Minaret

This book isn't about "fundamentalist" Islam, or women in Islam, or why people convert, or why a woman would wear a scarf on her head. This is not a book about "the Muslims." It is not about theology or Islamic law. Beyond that, no single author or book -- or worse, fictional character -- can speak for all Muslims at all times. This book doesn't even speak for all converts or returnees, all Muslim women, or all Sudanese Muslim women. It isn't fair to the author, Leila Aboulela, to the character, or to Muslims in general for non-Muslim readers to expect that this book will answer their questions about Islam and Muslims. This is a book about one woman -- Najwa -- dealing with loss: the loss of her family, her home, her status, her country, and her sense of self. The only time "Islam" comes into play here is that it is with her faith that Najwa finds some answers for herself. The book doesn't bash you over the head with Islam. Any Christian, Jew, Buddhist, etc. who has found their own sense of peace through their faith will relate to Najwa.

This is a novel to both devour and savor. As a white American woman, I was allowed to briefly pass through a doorway into a culture I know little about. Aboulela's tale is one of exile and rebirth. Her character, Najwa is a woman who loves family and has nearly lost them all. As the story progresses, the Westerner in me sometimes saw her as being foolishly self sacrificing, yet I couldn't deny the beauty and redemption the character finds as she joins the women at the mosque. Ultimately, Najwa sacrifices two loves -- one for her own good and one for the greater good of another. I was particularly struck by the passage wherein Najwa has adopted more traditional attire and walks by the construction site where she had been whistled at earlier when she was dressed in Western clothes. Ironically, the men now pay no attention to her and she experiences a sense of liberation. All in all, a wonderful and thoughtful read. Thank you, Leila Aboulela.

I was captivated by this novel from beginning to end. As a Muslim and a woman I really related to the character Najwa. Her gradual tansformation from a spoiled, somewhat shallow teen, to a pensive, observant Muslim is a pleasure to observe. This story is fictional, but the message is definitely real and it's something that could affect anyone. Najwa loses everything and hits rock bottom, but through faith in God, she's able to gain strength and not lose hope. This novel was wholly entertaining and superbly written. The characters were well developed, especially the despicable Anwar, one of Najwa's chief antagonists. I would recommend Minaret to anyone, especially Muslim women. I look forward to Aboulela's future novels.

Minaret is a very insightful novel about the inner worldview and frame of mind that Muslims experience. I am sure many Muslim readers (especially converts, and those who weren't practicing in their past) can relate to Najwa's reversion to Islam. During Najwa's youth, while she was always intrigued with Islam, she nonetheless lived a normal modern life under the influence of her family and friends. But once she realized the significance of Allah, only then did she truly understand the meaning of life. The novel also brings up many common issues faced by Muslims today, regarding the supposed hypocritical double-standardness for men and women in the Muslim world, having "blind" faith in religion, gender relations in Islam, varying Muslim attitudes to Islam, and the importance of repentance and the grand mercy of Allah. Through Najwa, Ms. Aboulela is able to portray the psyche of a true Muslim in ways most people, especially with the common western-modern/scientistic world view would otherwise be unble to grasp. Excellent Read, as I completed reading the (almost 300 page) book in 3 sittings, as I couldnt put it down. I already cant wait for Ms. Aboulela's next novel...

This Novel was not only pleasently written but also gave the reader a true piece of mind experience reading it. Najwa's story is one very interesting, one that carries a lot of truth with it on how everything around people can change so suddently, their place in society, their wealth, lifestyle, educational paths, marriage plans, etc. It is something people in many parts of the world have been experiencing for real, like people in Iraq and Palestine, even people in countries as strong and rich as the United States have lived this dramatic change, like in the case of New Orleans. It really shows one that nothing in this world is certain, no matter how rich, educated or place of society you hold. Things can change overnight, and the only thing that would keep people's heads up, is the devout belief in Allah swt.