The Scope of Permissibility

by GAMIELDIEN Zeynab

How do you balance desire, ambition and expectations?

Feeling alienated from wider society, Sara, Abida and Naeem gravitate towards their university’s Muslim Students’ Association. Within its austere confines, Sara watches Naeem. Over time, the pair commence a furtive relationship outside of the gaze of their families and peers. But Naeem is especially burdened by the widening gap between his public façade and their clandestine forays.

As the MSA elections approach, Abida seeks to win the presidency at all costs, threatening her longstanding friendship with Sara and risking her reputation.

What will the repercussions be for all three if Sara and Naeem transgressions are exposed?
 

Genres: Fiction, Australia

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[nina.reads.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Scope of Permissibility by Zeynab Gamieldien is a YA coming of age novel with a difference. Here the characters are all Australian Muslims and their faith is at the absolute forefront in the novel.

Set in an Sydney university the story focuses on Sara, Abida and Naeem who are all members of the university’s Muslim Student Association (MSA). Here they interact with like-minded students with shared beliefs and similar backgrounds. But with strict cultural norms around the interactions between men and women it is a shock when Sara and Naeem begin a secret relationship. Alongside this Abida, who is outspoken and frank, starts to campaign to take over the presidency of the MSA a role that rarely goes to a woman. As Sara falls deeper into her confusing relationship with Naeem her long-time friendship with Abida is tested and all three ultimately have to reckon with what their faith means to them.

This was an enjoyable read. To be open I have no family background in religion of any kind so I do find stories focused on faith and religion a little challenging to connect with but this is why I like to read widely to be exposed to different perspectives and to witness how groups of people go about their lives. The Muslim faith is one I don’t know much about so there was definitely much to learn in this book.

Because of this I guess I did find the physical aspect of the forbidden relationship between two people who are strict with following the Muslim faith to be a little unrealistic. But maybe that’s the point? I know so very little about what it must be like to fall in love and want to be with someone against all the “rules” of my religion so it is hard for me to judge here.

Overall this was a great story that I think would be appreciated as something different from "mainstream" coming of age novels and one that would particularly resonate with Muslim readers who may struggle to find examples of books that fictionalise experiences unique to their faith.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this new book @ultimopress.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming-of-age tale is engagingly written, nicely paced and often defies expectations, making it an absorbing and entertaining read all the way through. Gamieldien gives her characters gravitas, as she does young adulthood. While each character has elements of an avatar representing different parts of the ummah, they are also clear individuals, making the kind of choices that determine the adult you are becoming. The women in particular, have warmth extended to them, even as they move into having different priorities and values to each other. The book is strong in its portrayal of the way that friendships - and romantic partnerships - are tested as lives change. The portrayal of Sydney university life is recognisable without being arch, in the way many novels written by young authors can be. There is, in short, authenticity to this writing.
My reading app tells me this is the least popular book I have read this year. That is a shame - this is not showy or overly emotional, but it is a really well-told story with characters you want to spend more time with. Australian literature could use more like this.

[Trish Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this coming of age story. Realistic descriptions and I really enjoyed the tense and subtle writing when describing Sara’s relationship with Naeem.

[Ebru Kopuz Perk · Rating 3 out of 5]

- I liked the mention of familiar places (Parramatta Rd, and other familiar suburbs). It made me feel like i knew these characters on a personal level.
- I liked how the author mentioned various Islamophobic incidences throughout the book and how they impacted the way the characters lived their lives , how they were scared. Although, i kind of feel like some of these were interjected haphazardly.
- The random mentions of Islamic sayings allows the reader a glimpse into how Muslims perceive the world, but some of these felt a bit random/not well thought out.
- The story is character driven more than plot driven which made it a slow burn. I was eager to keep reading to find out what happens next.
- The character of Sara could have been expanded upon. Since her family is not that religious, then what made her become more of a practicing Muslim? As a Muslim who grew up in the west, i think this generally happens, where the kids are more practicing than the parents, however , other readers might not get this straight away.
- I feel like more could have happened in terms of the plot to make it more interesting, especially for Abida.
- Also, what made Sara and Naeem have a crush on one another? Was it just looks? We don’t really know. However, the first chapter that describes the MSA meeting and the way the male and female characters interact seems accurate and relatable, which I liked. I enjoyed the awkwardness of the conservative youth trying to maintain their modesty despite their desires, and trying to not make it obvious that you “like” someone.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

In our incendiary culture that champions dogmatism over curiosity, this novel is a much needed invitation to step inside someone else's shoes and see that we are not all that different from one another at all.

I am grateful for this novel in giving me a glimpse into the Islamic faith and way of life that didn’t feel didactic. Gamieldien invites readers into the everyday lives of her characters who, apart from their faith, are remarkably similar to my peers, navigating adulthood, university, relationships, friendships, family politics and changing responsibilities, and so on.

Abida comes from a poor single-parent household, and as the eldest sibling, she takes on much of the parenting as well as trying to study at university. She has grand ambitions to be a force for good in the world, starting with campaigning for the presidency at the Muslim Students' Association (MSA). She's hard-hitting and says what she thinks, but she's tenacious and loyal.

Sara is Abida's best friend, and the only daughter of a white South African couple who are more nominally Muslim than Sara is. Because of her whiteness, many people, even at the MSA, think Sara is just a white girl playing Muslim, and they often discount the genuineness of her faith. Sara is doing her best to live according to Allah's laws, and admires Naeem for his unwavering dedication to Allah and the tender passion and contriteness of the way he recites large swathes of the Quran.

Little does Sara know that Naeem has been admiring her for a while too, and their mutual dedication to their faith and similar way of seeing the world through the lens of faith sees them fall in love - a well-known danger in a faith that prizes arrange marriages over love-matches.

Naeem and Sara's dedication wavers when they meet at the MSA and begin a covert friendship which quickly evolves to them spending afternoons in Naeem's bed while his family are out for the day. Though they pray to Allah to absolve their sins, they continue in this pattern, not telling anyone about their relationship for fear they'll be shunned as hypocrites. They know that the only solution is to get married, but Naeem's mother would never accept Sara's whiteness.

This is a novel about faith, friendship, and ambition, and about making tough decisions when these collide.

It's also about unfair gender expectations and allowances, and not in the way you might assume. Where non-Muslims may see hijab as the height of oppression, Sara and Abida willingly wear hijab while chafing under the expectations that women will remain pure and virginal while their male peers can sleep with anyone before marriage, so long as they don’t bring them home to meet their parents. It's all about the scope of what is permissible for men and women.

Though the plot was too slow for my liking and the ending less romantic than I'd like, it is undoubtedly an admirable novel. I'm glad it was published by a well-known independent Australian press that attracts a discerning and open-minded readership.

It's a carefully crafted debut by Gamieldien. I'd recommend all senior high school students and undergraduates to read 'The Scope of Permissibility' so they might not succumb to the shallow stereotyping that is the air we breathe.

[Rikki Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to @ultimopress for this gifted copy!

I am actually a bit disappointed in myself that I didn't pick this up sooner - I got it when I was in the midst of preparing to return to work after over a year on maternity leave. That made me fall into a general reading slump, but this one would probably have gotten me out of it.

What I also find interesting is that this is the second book I have read this month that has had themes of religion, and themes of messiness and relationships in your twenties - and while they were so different the thought processes I had comparing the content of the two and my feelings and reactions to them was kind of fascinating. (And I actually liked this one a bit more!)

This story had three main characters - Abida: a law student and committed Muslim with a strong sense of social justice, vying for the position of president of the Muslim Students Association; Naeem: a devout Muslim of Bangladeshi heritage who must face the challenges of love and attraction when they do not necessarily align with his beliefs and his family's expectations; and Sara: a white-passing Muslim of South African heritage who is Abida's best friend and is the object of Naeem's affection.

While I struggled to relate to the characters and their actions because their experience as Muslim Australians with a serious commitment to their faith is so far from my own experience, this didn't really matter, as I was invested in being able to understand their experiences and find out how things would work out for them. I felt frustrated by what they were frustrated by, but also sometimes by their resignation to their 'fate'. I admired their commitment to their faith with so much around them making it challenging, but sometimes I wondered if their faith was culturally entwined with their desire to keep their families happy. I also thought about what this book suggested about sex, love and attraction while being religious and that was super-complex! This isn't me questioning the true, lived experiences of real Muslim people (as opposed to characters in a book!) but I am just saying that this book really made me think a lot, and made me want to talk about those thoughts with other people who had read this!

So here I am again, saying this would be a great book club book! For white, culturally Christian but practically Athiest people like me, there is so much to learn from a book like this, which in itself could be just another how-hard-is-it-figuringing-out-sex-and-identity-and-stuff-in-your-20s but it is more than that, with an extra complex layer of culture and religion to explore. And I read it in about 2 days! Yay!

[Lee McKerracher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeynab Gamieldien has created a book that prompts much thought about religious, cultural and societal norms, practices and beliefs.

The main characters; Sara, Naeem and Abida are all uni students in Sydney and also active members of their local MSA (Muslim Students' Association). The relationships they form and how these interweave make the book fascinating.

Sara worries about how she is perceived and tries so hard to ensure she is projecting the expected form of herself, but things start to happen to make her think about not only her actions, but those of others and thus question where her priorities lie. Abida is the friend you need - but sometimes, she does need to think before opening her mouth, but is such a strong character and one who you know is going to keep on fighting for women. Now Naeem - rich family, medical student, world on a plate, but he is so controlled by expectation that he will have you wondering whether he will be able to have the strength of his convictions and challenge his parents for what he wants. But - does he know what he really wants?

So much in this book. Entertaining, informative, insightful and showing how trying to balance loyalty, faith, desire and friendship can be tricky.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new voice in Australian literary fiction, Zeynab Gamieldien’s The Scope of Permissibility is an insightful tale of the complexity of young adult lives. Three university students in their early twenties are members of the campus Muslim Students’ Association (MSA). As they navigate their studies, their everyday experiences comprise university politics, their home lives and the cultural divergence. Narrated alternatively by Sara, her best friend Abida and Nareem, we discover their lives and challenges against the background of an unnamed university in Sydney. Like all fine readable literary fiction, there are a myriad of themes including religious observances, ancestral origins, family values, cultural stereotypes, representative democracy and becoming your authentic self in a dynamic multicultural society. This campus novel sensitively navigates the complexities of the characters’ lives, family, university, faith and intimate relationships. A gentle, readable tale of a world many of us will never experience and makes for a delightful four stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

[Alice Jones1234567 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scope of Permissibility takes place on a university campus. Most of the characters are members of the Muslim Students Association and the book is a comment on Islam, and how it impacts the men and women among its adherents. The book is about the students relationships with each other, their parents and their faith.

I really enjoyed it, and it gave me an insight into what it’s like to have strict religious guidelines governing your life as a young person. I could empathise with the characters’ dilemmas and appreciated the multiple perspectives the book took. It didn’t get confusing, even though there were at least three characters whose perspective it was seen from.

My only criticism would be that the book used a lot of words I didn’t understand- references to Muslim rituals, doctrines, food from the relevant cultures etc. I spent a lot of time googling, which made it harder to get into the story. Perhaps a future edition of the book could include footnotes?

Overall I would recommend it. I would be interested to hear from Muslim readers if it was realistic and accords with their experiences of Islam - I don’t feel qualified to comment on that myself.

[Sammy thebookninja_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was unique coming of age novel that was intellectually engaging, delving into a faith I knew little about. I warmed to the story, but it was very much a slow burn. And because it’s such a character driven novel, you really need to be able to emotionally connect with them to hook you in. While I really loved the unique characters, I would have loved for the author to have given us more background and go deeper into their connections to understand them further. For example, Sara’s family backstory left me with more questions than answers, and the intensity of her relationship with Naeem seemed to come from nowhere. Exploring this further would have help me form a better connection with their story. Overall it was a pleasant read, and refreshing to be reading something quite different, I just would have appreciated a little more oomph. Huge thanks to Ultimopress for the chance to read this debut.

[Rahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel by author Zeynab Gamieldien introduces readers to a mix of young, idealistic Australian Muslims from different geographic, socio-economic and ethnic zones who meet at a Muslim Students' Association on university campus in Sydney.

The reader is given a voyeuristic peek into the characters' internal battle of wills between their higher Self and base ego, the weight of family expectations and the want for self-actualisation, and the inseparable nature of their (colonial, cultural, familial) pasts informing their present and future.

As the characters navigate love of all kinds at the intersection of faith, sex and staying true to self and God, I was transported to my own youthful days at university full of unfailing optimism and energy for changing the world.

The Scope of Permissibility is a unique story with astutely depicted characters that were clearly written with much affection by this emerging Australian author. More of this in our literary scene please!

[Prue Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 young Muslim women, from different cultural backgrounds, meet at University, and become involved in the Muslim Student Assoc, a gentle advocacy group. The clear wanting of these 3, against the cultural imperatives they face (South African, Pakistani and Ethopian) , the differences between how devout their parents are, makes a compelling read. They are so clear eyed about their possible futures withing the constraints, most of which they accept even when they rail against them. Sarah and Naeem fall in love, and very quickly have sex, seemingly able to ignore the strictures and guilt imposed by their religious beliefs. This seemed a tad incongruous to me, the lack of agonising and guilt about it. Very insightful novel. I liked it a lot.

[Samira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love seeing a true and accurate representation of Sydney Muslims and love the nods to Western Sydney. I may be a little too old for this book because it was YA and I felt like the romance was a little fleeting and childish. The pacing was a little off and a feeling there was not a natural passing of time and and it felt that scenes jumped without proper conclusion. And at times I felt that the audience were told what was happening rather being shown. Gamieldien does makes great commentary on the conditions of the Muslim, especially her observation on the subtle racism and classism in the community.

[Tasnim Saeid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written journey of a young cohort of Muslims traversing their first years at University in Sydney. The author takes you through the ebbs and flows of their worlds, all the while exploring poignantly their values and beliefs. The story traverses the complexities and nuances of intimate and non-intimate relationships and the impact these have on the young people coming of age. The book also explores the realities of belonging, identity and meaning for young Muslims in the post 9/11 era. The book will leave you with many thoughts and characters that become too real to leave behind.

[Sana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scope of Permissibility hooks in readers with the setting of a university and the complex lives and intersections of its students. At a tender stage of their life, they grapple with coming of age concerns we can all relate to in one way or the other. With excellent character development and the most incredible social and political commentary threaded throughout, you will develop a soft spot on your bookshelf for this one! Zeynab’s writing is genius.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this; as a former MSA member myself, so many of my own coming-of-age experiences were reflected through the characters that Gamieldien so masterfully brings to life. I personally really enjoyed how at the start, many of the secondary characters seem so two dimensional, but its fantastic getting to know them on a slightly deeper level as the book progresses, even at the periphery of the main characters' storyline.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this - I read it in one sitting (on bed rest due to a sprained ankle) and I don't think I've read a book that speaks to the particular MSA context before - Australian or otherwise. Most of my thoughts can't be contained to an online review but reading this really spoke to me in a way that I did and could not initially imagine. I love reading books with Muslim characters that speak to realistic challenges and experiences and iA there continue to be more in the years to come.

[Rayann Bekdache · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day while I was sick with the flue. It is a compelling and relatable read that brought up lots of feelings and took me back to my own days in the Muslim Student Association at uni. It explores the complexities of the relationships people can have with their faith, families and the intricacies of navigating these complex relationship dynamics. Absolutely loved it.

[Geetha Chandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

a powerful work, sydney based students part of the muslim students association - a doctor, laywer, engineer in the making- what the see, what they fear, their religion, family values, headbutting the culture around them. They are Australia 's future voices. We should be bothered to listen and learn.
audiobook

[Mishkaah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Cape-Malay Muslim, it's an interesting read. Learning about the insights of Muslims from other backgrounds. How orthodox some families are and the impacts of their beliefs, cultures and social norms has on your upbringing.

[Tracey Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight on life as a female muslim student in Australia.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! Learnt a lot about Islamic culture, and the romance was very compelling.

[Camila - Books Through My Veins · Rating 4 out of 5]

- thanks to @ultimopress for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I had the pleasure of hearing Zeynab talking about her debut novel at her launch in Sydney, which was an utter pleasure to attend. The event was absolutely packed with dozens of people showing support not only for Zeynab and her writing, but also for stories that have remained silenced for too long in Australia and the world. My deepest and profound congratulations to Ultimo Press for championing this story.

The Scope of Permissibility is a stellar debut that defies the general quality standard of brand-new storytelling. The book delves into several complex issues, such as the inherent burdens and fulfilments of faith and religion, intergenerational trauma, familial pressure, and the inevitable journey of finding ourselves during one of the most chaotic times of our lives: the twenties. But, if anything, this novel is about love. Raw, exquisite, painful, delicious and traitorous love.

I fell in love not only with each of the individual characters but with Zeynab's doubtless talent to create a nuanced characterisation that kept me enchanted from beginning to end. But Zeynab's talent does not come for free: it demands pause, attention, empathy and profound caring. This is not a novel to read exclusively for mindless entertainment but for deep thinking, deep feeling, and a willingness to contemplate and introspect about the double standards of Australian society and communities.

And yet, perfectly interwoven within the social commentary is the story of three young adults coming to terms with adulthood. Their coming-of-age storylines are refreshing and relatable to anyone who can look back at their early twenties and reflect on how little we know of ourselves and the world. Sara, Abida and Naeem carry the burdens of transforming themselves and redefining friendship, ambition and desire.

Overall, The Scope of Permissibility is a beautiful and thought-provoking novel that opens and breaks hearts in equal measure. 100% recommended.

[Sarah Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I learned a lot from this book about the lives of Muslim teenagers at uni in Australia . Ultimately, the take-home message to me was that all teenagers have the same issues regardless of their religion and upbringing about that perhaps Muslim teens have additional pressures from their families and communities, particularly the expectation of arranged marriage.
That’s not very much happens in this book. It’s it’s primarily a relationship base novel rather than a story based novel but I think by the end of the story we did really get to know the main character is well. The characterisations were well developed and really seemed like real people.
Do you have a has a clear easily read prose style, and the novel was a pleasure to read .

The novel is released in the UK on the 6th of July 2023 by Ultimo press. I read an early copy on NetGalley, UK.
This review will appear on , Netgalley UK ,Goodreads, Amazon, UK, and on my book blog, bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.Com

[Qayk Mul · Rating 1 out of 5]

absolutely insane book
I expected this to be a Muslim book but it is genuinely worse than any non muslim book ever
if you had the same delusion as me don’t read it