have a strong emotional connection with his father which he blames on himself and it seems to be the only cause of worry for him in his life.. how fortunate. Amir, unlike his friend Hassan, is educated and as a child he mocks his friends ignorance.

Hassan is a loyal and forgiving friend who is the servant of Amir and his father. He serves his friend breakfast, prepares his books for school, and cleans the home. Hassan's way of life taught him from a very young age that he is meant to sacrifice himself for the sake and comfort of others. Hassan is a content person and tells Amir how grateful he feels despite having so, so much less than him. Hassan personifies 'innocence' which is crucial to development of the drama and symbolism that Assef's rape represents. 

Race and Ethnicity in the novel

Racism is portrayed quite bluntly through the novel. Assef is without a doubt the novel's most racist character and justifies his rape of Hassan because he's "just a Hazara." Just? When he joins the Taliban, he again justifies his vehement grudge against a whole ethnicity by referring to the Hazara people as garbage littering his beautiful country of Afghanistan seeing it his responsibility to "take out the garbage." 

Hosseini skillfully authors relationships between the characters to reveal the complexity of ethnic relevance in Afghanistan with a direct focus on the Pashtun and Hazara ethnic groups. Pashtuns dominate Afghanistan and have always held high positions in economic, state, military, and religious affairs. However as a minority, the Hazaras were always discriminated against and considered low class by the Pashtuns. Assef's character represents Afghan nationalism. For him, Afghanistan has always been for the Pashtuns. Out of his own volition, Assef abandons all forms of moral conduct to oppress the Hazara and cleanse his watan, country, of them. 

The instances of rape, namely that of Hassan and Sohrab by Assef, must be understood as crucial events that directly relate to the significance of race and ethnicity in Afghanistan. Besides rape being an act of physical violence committed against the victim, it is also an attack on the victim's self dignity or gheerah of man. Rape as a motif in the novel represents oppressive domination of the powerful (Pashtun) over those who are (quite literally) under them (Hazara).

Amir as a Pashtun boy fails to defend Hassan's innocence while he is being abused. The guilt he feels from this plagues and traps him in his past. Amir justifies his failure to defend Hassan by using Hassan's ethnic background as an excuse for his lack of intervention. Critics of the novel say that Amir's behavior towards Hassan cannot be rationalized therefore forever making Amir someone who is selfish and deplorable. Later when Amir learns him and Hassan were brothers his deep-rooted racism becomes something very complicated and he looks for more ways to redeem himself. When he adopts his nephew Sohrab he publicly rejects the General's (and his own implicit) racism when he announces that he can no longer refer to Sohrab as some "Hazara boy." 

This morning I read a paper written by a student, Peng, which analyzed Hassan's rape from an ethical perspective. He writes:

Hassan didn’t complain about Amir’s treachery and framing, Hassan sacrificed himself to preserve narrow and selfish Amir because he was bounded by the class and social ethics, which made him willing to bear everything in their own ethics and class environment. As a result, Hassan had never shown any dissatisfaction with this unequal status, nor had he tried to change his fate. 

Peng further elaborates on the unlucky fate of Hassan. Hassan's tragedy directly corresponds with his social status as a Hazara boy, almost as if being a Hazara is a crime and his rape a punishment for merely existing. As a victim of Afghanistan's ethnic antagonism, Hassan suffers from an experience that many other minorities have. Peng believes that Hassan's rape represents the "tragedy of Hazara and Afghan (Pashtun) society." 

DRAFT.. WIP

AOT Ocean Scene Review (SPOILERS FOR S3!)

  Attack on Titan follows a group of three friends as they fight for their freedom. Armin, one of the friends, quite often uses the ocean as a tool to reignite the spark of hope in the hearts of his comrades Mikasa and Eren. The ocean plays a significant role in the show because it represents something so much more than just a large body of salt water as Grisha had described it to be. The ocean, like the sky, seems endless and free. Armin constantly refers to the ocean when motivating his friends because as children they promised each other that they will visit it. Armin believes that beyond the wall is the sea and that beyond the sea is freedom because they would be free from their walls. Watchers of the anime remain under this pretense until an unexpected answer ends season three. Eren argues that, after concluding that the world is their enemy due to their Eldian heritage, beyond the sea is not freedom as they had once been fooled to believe, but that rather, beyond the sea lurk their enemies. The sea is now understood to be something like a barrier, something that separates two enemies from each other’s throats. After watching the episode, I had to ask myself what the sea meant for them (Eren, Mikasa, and Armin), whether Eren’s reaction to the sea would effect the events, and how little the world of Attack on Titan is itself. 

Armin can be understood as an idealistic and optimistic character. His wish to visit the sea keeps him and his friends alive. He is obviously motivated to see it but more than that excitement, he yearns for a world beyond the walls he is trapped inside of. Armin remains innocent of his heritage and doesn’t confront the violence of his ancestor’s history previous to the ocean scene (I remain unaware of whether or not he speaks about it later on) and therefore does not consider that beyond the walls lurk his enemies. Here we are presented with the theme of mercy that the ocean provides the characters, at least Armin. 

    Unlike Armin, Eren understands sooner than his friends what the ocean means. Having once viewed the ocean as a place with no walls to cage him, Eren soon realizes his mission to save the Eldian people. The Eldians are viewed as monsters by virtually the entire world outside the walls and beyond the sea. Eren, rightfully so, no longer associates the ocean with freedom. For him, the ocean is another barrier, or wall, that shields him from his enemies. Eren must have felt quite resentful seeing this “new” wall after being fooled into believing that it was his gateway to freedom. After all, how can a young man believe in something that’s supposed to represent his freedom when on the other side of it there are people who want him and his loved ones killed? 

    Eren’s shift of perspective regarding the sea is deeper than is presented at surface level. Eren is now more determined than ever to protect his people from a possible mass genocide. In the ocean scene, Eren points and stares directly into the eyes of his enemy. His enemies aren’t exactly “made out” and remain invisible because he doesn’t literally face them, he faces the idea of them, one which he cannot see but can feel. The fact that he faces his enemies (although not literally) when staring into the ocean foreshadows the coming events. In that specific scene, the lack of defined enemies presents the auidence a vague understanding of the “enemy.” Is the enemy unknown and invisible to the eye? Or does the sight of the clear ocean’s reflection remain it’s own enemy? (Alluding to Eren). 

    I was really excited for this episode and certainly didn’t expect Eren to say what he did. However, I am glad that he was honest enough to state his intentions out loud in the company of those he trusts most. My ideas of an “enemy” and of the sea both changed after having watched this episode - not just in terms relating directly to the show, but in a way that I can extract and analyze from my own life. The enemy isn’t always stated in the beginning. That itself is found only through living life. Once you know yourself, you know your enemy. Having considered that, I can assume at that at this point of the series, Eren finally realizes who he is and the power he holds. This is both a dangerous and admirable thing. Will his emotions fog his decision making? How will he even make those decisions? Does he care for his opportunity cost? What value does a single life hold in the name of attaining freedom? So many questions. 

    I’m nervous for how the events will play out. I must admit that I am not entirely confident in Eren’s decision-making skills for many reasons, some being that he is at times quite impulsive and even “bratty.” But can I blame him? He didn’t ask for any of this and was born into a world of misery where he has to fight for his life and protect that of others. Can one blame a person raised in a cage of ignorance fooled by the idea of a world beyond their cage, one where they may be free and out of boundaries, only to discover in a horrifying manner that the whole world wants them killed? 

    Who is the real enemy, and who gets to decide that? 

Apr 20 2022

928 word count

Late Spring and Summer TBR

Alhamdulillah, I have been blessed to witness and complete another beautiful month of Ramadan. I only read one book in the past month because I wanted to focus on the Quran and my religious obligations. 

Now that Ramadan is over and school will soon be over as well, I decided to compile a modest list of books that I hope to read (and enjoy reading) during the upcoming season, Insha Allah. My goal this year is to finish 52 books. I don't really have a specific reading goal relating to a genre although more recently I have noticed myself gravitating towards books set in the Middle East/North Africa and South Asia. I guess I could say that at this point in my reading career I am more inclined to read a book with a culture I can relate to. (This includes Islamic themes). 

+ The Kite Runner

+ The Stationery Shop 

+ When the Apricots Bloom

+ The Saffron Kitchen 

+ The Beekeeper of Aleppo 

+ A Thousand Splendid Suns

+ A Place For Us

Other fiction titles I am interested in 

+ Call Me By Your Name

+ The Metamorphasis 

+ The Catcher in the Rye

+ Flowers for Algernon 

Apparently, all the books in this list except the first one are very similar to Camus' The Stranger which I read last winter and enjoyed a lot.

Books I have started and want to finish 

+ War and Peace 82%

+ Secrets of Divine Love 21%

+ The City of Brass 30%

+ Heros of Islam 25%

This is my list for now. Insha Allah I meet my goals and do better than anticipated. Perhaps later in the year I can add reviews/ratings to this list. 

To see Allah

God is outside of things, but not in the sense of being alien to them; and He is inside of things, but not in the sense of being identical with them. - IMAM ALI

Excerpt From: Secrets of Divine Love. “A. Helwa.”

I am reminded of the ayah in the Holy Quran where Allah ﷻ tells us:

 لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

“Vision does not encompass Him; He encompasses vision. He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.”

QUR’AN 6:103

Basar means vision or the ability to see and means to grasp or perceive something. Thus, having known what the two words mean, one can conclude that the whole of Allah's ﷻ creation will never be able to comprehend the sight of our Lord. We will never, in this world, be able to witness our Lord in a way that would encompass His Almighty Being. "وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ" He is, however, of all things aware and watches over the entirety of His creation. 

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said:

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً ‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "

Sahih al-Bukhari 7405 

Subhan Allah our Lord is the Most Merciful. 

We, as His humble slaves, are told that He is to us what we think of Him. If we perceive Allah as our hope and means of provision, that is who He is. If we see Allah ﷻ as our Master and Guide, that is who He is. We are encouraged to pray and praise our Lord by His beautiful names (Asma Al Husna). 

Amir Al Mu'mineen Imam Ali was asked by Dhi'lib al-Yamani if he had seen Allah. Imam Ali responded by asking Dhi'lib how he can worship someone he hasn't seen to which Dhi'lib asked once again, "How have you seen Him?" 

In the following lines, I have pasted the eloquent pearls of faith from Imam Ali's sermon (179).  

 لاَ تُدْرِكُهُ الْعُيُونُ بِمُشَاهَدَةِ الْعِيَانِ، وَلكِنْ تُدْرِكُهُ الْقُلُوبُ بِحَقَائِقِ الاْيمَانِ، قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الاْشْيَاءِ غَيْرُ مُلاَمِس، بَعِيدٌ مِنْهَا غَيْرُ مُبَايِن، مُتَكَلِّمٌ بِلاَ رَوِيَّة، مُرِيدٌ بِلاَ هِمَّة، صَانِعٌ لاَ بِجَارِحَة، لَطِيفٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْخَفَاءِ، كَبِيرٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْجَفَاءِ، بَصِيرٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالْحَاسَّةِ، رَحِيمٌ لاَ يُوصَفُ بِالرِّقَّةِ، تَعْنُو الْوُجُوهُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ، وَتَجِبُ الْقُلُوبُ مِنْ مَخَافَتِهِ

Eyes cannot see Him face to face, but hearts perceive Him through the realities of belief. He is near to things but not (physically) contiguous. He is far from them but not (physically) separate. He is a speaker, but not with reflection. He intends, but not with preparation. He moulds, but not with (the assistance of) limbs. He is subtle but cannot be attributed with being concealed. He is great but cannot be attributed with haughtiness. He sees but cannot be attributed with the sense (of sight). He is Merciful but cannot be attributed with weakness of heart. Faces feel low before His greatness and hearts tremble out of fear of Him.

This sermon delivered by Imam Ali describes Allah's greatness. 

To see Allah, we must open our hearts, for it is our hearts that can only witness Him through the various realities of belief presented to us by life and what it means to live. We are told that Allah ﷻ is near but he is not physically present bounded by time and shape. To see Allah, we must not attribute anything to Him because He is One and Everything. Allah is as we perceive Him and He is as we remember Him. 

Quite unfortunately, my humanity is bounded to the 26 letters of the English language which chain me from being able to describe my Lord's true majesty.  

I love (أنا بعشق) - Nagat Al Sagheera

       انا بعشق البحر

زيك يا حبيبى حنون

وسعات زيك مجنون

ومهاجر ومسافر

وسعات زيك حيران

وسعات زيك زعلان

وسعات مليان بالصمت

انا بعشق البحر

انا بعشق السما

علشان زيك مسامحة

مزروعة نجوم وفرحة

وحبيبة وغريبة

وعشان زيك بعيدة

وسعات زيك قريبة

بعيون متنغمة

انا بعشق السما

انا بعشق الطريق

لانة فية لقانة

رحنا وشقانا

واصحابنا وشبابنا

وفية ضحكت دمعنا

وفية بكيت شمعنا

وضاع فية الصديق

انا بعشق الطريق

انا بعشق البحر

وبعشق السما

وبعشق الطريق

لانهم حياة

وانتى يا حبيبتى

انتى كل الحياة 

I love the sea

Like you, my dear it is tender

And sometimes, like you, it is crazy

Leaving and a traveler

And sometimes, like you, it is confused

And sometimes, like you, it is upset

And sometimes, like you, it is full of silence

I love the sea 

I love the sky

Because, like you, it is forgiving

Planted with stars and joy

It is loved and strange (far, distant)

And like you, it is far 

But sometimes it is, like you, near

With beautifully arranged eyes

I love the sky 

I love the road

It is there that we met

It is there we have our joy and sadness

Our friends and our youth 

And it is there our tears have laughed

And it is there our candles cried

And it is there where we have lost a friend

I love the road 

I love the sea 

And I love the sky 

And I love the road 

For in them there is life

And you my beloved

You are life itself. (What it means to live).  

I love this song because it expresses love and admiration for an unnamed beloved while comparing them to the three elements of nature: the sea, the sky, and the road. Each stanza describes the unique qualities and characteristics of these elements, drawing parallels between them and the beloved. The sea is depicted as tender, sometimes crazy, and occasionally silent, mirroring what a human relationship may be like. Similarly, the sky is described as forgiving, adorned with stars and joy, yet distant at times. The road symbolizes the journey of life, where moments of joy and sadness, laughter and tears, are experienced with friends. Overall, I like to think that the poem describes how life itself is embodied in the beloved of the speaker.

I always enjoyed songs and poems about the sea, making the first three stanzas my favorite:

       انا بعشق البحر

زيك يا حبيبى حنون

وسعات زيك مجنون

I love the sea

Like you, my dear it is tender

And sometimes, like you, it is crazy. 

She Wore Red Trainers

I recently finished 'She Wore Red Trainers' by Na'ima B. Robert. This book is quite popular within the young Muslim community and as it's a goal of mine this year to read more books with Muslim representation, I decided to read it. 

I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say I liked the plot but I liked the positive representation of Islam with characters who were proud of their religion. It's rare to find in young adult novels characters who are proud of their identity and I found that in this book.