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[The Reluctant Mullah] (By: Sagheer Afzal) [published: February, 2010]
In a moment of idle curiosity, Musa tries on the modest garb of a Muslim woman to experience for himself what it's like to be veiled. While this cause much mirht among his fellow students at the Madrasah, the elders are not amused, viewing Musa's experimentation as a prank too far.Back at home he must conform to family life and face the prospect of an arranged marriage. Cleverly, the family patriarch, Dadaji, offers him a a month of days to find himself a bride or else Musa must accept Dadaji's own choice.And so the race is on for Musa, a devout Muslim and gentle idealist, who dreams of a perfect companion but despairs of ever finding her. When his siblings and friends step in to help, their efforts lead both to hilarity and outrage but soon the dark side of tradition rears its ugly head...
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First published January 1, 2010
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May 29, 2012
‘Knowledge will not always lead you to the truth.’
Musa, a mullah in training, has just been thrown out of the Madrasah of Islamic Britons for dressing up as a Muslim woman. Musa is sent home in disgrace, and it looks like an arranged marriage to his cousin Iram from his parent’s hometown in Pakistan is in his future - or is it? When Musa’s grandfather Dadaji visits from Pakistan, a pact is agreed:
‘There are thirty-three beads on this rosary. I give you one month of days in the pursuit of love. If by the end you have not found love, you will marry who I tell you to.’
Thus begins a novel which combines the best and worst of family in Musa’s search for a suitable bride. There are elements of comic romance, of the good and bad aspects of the expatriate Pakistani community, as well as of individual men and women searching for their own identity, some with guilty secrets and double lives. Many of the characters in this novel are struggling to balance what they want (or need) for themselves with their duty towards their families. Some of the best aspects of this novel involve the religious discussions in the men’s and women’s groups at the Islamic Centre. Here, members of each group debate the true meaning of passages from the Holy Quran. The debates have both light-hearted and serious elements, and give some sense of the wider themes that are part of a British Muslim identity.
‘United by faith and separated by perspective they cackled in unison.’
But how will Musa’s search for happiness end? Will he find the bride of his dreams, or will he be required to enter into an arranged marriage?
Towards the end, Musa realises that faith is no substitute for lived experience. As Dadaji tells him: ‘Reading the Holy Quran and learning the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) does not make you wiser than anybody else’. ‘Wisdom is on the other side of pain, not on the other side of a page.’
I enjoyed this novel: the contrast between traditional and more western ways of life was well drawn, as were the major characters (and their struggles). I found some of the characters less believable, but this didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of the novel. There is both humour and tragedy, but what worked best for me was the depiction of the challenges faced by people seeking to combine the best (in their view) of two quite different cultural experiences.
‘In faith there is no fantasy.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Musa, a mullah in training, has just been thrown out of the Madrasah of Islamic Britons for dressing up as a Muslim woman. Musa is sent home in disgrace, and it looks like an arranged marriage to his cousin Iram from his parent’s hometown in Pakistan is in his future - or is it? When Musa’s grandfather Dadaji visits from Pakistan, a pact is agreed:
‘There are thirty-three beads on this rosary. I give you one month of days in the pursuit of love. If by the end you have not found love, you will marry who I tell you to.’
Thus begins a novel which combines the best and worst of family in Musa’s search for a suitable bride. There are elements of comic romance, of the good and bad aspects of the expatriate Pakistani community, as well as of individual men and women searching for their own identity, some with guilty secrets and double lives. Many of the characters in this novel are struggling to balance what they want (or need) for themselves with their duty towards their families. Some of the best aspects of this novel involve the religious discussions in the men’s and women’s groups at the Islamic Centre. Here, members of each group debate the true meaning of passages from the Holy Quran. The debates have both light-hearted and serious elements, and give some sense of the wider themes that are part of a British Muslim identity.
‘United by faith and separated by perspective they cackled in unison.’
But how will Musa’s search for happiness end? Will he find the bride of his dreams, or will he be required to enter into an arranged marriage?
Towards the end, Musa realises that faith is no substitute for lived experience. As Dadaji tells him: ‘Reading the Holy Quran and learning the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) does not make you wiser than anybody else’. ‘Wisdom is on the other side of pain, not on the other side of a page.’
I enjoyed this novel: the contrast between traditional and more western ways of life was well drawn, as were the major characters (and their struggles). I found some of the characters less believable, but this didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of the novel. There is both humour and tragedy, but what worked best for me was the depiction of the challenges faced by people seeking to combine the best (in their view) of two quite different cultural experiences.
‘In faith there is no fantasy.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 22, 2016
I was a reluctant reader of the Reluctant Mullah. Reluctant to keep going, I mean. The idea of the book is great - a young man gets thrown out of Mullah school so he decides to find a bride - before his family finds him one first. Forced humour abounds in this book which really underwhelmed me.
March 10, 2012
The Reluctant Mullah is a well-written first novel, with fully-fleshed characters and dialogue that flows naturally, especially during the comedic parts (incidentally I was reminded sometimes of the excellent film East is East with Jimmy Mistri & Om Puri). The tone of the story is evenly balanced between comedy, romance, and a not-boring-or-complex discourse on Islam.
I'm not a religious person, and I don't care to read books, especially fiction, where scripture is quoted throughout the work. Passages from the Koran do appear frequently in this novel; after all, the protagonist is a mullah in training. Don't allow that to turn you away from this book.
I've spent a good chunk of my life in the Middle East where political strife goes hand in hand with religious differences; the end result is that I am more familiar with what's involved in being a Druze, Copt, Alawite, Sunni, Shiite etc. than I care for. My impression is that this book covers the traditions and teachings of the faith in a clear and straightforward manner for the layperson; these passages are skillfully integrated into the narrative, without weighing down the flow of the story. I may be biased in this. In any case, I was not confused, or bored, by the discussions on Muslim dogma versus contemporary mores in Britain.
There is a sprinkling of bleepable language, and plenty of light satire and spontaneous humor, to balance it out. The author involves a Confucius-like character, a Gandhi figure, and also a Christian priest into the story, to even out the religious rhetoric, as well as to set up several funny scenes and to offer some witty dialogue.
An ever-growing number of British novels deal with the issues of being Muslim/Hindu in contemporary Britain, some of which I've read (and reviewed on GR). The Reluctant Mullah offers a fresh, entertaining as well as intelligent take on these conflicts and considerations.
I'm not a religious person, and I don't care to read books, especially fiction, where scripture is quoted throughout the work. Passages from the Koran do appear frequently in this novel; after all, the protagonist is a mullah in training. Don't allow that to turn you away from this book.
I've spent a good chunk of my life in the Middle East where political strife goes hand in hand with religious differences; the end result is that I am more familiar with what's involved in being a Druze, Copt, Alawite, Sunni, Shiite etc. than I care for. My impression is that this book covers the traditions and teachings of the faith in a clear and straightforward manner for the layperson; these passages are skillfully integrated into the narrative, without weighing down the flow of the story. I may be biased in this. In any case, I was not confused, or bored, by the discussions on Muslim dogma versus contemporary mores in Britain.
There is a sprinkling of bleepable language, and plenty of light satire and spontaneous humor, to balance it out. The author involves a Confucius-like character, a Gandhi figure, and also a Christian priest into the story, to even out the religious rhetoric, as well as to set up several funny scenes and to offer some witty dialogue.
An ever-growing number of British novels deal with the issues of being Muslim/Hindu in contemporary Britain, some of which I've read (and reviewed on GR). The Reluctant Mullah offers a fresh, entertaining as well as intelligent take on these conflicts and considerations.
June 20, 2019
Musa is a holy young man, but he’s also a bit of a rebel. He has learned and memorized the Koran and spent several years at a religious school or madrasah training with a view to becoming a religious leader. However, despite being deeply religious he has a reputation for not always taking things quite as seriously as his teachers expect. When he and his friends accidentally cause a security alert after repeating Musa’s prize-winning poem over a Skype link to relatives in Pakistan – the word ‘laden’ being picked up as code for Osama Bin Laden - the boys get taken for questioning by the police. Of itself, their behaviour would be enough to raise the eyebrows of the teachers but to make things worse Musa just happened to be dressed as a woman at the time. No, that’s not meaning he was in a skirt and blouse or anything, he just puts on the long black robe, head-dress and veil that his friend had bought for his mother. Musa is asked to leave the madrasah and reconsider his future.
Musa’s family are a caricature – a collection of classic British Pakistani clichés that make you wonder if any family could really be that dysfunctional and that capable of ticking all the cliché boxes. Musa’s big brother Suleiman is financially supporting the family by less than legal means. Musa’s sister Shabnam doesn’t dress modestly and is wrestling with the issue of whether or not to sleep with her black boyfriend. And of course, poor old Musa is faced with having to find a new way in the world, learning the value of hard work rather than intellectual study whilst working for an aggressive builder called Babarr.
His grandfather Dadaji comes to visit from the ancestral village back in Pakistan. Dadaji is a man with a mission and a determination to marry off these wastrel British grandchildren. There’s a cousin back home in Pakistan who has been lined up for Musa but Musa thinks that Allah will provide. After Musa tells his grandfather that he wants to find his own wife, he enters into what’s little more than a ‘bet’ (surely there’s something in the Koran against such things) with Dadaji. Musa has total faith in Allah to find him a wife and agrees that if he can’t find someone in one month then he’ll go along with the arranged marriage.
Babarr, Musa’s builder boss, is a rough chap but he’s trying to ease his path to paradise by building and running an Islamic centre. He asks Musa to lead discussion groups at the centre which is attended by a mix of holy men, ‘rude boys’ (think Ali G doing his impression of a Pakistani teenager) and so-called ‘coconuts’ (It’s never explained but it’s common slang for Asians who’ve adapted ‘too much’ to the British way of life – brown on the outside but white in the middle). At the same time Musa’s friends, family and colleagues are working flat out to try to find him a wife and we get some rather funny accounts of meetings with different girls and their families. Some are too ‘immodest’, others only looking for a British passport, one is holy but ‘too black’ and some are just not interested in poor Musa. He’s got his holiness and a cute face but some would prefer a doctor, a dentist or a lawyer rather than a labourer. Of course, as happens in the case of so many romantic novels, the reader won’t find it too hard to work out who good old Musa will end up with but I doubt that anyone will predict the ending beyond the wedding ceremony.
The book is set in the British Pakistani community and it’s a brave but muddled piece of writing. On one hand it’s trying to be racy and a bit shocking. There’s plenty of swearing and shagging around amongst Musa’s new friends and the inclusion of themes around drug dealing and pre-marital sex are somewhat at odds with the strong sense of tradition and culture. There’s a lot of interesting coverage of key topics of interest to British Muslims and, let’s be honest, British society in general and these topics are handled through debates which Musa and his female counterpart lead at the Islamic centre. I found many of these very interesting and enlightening. Debates about how women feel about the veil, how both sexes feel about their lives in Britain post 9/11, about the importance of prayer were fascinating but somewhat at odds with the thread of Musa’s hunt for love. Towards the end I felt the book became a bit too ‘preachy’ and a bit dull.
There are some very tough topics covered in the book. The racist issues of ‘brown on black’ and ‘black on brown’ racism are there and I don’t think a ‘white’ writer would get away with the sort of racism shown by the British Pakistani characters. The book addresses issues of conflicts between the old and new worlds and it raises contrasts between traditional ancestral ways and the challenges of living in 21st century Britain as well as the degrees of assimilation of different sub-groups of the British Muslim community. Racism and prejudice are rife and redemption sometimes comes from unexpected angles. Suleiman’s illegal lifestyle is dealt with sympathetically not through the mosque but through his contact with a Church of England priest, and there’s an interesting story line which develops about the missing eldest brother, a man who walked out one day and left Suleiman to shoulder the burden of becoming the eldest son. The book challenges the ideas of arranged marriage not just from the perspective of the British-born husband-to-be, but also shows it’s no great shakes for his Pakistani arranged bride who equally isn’t keen on the idea.
The reason for the title becomes apparently only in the last couple of pages. I’m always rather sceptical about ‘happy ever after’ ending but even I was shocked by the twists and turns of the last half dozen pages.
I’m still not sure who the author had in mind as potential readers of this book. It starts out very ‘laddish’ – language and behaviour that might appeal to readers of classics like Gautam Malkani’s ‘Londonstani’ – develops into a poor ‘chick lit’ style romance with lots of predictable directions, and yet sneaks in some interesting debate about the life of British born Muslims. I liked the debates, despised the romantic story line but quite enjoyed some of the colourful, crazy characters. It’s hard to imagine that this will tick all the boxes of any reader because it’s just so diverse.
For those who know a little about Islam, it’s very interesting in parts. For those who know little or nothing, there’s nothing much to alienate you – it’s not one of those books with too much of the ‘lingo’ to leave you wondering what’s going on. For the religiously inclined Muslim, I can’t help thinking that the brash behaviour of the characters will be a turn off that might mean they don’t reach the philosophical and religious discussions.
Musa’s family are a caricature – a collection of classic British Pakistani clichés that make you wonder if any family could really be that dysfunctional and that capable of ticking all the cliché boxes. Musa’s big brother Suleiman is financially supporting the family by less than legal means. Musa’s sister Shabnam doesn’t dress modestly and is wrestling with the issue of whether or not to sleep with her black boyfriend. And of course, poor old Musa is faced with having to find a new way in the world, learning the value of hard work rather than intellectual study whilst working for an aggressive builder called Babarr.
His grandfather Dadaji comes to visit from the ancestral village back in Pakistan. Dadaji is a man with a mission and a determination to marry off these wastrel British grandchildren. There’s a cousin back home in Pakistan who has been lined up for Musa but Musa thinks that Allah will provide. After Musa tells his grandfather that he wants to find his own wife, he enters into what’s little more than a ‘bet’ (surely there’s something in the Koran against such things) with Dadaji. Musa has total faith in Allah to find him a wife and agrees that if he can’t find someone in one month then he’ll go along with the arranged marriage.
Babarr, Musa’s builder boss, is a rough chap but he’s trying to ease his path to paradise by building and running an Islamic centre. He asks Musa to lead discussion groups at the centre which is attended by a mix of holy men, ‘rude boys’ (think Ali G doing his impression of a Pakistani teenager) and so-called ‘coconuts’ (It’s never explained but it’s common slang for Asians who’ve adapted ‘too much’ to the British way of life – brown on the outside but white in the middle). At the same time Musa’s friends, family and colleagues are working flat out to try to find him a wife and we get some rather funny accounts of meetings with different girls and their families. Some are too ‘immodest’, others only looking for a British passport, one is holy but ‘too black’ and some are just not interested in poor Musa. He’s got his holiness and a cute face but some would prefer a doctor, a dentist or a lawyer rather than a labourer. Of course, as happens in the case of so many romantic novels, the reader won’t find it too hard to work out who good old Musa will end up with but I doubt that anyone will predict the ending beyond the wedding ceremony.
The book is set in the British Pakistani community and it’s a brave but muddled piece of writing. On one hand it’s trying to be racy and a bit shocking. There’s plenty of swearing and shagging around amongst Musa’s new friends and the inclusion of themes around drug dealing and pre-marital sex are somewhat at odds with the strong sense of tradition and culture. There’s a lot of interesting coverage of key topics of interest to British Muslims and, let’s be honest, British society in general and these topics are handled through debates which Musa and his female counterpart lead at the Islamic centre. I found many of these very interesting and enlightening. Debates about how women feel about the veil, how both sexes feel about their lives in Britain post 9/11, about the importance of prayer were fascinating but somewhat at odds with the thread of Musa’s hunt for love. Towards the end I felt the book became a bit too ‘preachy’ and a bit dull.
There are some very tough topics covered in the book. The racist issues of ‘brown on black’ and ‘black on brown’ racism are there and I don’t think a ‘white’ writer would get away with the sort of racism shown by the British Pakistani characters. The book addresses issues of conflicts between the old and new worlds and it raises contrasts between traditional ancestral ways and the challenges of living in 21st century Britain as well as the degrees of assimilation of different sub-groups of the British Muslim community. Racism and prejudice are rife and redemption sometimes comes from unexpected angles. Suleiman’s illegal lifestyle is dealt with sympathetically not through the mosque but through his contact with a Church of England priest, and there’s an interesting story line which develops about the missing eldest brother, a man who walked out one day and left Suleiman to shoulder the burden of becoming the eldest son. The book challenges the ideas of arranged marriage not just from the perspective of the British-born husband-to-be, but also shows it’s no great shakes for his Pakistani arranged bride who equally isn’t keen on the idea.
The reason for the title becomes apparently only in the last couple of pages. I’m always rather sceptical about ‘happy ever after’ ending but even I was shocked by the twists and turns of the last half dozen pages.
I’m still not sure who the author had in mind as potential readers of this book. It starts out very ‘laddish’ – language and behaviour that might appeal to readers of classics like Gautam Malkani’s ‘Londonstani’ – develops into a poor ‘chick lit’ style romance with lots of predictable directions, and yet sneaks in some interesting debate about the life of British born Muslims. I liked the debates, despised the romantic story line but quite enjoyed some of the colourful, crazy characters. It’s hard to imagine that this will tick all the boxes of any reader because it’s just so diverse.
For those who know a little about Islam, it’s very interesting in parts. For those who know little or nothing, there’s nothing much to alienate you – it’s not one of those books with too much of the ‘lingo’ to leave you wondering what’s going on. For the religiously inclined Muslim, I can’t help thinking that the brash behaviour of the characters will be a turn off that might mean they don’t reach the philosophical and religious discussions.
December 25, 2012
the 4th star is only because this is the first book I read that actually made laugh out loud.
Don't get me wrong this impression does not last long, you might even shed a few tears at the end.
(I laughed at some of the dialogues at the beginning, I would have rather enjoyed if the whole book was about these silly adventures of the three friends)
Somewhere along the middle I lost interest because the characters were just plain annoying with their sob stories. The Pakistani family depicted in the book seems to be somewhere out of 70 0r 80's Britain and so are the 'young British Muslims'.
That's it I'm not complaining anymore.
The ending was quite a shock for me, I never saw it coming a great twist in the story and it left me feeling nostalgic and sad may be the same way the main character felt.
I guess it's not a bad read if IT can stir your emotions. But I hated the writers perspective OF how "troubled" young Muslims are these days, and from experience I would say it was not quite true at times, the characters just did not fit in with the current British Muslim community though it was intended to be.
Don't get me wrong this impression does not last long, you might even shed a few tears at the end.
(I laughed at some of the dialogues at the beginning, I would have rather enjoyed if the whole book was about these silly adventures of the three friends)
Somewhere along the middle I lost interest because the characters were just plain annoying with their sob stories. The Pakistani family depicted in the book seems to be somewhere out of 70 0r 80's Britain and so are the 'young British Muslims'.
That's it I'm not complaining anymore.
The ending was quite a shock for me, I never saw it coming a great twist in the story and it left me feeling nostalgic and sad may be the same way the main character felt.
I guess it's not a bad read if IT can stir your emotions. But I hated the writers perspective OF how "troubled" young Muslims are these days, and from experience I would say it was not quite true at times, the characters just did not fit in with the current British Muslim community though it was intended to be.
February 10, 2013
This book like the back flap said is indeed a brilliant debut.
It had captured me with the author's writing style infusing familiar Islamic elements and the battle of modern complexity.
I greatly enjoyed the clear line drawn between culture and religion so the book had me hooked like I've never been in a long while from a debut book.
I felt that the author tried to be honest and I totally believed in the realistic portrayal and the distinction between Muslims and Islam in its modern context from the perspectives of the elders and the young. And I was more than happy to see the characters grappled with their religion rather than trying to convert readers or convince them of its truth.
Expect great laughter and surprising twist that for me was unexpected but then I am not a Muslim familiar with that sort of custom. The book did a brilliant job in depicting how terribly human everyone was in dealing with the revelations, thus making the ending, although tragic but convincing.
I hear its to be made into a series! Will definitely keep my eyes open.
But first I fully recommend this brilliant book.
It had captured me with the author's writing style infusing familiar Islamic elements and the battle of modern complexity.
I greatly enjoyed the clear line drawn between culture and religion so the book had me hooked like I've never been in a long while from a debut book.
I felt that the author tried to be honest and I totally believed in the realistic portrayal and the distinction between Muslims and Islam in its modern context from the perspectives of the elders and the young. And I was more than happy to see the characters grappled with their religion rather than trying to convert readers or convince them of its truth.
Expect great laughter and surprising twist that for me was unexpected but then I am not a Muslim familiar with that sort of custom. The book did a brilliant job in depicting how terribly human everyone was in dealing with the revelations, thus making the ending, although tragic but convincing.
I hear its to be made into a series! Will definitely keep my eyes open.
But first I fully recommend this brilliant book.
March 9, 2012
I was desperately trying not to cry at the end of this book ... It's a beautiful piece of work ...
July 13, 2024
Book Review: The Reluctant Mullah
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Review: The Reluctant Mullah is many things. It’s dark, it’s funny. It can make you laugh. It can make you cry. This book is too good. I haven’t read something this good in a very long time and have read more than two hundred books so I am not exaggerating.
Basically its a story about Musa and his siblings and some of their friends. They are all muslims and they are all living abroad. It’s a story about their struggle of living between two worlds. They all want to follow the religion but the world they live in has its own temptations.
At times they rebel against religion and pakistani culture but they eventually find their way back. While Musa is looking for a wife, his brother Suleman and his sister Shubnum have their own problems to deal with. Suleman provides the money to run the house but the way he is earning money has blackened his soul. A chance encounter sends Suleman into depths of depression and he desperately searches for answers. Can religion save him? Can he be clean again?
Musa sister’s Shubnum has her own secret. At first she is excited but slowly the reality dawns on her. The her secret is eating her up. Can Shubnum be saved ? can she find peace?
Then there are charcaters like TittySoup and Khadija. Khadija teaches with Musa in local Islamic center. Her father had married an english woman that eventually left them all. Khadija has her own demons to deal with as does TittySoup who is a ladiesman, a player for whom seducing young women is a support.
Then there are characters like Javed and Dadaji. Dadaji is a complex character that oscillates between a sage and dictator.
The best thing about this book is that it is startlingly original. It’s refreshing to read something real and raw. The book is very balanced. It doesn’t targets americans, it doesn’t targets religion or Pakistani culture. It doesn’t try to placate anyone. It's almost a miracle how the author managed to pull this off.
My favourite character is Suleman, the anti-hero. There is depth to this character which other characters lack.
Conclusion
The Reluctant Mullah is a deeply moving novel. There is a lot of spirituality and wisdom buried inside the jokes. Should be read by all young Muslims, especially those living abroad.
Pros:
Original and engaging concept
Well-developed protagonist
Thought-provoking themes
Beautifully written prose
Laugh out loud funny
Cons:
The ending is going to break you
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Review: The Reluctant Mullah is many things. It’s dark, it’s funny. It can make you laugh. It can make you cry. This book is too good. I haven’t read something this good in a very long time and have read more than two hundred books so I am not exaggerating.
Basically its a story about Musa and his siblings and some of their friends. They are all muslims and they are all living abroad. It’s a story about their struggle of living between two worlds. They all want to follow the religion but the world they live in has its own temptations.
At times they rebel against religion and pakistani culture but they eventually find their way back. While Musa is looking for a wife, his brother Suleman and his sister Shubnum have their own problems to deal with. Suleman provides the money to run the house but the way he is earning money has blackened his soul. A chance encounter sends Suleman into depths of depression and he desperately searches for answers. Can religion save him? Can he be clean again?
Musa sister’s Shubnum has her own secret. At first she is excited but slowly the reality dawns on her. The her secret is eating her up. Can Shubnum be saved ? can she find peace?
Then there are charcaters like TittySoup and Khadija. Khadija teaches with Musa in local Islamic center. Her father had married an english woman that eventually left them all. Khadija has her own demons to deal with as does TittySoup who is a ladiesman, a player for whom seducing young women is a support.
Then there are characters like Javed and Dadaji. Dadaji is a complex character that oscillates between a sage and dictator.
The best thing about this book is that it is startlingly original. It’s refreshing to read something real and raw. The book is very balanced. It doesn’t targets americans, it doesn’t targets religion or Pakistani culture. It doesn’t try to placate anyone. It's almost a miracle how the author managed to pull this off.
My favourite character is Suleman, the anti-hero. There is depth to this character which other characters lack.
Conclusion
The Reluctant Mullah is a deeply moving novel. There is a lot of spirituality and wisdom buried inside the jokes. Should be read by all young Muslims, especially those living abroad.
Pros:
Original and engaging concept
Well-developed protagonist
Thought-provoking themes
Beautifully written prose
Laugh out loud funny
Cons:
The ending is going to break you
June 23, 2021
This is a book that is primarily about the loss of innocent idealism and the surrender of dreams to cultural forces rather than Islam, which provides the cloth on which the tale is embroidered.
The lightness of style belies both the breadth and seriousness of the themes that Afzal addresses with sympathy and humour. Not only does he tackle the issues arising from the clash of the English host culture, aspects of which are obviously attractive to young Muslims, with the far more restrictive parental culture - in the genre of East is East - but also gives a brief glimpse of the fears of both Muslim and non-Muslim post September 11th.
Afzal’s characters may be archetypical but they clearly have their basis in real people with whom he is acquainted and their very humanity draws the reader to them, keeping the pages turning, while their great variety demolishes any preconception of young Muslims or Islamic stereotypes one might have. His Muslim apology continues through explanations of various aspects of Islam, such as wearing the veil, without damaging the story in any way.
While the book contains a lot of humour, it also has its fatalistic dark side, which turns the final chapters into a tragic-comedy. The honour killing, of which more could have been made, is the hinge on which the door of innocence swings forever shut and forces the hero to submit to the will of Allah “set down in writing before We brought you into being.”
The lightness of style belies both the breadth and seriousness of the themes that Afzal addresses with sympathy and humour. Not only does he tackle the issues arising from the clash of the English host culture, aspects of which are obviously attractive to young Muslims, with the far more restrictive parental culture - in the genre of East is East - but also gives a brief glimpse of the fears of both Muslim and non-Muslim post September 11th.
Afzal’s characters may be archetypical but they clearly have their basis in real people with whom he is acquainted and their very humanity draws the reader to them, keeping the pages turning, while their great variety demolishes any preconception of young Muslims or Islamic stereotypes one might have. His Muslim apology continues through explanations of various aspects of Islam, such as wearing the veil, without damaging the story in any way.
While the book contains a lot of humour, it also has its fatalistic dark side, which turns the final chapters into a tragic-comedy. The honour killing, of which more could have been made, is the hinge on which the door of innocence swings forever shut and forces the hero to submit to the will of Allah “set down in writing before We brought you into being.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2018
In all honesty this book deserves 2.5 stars. The writing, in terms of word choice, wasn't painful or particularly bland, though it wasn't particularly good. The storyline was ok, though too much trouble to follow adequately at times.
What bothered me most about this book, this story, is that it is a serious book with what seemed like an intentional religious message, disguised as a lighthearted and crude comedy. I felt like the author was manipulating me, rather than carrying my emotions through a process the way skilled authors will. The difference is subtle. I'm not even particularly bothered by brainwashing authorship, but in this case it made for jarring and haphazard literature. And not in a good way.
The contrast of religion and crassness I'm sure were meant to serve a literary purpose, but they were definitely a thorn in my side.
What bothered me most about this book, this story, is that it is a serious book with what seemed like an intentional religious message, disguised as a lighthearted and crude comedy. I felt like the author was manipulating me, rather than carrying my emotions through a process the way skilled authors will. The difference is subtle. I'm not even particularly bothered by brainwashing authorship, but in this case it made for jarring and haphazard literature. And not in a good way.
The contrast of religion and crassness I'm sure were meant to serve a literary purpose, but they were definitely a thorn in my side.
November 2, 2022
At first it was funny, but then this book just kept getting worse and worse. The sex, drugs, profanity, etc are over the top stereotypes and racist. I could never recommend this book for any reason, and I couldn’t finish after reading 29% on my Kindle.
March 3, 2017
That sudden ending, though...
November 3, 2018
This was kind of boring and really disparaging of Islam. Obviously, I probably should have judged the book by its title.
February 11, 2020
I tried but just could not finish this book. I couldn’t see what the author was trying to achieve. The first scenes where Musa was dressing as a woman seemed totally unrelated to anything.
November 2, 2021
We don't find the whole book, but a part of it
December 5, 2024
A great read and lots to digest. The ending is very sad albeit a bit far fetched.
July 15, 2017
Well written and absorbing.
Funny , sad and totally memorable. I loved this book . It helped me to understand a culture I'm totally unfamiliar with.
Funny , sad and totally memorable. I loved this book . It helped me to understand a culture I'm totally unfamiliar with.
June 27, 2011
Caroline (my wife) and I met Sagheer Afzal doing book signings of his novel ‘The Reluctant Mullah’ in our local Waterstones. He told us he’d met my work colleague, the award-winning novelist Mushin Hamid and writer of the similar-titled ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ and so as I had some credits on my Waterstones card I bought a copy of his debut novel. Here’s the blub from cover:
“The clock is ticking for Musa: he has 30 days to escape from an arranged marriage…”
So the premise sounds simple enough – Musa has 30 days to find himself a wife, otherwise he has to marry his cousin (and she ‘aint pretty), and the story (in part) is about him trying to find his perfect wife. So it’s a Muslim comedy romance!
Now this sounds pretty cheesy, but bear with me. The novel is not just about Musa but also about his parents, his sister Shabnam who is so beautiful that men’s jaws drop whenever they see her, and his brother Suleiman who… okay, I won’t tell you what he does as it’s a spoiler. There are other characters too and each one is well written and you’ll end up caring about them. A couple of the cast members are hilarious but still very believable in their behavior and motivations.
The writing style is the epitome of bittersweet; one moment you’re laughing out and the next moment you’re close to tears. And whenever the sage-like grandfather of the family “Dadaji” speaks, it’s like you’re listening to Ghandi. This makes the novel an interesting read and a page turner.
Me being a Christian I wasn’t sure on how I should read this novel. Also I wasn’t sure who the book was aimed at. The novel contains many quotes from the Quran but it’s also liberally sprinkled a fair bit of bad language (I guess Sagheer is just keeping it realistic). Sagheer Afzal is not trying to convert people to Islam. In fact, in one scene someone visits a Catholic priest for help and gets some good advice. If anything, Sagheer just illustrates the realities of Muslim life and the lives of Pakistanis living in Britain whether good or bad. He just tells it as he sees it and it seems to me that he’s telling it as it really is.
So, how is it?
‘The Reluctant Mullah’ is an excellent debut novel. It’s well written, beautiful in parts with realistic characters. It has drama, romance and plenty of comedy so with that I’m not reluctant to give it 4 out of 5 stars.
“The clock is ticking for Musa: he has 30 days to escape from an arranged marriage…”
So the premise sounds simple enough – Musa has 30 days to find himself a wife, otherwise he has to marry his cousin (and she ‘aint pretty), and the story (in part) is about him trying to find his perfect wife. So it’s a Muslim comedy romance!
Now this sounds pretty cheesy, but bear with me. The novel is not just about Musa but also about his parents, his sister Shabnam who is so beautiful that men’s jaws drop whenever they see her, and his brother Suleiman who… okay, I won’t tell you what he does as it’s a spoiler. There are other characters too and each one is well written and you’ll end up caring about them. A couple of the cast members are hilarious but still very believable in their behavior and motivations.
The writing style is the epitome of bittersweet; one moment you’re laughing out and the next moment you’re close to tears. And whenever the sage-like grandfather of the family “Dadaji” speaks, it’s like you’re listening to Ghandi. This makes the novel an interesting read and a page turner.
Me being a Christian I wasn’t sure on how I should read this novel. Also I wasn’t sure who the book was aimed at. The novel contains many quotes from the Quran but it’s also liberally sprinkled a fair bit of bad language (I guess Sagheer is just keeping it realistic). Sagheer Afzal is not trying to convert people to Islam. In fact, in one scene someone visits a Catholic priest for help and gets some good advice. If anything, Sagheer just illustrates the realities of Muslim life and the lives of Pakistanis living in Britain whether good or bad. He just tells it as he sees it and it seems to me that he’s telling it as it really is.
So, how is it?
‘The Reluctant Mullah’ is an excellent debut novel. It’s well written, beautiful in parts with realistic characters. It has drama, romance and plenty of comedy so with that I’m not reluctant to give it 4 out of 5 stars.
September 17, 2010
Fact: Nobody likes an arranged marriage.
It's on this basis that the novel The Reluctant Mullah makes its case. In it, Musa has just thirty days to find a wife that he actually likes, or else he's stuck with the one chosen for him. He fears who will be selected for him, as it goes against every romantic bone in his body. Thus, he begins searching on his own. It's not simple, as Muslim tradition makes getting to know any woman a near impossibility. He's aided (and thwarted) by friends more bent on the humor of the situation than by real concern for his future.
Musa himself is intriguing. Besides his romantic nature, he has a sense of humor not expected from a Westerner's perspective. For example, he sings Sinatra music, "My Way", but changes the words:
"And now the end is near, and so I face the final cousin. My friend, I'll say it clear. I'll state my case of which I'm certain. I've been to muslimbrides, I've travelled to each fa-mi-ly. But more, much more than this, I did it my way." It's his irreverance mixed with a shocking amount of modern humor that makes him an extremely likable character.
The novel makes a fascinating read because it discusses Muslim culture without delving into political or religious polarities. Instead, it focuses on the social life and complications of people dealing with both tradition and outside influence, all in a modern world. I appreciated that the women in the story do not appear to be slavish nor repressed, but rather amusing and sassy and quite capable of taking care of themselves. In fact, what surprised me most was how close family ties were, especially with aunts and uncles all concerned and involved in each other's lives. Sure, Musa finds it a bit obnoxious as he seeks true love, but the unity and reliability on each other is inspiring.
In all, this was an amusing novel that still had a share of deeper complexities. Because, despite the humor and ridiculous situations that Musa finds himself in, a darker side of tradition will still assail him. He finds love, but he finds heartbreak as well. This is what makes the novel both timeless and appropriate for anyone: affairs of the heart know no national, political, or religious boundaries.
It's on this basis that the novel The Reluctant Mullah makes its case. In it, Musa has just thirty days to find a wife that he actually likes, or else he's stuck with the one chosen for him. He fears who will be selected for him, as it goes against every romantic bone in his body. Thus, he begins searching on his own. It's not simple, as Muslim tradition makes getting to know any woman a near impossibility. He's aided (and thwarted) by friends more bent on the humor of the situation than by real concern for his future.
Musa himself is intriguing. Besides his romantic nature, he has a sense of humor not expected from a Westerner's perspective. For example, he sings Sinatra music, "My Way", but changes the words:
"And now the end is near, and so I face the final cousin. My friend, I'll say it clear. I'll state my case of which I'm certain. I've been to muslimbrides, I've travelled to each fa-mi-ly. But more, much more than this, I did it my way." It's his irreverance mixed with a shocking amount of modern humor that makes him an extremely likable character.
The novel makes a fascinating read because it discusses Muslim culture without delving into political or religious polarities. Instead, it focuses on the social life and complications of people dealing with both tradition and outside influence, all in a modern world. I appreciated that the women in the story do not appear to be slavish nor repressed, but rather amusing and sassy and quite capable of taking care of themselves. In fact, what surprised me most was how close family ties were, especially with aunts and uncles all concerned and involved in each other's lives. Sure, Musa finds it a bit obnoxious as he seeks true love, but the unity and reliability on each other is inspiring.
In all, this was an amusing novel that still had a share of deeper complexities. Because, despite the humor and ridiculous situations that Musa finds himself in, a darker side of tradition will still assail him. He finds love, but he finds heartbreak as well. This is what makes the novel both timeless and appropriate for anyone: affairs of the heart know no national, political, or religious boundaries.
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October 17, 2016I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and it was an excellent debut - I certainly will be reading more of Sagheer Afzal's future work. "The Reluctant Mullah" is a text that is funny, refreshing and insightful, and is full of extremely memorable characters. This is a complex novel and one that explores culture, religion and personality at length, but for me did not provide tangible answers to the questions it attempted to address. I was left confused as to the moral lessons of characters' decisions, and the latter-half of the novel blurred and conflated the relationship between piety and goodness. Perhaps this is the nature of the subject matter Afzal was addressing, but personally I was left unsure as to what overarching point Afzal was trying to make. Overall though I am very glad I read this one.
One of the best qualities of this text apart from its memorable characters, is that it operates outside of the 'clash of cultures' rhetoric that is discussed ad-nausium in contemporary texts. Characters are driven by personal, cultural and religious goals within their own spheres rather than external pressures from a Western/European aggressor. Of course there is an exploration of the tensions existing between theists and atheists, the State and its subjects, and elements of racism do texture the novel at times, but this exists at the periphery and does not drive characters and nor does it define them. No doubt there are problematic elements of the text but overall I found this to be extremely refreshing, humorous and insightful text that avoided typical cliches and caricatures.
The style of writing reminds me of Christos Tsiolkas' "The Slap" with characters interacting and mixing at different times, each with their own passions and desires in sometimes hostile environments. Characters within the novel were almost always complex and varied and genuinely memorable.
Overall, an excellent novel and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
One of the best qualities of this text apart from its memorable characters, is that it operates outside of the 'clash of cultures' rhetoric that is discussed ad-nausium in contemporary texts. Characters are driven by personal, cultural and religious goals within their own spheres rather than external pressures from a Western/European aggressor. Of course there is an exploration of the tensions existing between theists and atheists, the State and its subjects, and elements of racism do texture the novel at times, but this exists at the periphery and does not drive characters and nor does it define them. No doubt there are problematic elements of the text but overall I found this to be extremely refreshing, humorous and insightful text that avoided typical cliches and caricatures.
The style of writing reminds me of Christos Tsiolkas' "The Slap" with characters interacting and mixing at different times, each with their own passions and desires in sometimes hostile environments. Characters within the novel were almost always complex and varied and genuinely memorable.
Overall, an excellent novel and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
December 29, 2012
This is a rather curious book because of a mix of styles. The main thread is the story of Musa and his mixed bag of unconventional pals (troubled siblings, lady-killing guys, audacious women) and their wacky, episodic adventures to find Musa a beautiful, intelligent bride in 30 days, before his gnomic grandfather marries him off to a cousin. It's like a Pakistani version of Friends and even feels like it's written specifically to be adapted as a screenplay.
Wrapped around this story is an examination of some of the issues with being a Muslim in Britain, which tries to dispel some stereotypes, whilst reinforcing others. There's also a kind of beginner's guide to some of the Quran and the way it can be interpreted, with particular reference to the wearing of the veil and burqa, which I actually found quite interesting.
Nevertheless, I felt the author didn't quite get the mix of serious and silly right, and there's a twist in the end of Musa's story which I didn't find entirely satisfactory.
Wrapped around this story is an examination of some of the issues with being a Muslim in Britain, which tries to dispel some stereotypes, whilst reinforcing others. There's also a kind of beginner's guide to some of the Quran and the way it can be interpreted, with particular reference to the wearing of the veil and burqa, which I actually found quite interesting.
Nevertheless, I felt the author didn't quite get the mix of serious and silly right, and there's a twist in the end of Musa's story which I didn't find entirely satisfactory.
November 29, 2012
In effect, a bittersweet comedy, and a very enjoyable one.
Afzal is a Pakistani living in the UK and the book effectively deals with the trials and tribulations of second generation Pakistani immigrants. And, as with similar work, the tongue in cheek style, combined with Afzal's intimate familiarity with his subject, the story is not only gripping and funny, but also feels very natural, as well as, at times, awfully sad.
The back cover calls the book "a brilliant debut", which is a bit much. Specifically because, towards the end, two elements of the narrative (the inevitable return of the brother and the actions of Khadija's father) are not handled well, are both too much coming out of nowhere, both feeling too much out of place and put to paper without enough finesse.
Still, commendable.
Afzal is a Pakistani living in the UK and the book effectively deals with the trials and tribulations of second generation Pakistani immigrants. And, as with similar work, the tongue in cheek style, combined with Afzal's intimate familiarity with his subject, the story is not only gripping and funny, but also feels very natural, as well as, at times, awfully sad.
The back cover calls the book "a brilliant debut", which is a bit much. Specifically because, towards the end, two elements of the narrative (the inevitable return of the brother and the actions of Khadija's father) are not handled well, are both too much coming out of nowhere, both feeling too much out of place and put to paper without enough finesse.
Still, commendable.
January 31, 2011
A humorous look at the serious issue of arranged marriages and the struggle with tradition, enforced by elders, that British born Pakistani's face when major decisions in life are being made. It captures the detail of being entrapped by tradition very well. The story of the girl in Pakistan did not interest me much i have to admit but the main characters were fruitful and varied with their own struggles and dilemma's in life.
I could not picture the 'macho' male characters that were portraid but the siblings that featured in this novel were a great insight into the minds of young British asians that are struggling with identity.
A good book - would recommend it and it is being made into a series on Channel 4, so look out for it later this year.
I could not picture the 'macho' male characters that were portraid but the siblings that featured in this novel were a great insight into the minds of young British asians that are struggling with identity.
A good book - would recommend it and it is being made into a series on Channel 4, so look out for it later this year.
July 13, 2011
This really merits a 3.5 star rating but I can't get the .5 star so 3 it is. I bought this book last Saturday when I was approached by the author in Waterstone's Birmingham - it is not a book I would ordinarily have looked at because I tend to go for non-fiction or 19th century literature by preference but I'm glad I did because I enjoyed it ! It is funny but sad and gives a little insight into the world of arranged marriages without clobbering the reader over the head. Whilst there were too many "effs & jeffs" for my liking I am not too much of a prude to be put off. I found it a page turner and would have finished sooner but work & study got in the way - and would recommend it as something a little bit different.
November 24, 2012
I found it to be a brilliant story, a unique insight into the British Pakistani culture of today. The characters were almost real like especially the ones representing British Pakistanis. There was a bit too much reference to the Holy Book for a Pakistani (from Pakistan) but I guess that is what most British Pakistanis must feel like. I loved the various one liners in the novel including the sad ending which was pretty apt. I predict one day this novel will be adopted as a movie or a TV drama simply because there are so few narratives on this subject out there.
Who are you, are you a Muslim?
No, I am not a Muslim, I am a Pakistani.
Get the message my Pakistani brothers and sisters?
Who are you, are you a Muslim?
No, I am not a Muslim, I am a Pakistani.
Get the message my Pakistani brothers and sisters?
May 4, 2011
Overall I did find this book enlightening and it did teach me a little about a religion and culture I know little about. However I found the characters in the book a little simplistic and inconsistent.
I certainly came away with a sense of what the author was hoping to portray.
I certainly came away with a sense of what the author was hoping to portray.
July 2, 2013
As Bilqis comments, this book is laugh-out-loud funny in places, especially at the beginning and I was prepared to forgive some of the slightly stereotyped characters, these being a staple of most comic writing, but then, most unexpectedly Afzal turns the whole thing on it's head and you with it.
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February 20, 2013baca sampai habis sebab geramm..content sampah!
March 17, 2013
Had to read this book for my book club, I really enjoyed it, it was something different.
Made me laugh on many occasions, great read.
Made me laugh on many occasions, great read.
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