In April, Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books will publish my first novel Mother of the Believers, which tells the story of the birth of Islam from the point of view of Prophet Muhammad’s wife Aisha.

A similarly themed book, Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones, was released last year under much controversy, after her initial publisher cancelled her contract for fear of inciting Muslim protests. With my own novel coming out in a few days, it is inevitable that people ask whether I am worried that the book will generate controversy. My response is that I have no doubt that the book will generate controversy and create a passionate debate among both Muslims and non-Muslims, as there are aspects of my novel that will offend people in both communities.

In Mother of the Believers, I attempt to bring to life the remarkable voice of Aisha, the Prophet’s youngest wife, who was a scholar, a politician and a military commander who led battles into Iraq. Aisha’s life single-handedly challenges the prevalent stereotype of the oppressed and submissive Muslim woman, and she remains a role model for Muslim feminists today.

Aisha is revered throughout the Islamic community. But in researching her life story, I found intriguing accounts that are probably unknown to many Muslims, and my inclusion of such events may upset some. I think one thing that might startle some Muslims is my suggestion that one of the main characters, Talha, an early follower of Prophet Muhammad, was in love with Aisha, even though it was unrequited. Talha is a revered figure in Islam, but early Muslim sources suggest that he did have feelings for Aisha, and he once even publicly suggested that he would marry her if the Prophet died or divorced her (an incident I portray in the novel). Talha's unwavering loyalty to Aisha led to his support for her military activities, and ultimately his death on the battlefield. Being raised as a Muslim I had never heard these accounts and was startled to find them in the early Islamic histories. Most Muslims don't know these stories and some might be offended at their inclusion in my novel.

Some Muslims might also be shocked at my (very light) treatment of sexuality in the story. There are no graphic scenes, but there is an open discussion of sex, which is true to Islamic history. Muslim historians had no problem talking openly about sex, even the Prophet's sex life with his wives, and there are early accounts of one of his wives even discussing the fact that she had "wet dreams". Traditionally Muslims had a very healthy attitude toward sex, as it was considered as a normal part of daily life. In modern day, under the heavy influence of British Victorian values left over from the colonization, some Muslims might find even my light treatment of sexuality too much.

So there will be things in my book that surprise and shock some Muslims. But there are many aspects of Mother of the Believers that will startle, and perhaps anger, non-Muslims as well. The story is told from a Muslim point of view and directly addresses many of the critiques raised against Prophet Muhammad by non-Muslims. The Prophet was a compelling spiritual figure who was famed for remarkable acts of generosity and compassion, and his words still ring true with wisdom today. But he has also been maligned by Westerners for many aspects of his life.

Specifically, non-Muslims critics point to the fact that Prophet Muhammad practiced polygamy, with a household of a dozen wives near the end of his life. For many Christians, whose spiritual archetype is Jesus Christ, an apparently celibate man, this has always been shocking. The Prophet is also criticized for engaging in military battles against his enemies. Again, Jesus never raised a sword, so the Prophet’s battles are often decried as unworthy of a spiritual leader. And he has been accused of anti-Semitism for his conflict with the Jewish tribes of Arabia, two of whom were expelled, and a third whose men were executed and the women and children sold as slaves.

Finally the Prophet’s marriage to Aisha itself has come under great criticism by non-Muslims, as some accounts suggest she was as young as nine years old when he consummated the wedding. This has led to the inflammatory charge of pedophilia by some modern critics.

As a practicing Muslim, I felt it was my duty to directly address these attacks on Prophet Muhammad. And in my novel, I endeavor to realistically portray the world in which he lived to give context to his actions. The Prophet lived in seventh century Arabia, a world that was more like the savage days of the Old Testament prophets than the cosmopolitan Hellenistic society of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus Christ, a great prophet in Islam, lived in a world defined by the Pax Romana. Roman soldiers kept order in the Holy Land, and courts of law functioned to address disputes between neighbors. Jesus could travel in security and preach a message of love and non-violence, as he did not have to deal with creating basic social order first. Christ did not have to establish a civilization from scratch while preaching the word of God.

But the birth of Islam was radically different. The world that Prophet Muhammad confronted was the world of Abraham, Moses and David – a vicious wilderness where survival was questionable. In such a world, life and death was the daily concern. Polygamy was the normal lifestyle of the Biblical patriarchs and kings, as reproduction in a world with such low life expectancy was the primary concern for both men and women. And harsh military action in the Bible was about survival in a world where an enemy could come upon you at any time and massacre your entire tribe.

Similarly, Arabia at the time was a in a state of chaos, with no central government, no police, no rules. It was truly a Hobbesian state of war, with every man for himself. The weak and the poor, particularly women and children, lived in a daily state of abject terror until the Prophet established order in this brutal world. And to do so, he had no choice but to fight the armed thugs who had turned Arabia into a war zone.

But what of the Prophet’s treatment of the Jewish tribes of Arabia? The truth was he initially allied with the Jewish tribes as fellow monotheists. But his rising power threatened their leaders, who broke their treaty with the Muslims and joined the pagan Arabs to fight Islam. The Prophet was thus forced to confront them militarily as well. And I show in my novel that he dealt with them in a manner that came directly out of commandments of the Hebrew Bible.

In my novel, I go out of my way to explain the Jewish point of view about the Prophet and why the Jewish leaders decided to break their treaty with him. But, in the end, the story is from a Muslim perspective and their actions are seen as treacherous. This may be troubling for some Western readers. In the post-Holocaust world, Jewish villains are perhaps uncommon in American literature due to fear of being labeled anti-Semitic. Shakespeare's villainous Shylock is no longer a defensible archetype in Western literature. I realize that by portraying the Jewish tribes as the villains in my novel, I am courting accusations of being anti-Semitic myself, but I am accurately portraying the realities of life and tribal politics in that world.

Polygamy was similarly a normal reality of life in a world where women outnumbered men due to the daily battles between tribes. In my novel, I show how the Prophet made women’s lives easier and was seen by women as a champion for their rights. The issues that generate controversy today were part of a struggle for survival in a primitive world, a struggle which I vividly portray in my novel, and I think many non-Muslims will find my account eye opening.

But if the Prophet’s polygamy and battles can be understood historically, what of his marriage to young Aisha? Accounts of Aisha’s age at her wedding range from the early teens to early twenties. In my novel, I have chosen to directly face the controversy over Aisha’s age by using the most contentious account, that she was nine at the time she menstruated and consummated her wedding. The reason I have done this is to show that it is foolish to project modern values onto another time and world. In a desert environment where life expectancy was extremely low, early marriage was not a social issue – it was a matter of survival. Modern Christian historians have no problem suggesting that Mary was around twelve years old when she became pregnant with Jesus, as that was the normal age for marriage and childbearing in first century Palestine. Yet no one claims Mary’s youthful pregnancy was somehow perverse, because she lived in a world where reproduction took place immediately upon menstruation.

All in all, there is enough in my novel to offend and outrage anyone who has a specific agenda regarding Islam. Some non-Muslims will label me as an apologist for suggesting that their critiques of the Prophet are unfair and motivated by a bigoted agenda. And some conservative Muslims will not like the book, because their agenda is to portray Islam and its heroes in as perfect and pristine ways as possible.

But as a believing Muslim myself, I embrace the humanity of these people, as did the early Muslim historians. There is nothing to learn from a plastic saint who does not share our foibles and weaknesses. The point of Mother of the Believers is that if flawed, passionate, complex people like the founders of Islam could find spiritual enlightenment, maybe we can too.

>>> under the heavy influence of British Victorian values left over from the colonization, some Muslims might find even my light treatment of sexuality too much.

So often we are more defined by the labels we are given than the labels we could adopt. I read that Abdul Wahhab was openly debated by a woman, yet that has no impact on the view of Arab women or Salafi doctrine. We read that one of our early Imams was debated by an atheist in the Harem, yet the definitions we've adopted regarding religious freedom are so far from these known truths.

>>> The issues that generate controversy today were part of a struggle for survival in a primitive world, a struggle which I vividly portray in my novel, and I think many non-Muslims will find my account eye opening.

It would be very interesting to know how well researched this book is. This obviously takes good historical/sociological/archaelogical research to produce. I would much rather read that research than read a semi-ficitonal book! The non-fictional cold-hard facts would be infinitely more interesting and valuable than a well-illustrated best seller .. with a twist.

>>Christ did not have to establish a civilization from scratch while preaching the word of God. But the birth of Islam was radically different. The world that Prophet Muhammad confronted was the world of Abraham, Moses and David – a vicious wilderness where survival was questionable.

This merits re-reading by most Westerners, and is perhaps the clearest expression of this idea I've seen. Good stuff.

However, I wish Kamran would have gone with a later age for Aisha than 9 years old. Although we can't know for sure, 9 years old in ancient Arabia, with menstruation or not, is still quite young, especially when the argument for short life spans is belied by the quite advanced ages of Aisha herself not to mention many of the Sahaba and even early scholars of Islam who, according to biographers, routinely lived 6 decades or more. That's not too different from today, so that argument may not hold as much water as one would like.

"Some Muslims might be shocked/offended..." is a repeated theme of this article. One could say it's the point of the book (i.e. generate sales). I'm not saying that's bad. I am saying be careful what you ask for - you might get it...

I would much rather read that research than read a semi-fictional book! The non-fictional cold-hard facts would be infinitely more interesting and valuable than a well-illustrated best seller ..
- Posted by Ghulam

If everyone believed that, we'd sure save a bunch of trees.

Can't wait to read your book - although it does sound like you're preparing for criticism from both Muslims & non-Muslims. Hang in there & get ready for healthy debate - it may come from unexpected quarters! When 'The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook' was released - we were surprised at the praise & attacks, primarily from Muslims, of course, but also genuine delight from non-Muslims to read about Islam from a Muslim's perspective.

Too many books from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nonie Darwish, Brigitte Gabriel & other non-Muslims are just out to smear Islam, so it's nice to have enlightening, entertaining, positive books about Islam written by Muslims in mainstream bookstores - they're sorely needed!

DH, that book was yours?! Nice; I bought copies for all my freinds who have teens and tweens. It brought all-around praise. Congrats!

Thanks - didn't mean to bring our book into the discussion, but glad to hear that Simon & Schuster are actively publishing books by Muslims - they released the 2nd ed. of the AMTH in Feb. 2009...we added 2 new chapters to incorporate many of the comments we've received in the past year of giving presentations, signings, etc.

I honestly believe Americans are ready to hear some basic facts about Islam instead of the narrow media's perspective of Muslims as the 'other' or the Spencer/Pipes hatred towards Islam. The more books out there which encourage informed dialogue, the better!

Hmm, I find myself feelin' a bit uncomfortable about this. I guess it strikes me that it is inappropriate to turn Aisha's life (may Allah be pleased with her) into entertainment. I'm not shouting 'Haram,' I'm saying it offends my sensibilities somehow.

To me, novelizing a historical figure means you are attributing to them actions and speech and internal states without sufficient data to claim veracity. You are speculating about what they did, what they felt, what their motives were. If the person were alive, I think this would be at least frowned upon from the standpoint of deen. If one said something the person would be displeased at hearing, it would be ghiba. If one attributed an action or state that didn't actually occur, one would be lying. I don't know what the ruling about this concerning Aisha would be, but it does seem to me that it is venturing into territory that may be dangerous for the author in the akhira.

Novelizing the life of a beloved Companion, may Allah be well pleased with her, somehow strikes me as disrespecting her...even if the portrayal is loving and positive, one is projecting one's own views onto the historical figure -- and then selling this projection with at least the implied claim that it says more about Aisha than it does about oneself and one's times.

I don't think the doubtfulness of the venture goes away just because one claims it is only meant as a novel. Such a claim seems to me just a way of justifying the fact that one is saying stuff one has no way of knowing is true.

I dunno, creeps me out a bit. I submit this comment because I am interested in hearing if others experience the kind of uneasiness I mention, and if so, how they deal with it.

Anas, you have a point and I'm sure throughout literature, the same arguments are made about all works in the historical fiction genre. However, it doesn't creep me out as you say; not sure why, perhaps because I know that its fiction and don't take it as a historical source. I might take it as inspiration, though, and perhaps it may even serve to motivate people to read and ask, "did this scene actually happen?" The answers to that question could truly astound people.

oooh, 2nd edition...sorry Shahed, I'm clicking away from altmuslim to amazon.com...

>Again, Jesus never raised a sword, so the Prophet’s battles are often decried as unworthy of a spiritual leader.<

Prophet Isa's(a.s.) actions against the Pharisees are hardly non-violent. Besides his mission is far from over, and when he does return, he'll be a lion, not a lamb.
Wonder if the same crowd has a problem with Prophet Musa(a.s.) defending himself and his community.

>And he has been accused of anti-Semitism for his conflict with the Jewish tribes of Arabia, two of whom were expelled, and a third whose men were executed and the women and children sold as slaves.<


The Prophet(s.a.w) was an Arab i.e. a Semite. To suggest he was "anti-semitic" is beyond ludicrous. Of course we can get into how "semitic" the European AskheNazis are...but that's a discussion for another time and place.
It's the 9th Commandment of Zionism to lie about treacherous tribes of Bani Quinuqa and Bani Quraiza. Upon closer inspection we find that they were dealt with according to their own laws, out of the Old Testament. Neurotic judeofascists ought to shut up and read their own history before playing victims.

>This has led to the inflammatory charge of pedophilia by some modern critics.<

This bogus "charge" is tired left over polemic out of medieval Christianity adopted by modern day Islamophobes(not to mention neocon idiots like omarg). So I guess the God of the Bible is a pedophile as well for approaching the 12 year virgin Mary(a.s.).
Puberty has always marked the passage into adulthood as the age of consent. That only changed in the last century with industrialization and longer life spans that it went up, and even then only in "modern" western societies which saw "early" marriage as a threat to its access to the female work force. If the morons can't grasp history and social anthropology, that's not our problem.
Ironic that these same "civilized" people who want to teach us morals, today are decriminalizing incest, pedophilia and bestiality. Wonder how that works...

>I might take it as inspiration, though, and perhaps it may even serve to motivate people to read and ask, "did this scene actually happen?"<

The answer to "that" question is that you're clueless. It's not a movie or a game. It only blurs the line between fiction and reality. The genuinely faithful don't need or want fiction to appreciate the proper sources.

>I dunno, creeps me out a bit. I submit this comment because I am interested in hearing if others experience the kind of uneasiness I mention, and if so, how they deal with it.<

I agree with you Anas. I see this sort of activity as a cheap publicity stunt designed to cash in on manufactured controversy. Best thing to do is to ignore it and let it die out like 95% of garbage books dealing with Islam and Muslim.

Oh, and I just checked Kamran Pasha's website. Quite a resume, the man thrives on stereotypes. From the work for the crappy "Sleeper Cell" miniseries to writing "Blood on the Sand," one of the most racist video games on the market right now(hint : you get to play rapper 50 cent(also his IQ score) killing Arabs for stealing his diamond).
No wonder Pasha is a Hollywood high roller. I'm so relieved.

So, if you ever have a daughter and she starts menstruating at age 11, I challenge you to get her married and knocked up ASAP. If not, you're the world's example of a loud-mouthed Hypocryte with a capital H...dude, lol.

>>don't need or want fiction to appreciate the proper sources.

But you do need to know classical Arabic, which you do not. Neither do at least 80%+ of the ummah including Arabs themselves who are either illiterate and/or know only thier spoken dialect.

>So, if you ever have a daughter and she starts menstruating at age 11, I challenge you to get her married and knocked up ASAP. If not, you're the world's example of a loud-mouthed Hypocryte with a capital H...dude, lol.<

You didn't address the content of my post, gumby. If you're dumb enough to dispute the facts that people in the PAST got married earlier due to the factors elaborated, you're simply in denial. I challenge you to dump your white trash conditioning and the hypocrisy in it. I'm sure if we go back just a hundred years or so before your Italian ancestors floated to America on a meatball, they were getting down to business well before the age of 18. Hence your "logic" your own ancestors are all pedophiles.
In fact the age of consent in Italy is 14 today. Do your homework before making a fool out of yourself.

>But you do need to know classical Arabic, which you do not. Neither do at least 80%+ of the ummah including Arabs themselves who are either illiterate and/or know only thier spoken dialect.<

Besides the fact that your claim of 80% illiteracy is nonsense, one doesn't have to Islamic scholar from Al-Azhar to read the sources of the Deen. There's no shortage of tafseer manuals( in addition to tafseer in Qur'an and Hadith collections) and others books clearly explaining things.
You don't need "historical fiction"(an oxymoron) written by a Hollywood screen writer with orientalist overtones(with the complimentary veiled woman on the cover)to understand the Deen. Might as well pop in Disney's Alladin DVD or 1001 nights to learn about Islam.

Anas >>> To me, novelizing a historical figure means you are attributing to them actions and speech and internal states without sufficient data to claim veracity. You are speculating about what they did, what they felt, what their motives were.

So true. That's why a substantial amount of quality researched non-fiction should precede the fiction. But that is so unlikely with the theological approace to tradition because everything is mired with a "pious" interpretation.

DrM >>> Puberty has always marked the passage into adulthood as the age of consent. That only changed in the last century with industrialization and longer life spans that it went up, and even then only in "modern" western societies which saw "early" marriage as a threat to its access to the female work force. If the morons can't grasp history and social anthropology, that's not our problem.

I couldn't agree with you more, except on one clinically distinct point; as Muslims ourselves we don't understand the distinction between the centuries and societies. We tend to interpret the past with modern blinkers. I'm thinking the neatly trimmed beards and rustic kurtis of the movie THE MESSAGE are our pristine (and very westernised) interpretation of that age (much like the wise men of the Christmas story). Also, it was conditions which determined the norms/injunctions and not vice versa. It was after all the Saudi Grand Mufti who is doing the opposite and saying to the effect "..it was good for our mothers and is good for our daughters.."

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/17/saudi.child.marriage/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Within the context of Muslims NOT understanding the background, you end up with the circumstance of "Late last month, a Saudi judge refused to annul the marriage of an 8-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man." There is NO consideration of the Childs better right to education or choice. THAT IS OUR PROBLEM NOT THERES .. agreed?

>>>> So, if you ever have a daughter and she starts menstruating at age 11, I challenge you to get her married and knocked up ASAP. If not, you're the world's example of a loud-mouthed Hypocryte with a capital H...dude, lol..

Its because the narrow interpretation of history ascribed to others, is actually the narrow interpretation that many of our more "pious" modern brothers have adopted. A doctor would be fully aware in the modern age that mental maturity and physical maturity are very distinct issues. But at the risk of undermining the utopian vision of that spiritual golden age, some may feel its better to not reflect on the difficult present day truths.

>Its because the narrow interpretation of history ascribed to others, is actually the narrow interpretation that many of our more "pious" modern brothers have adopted.<

Nonsense. We're not talking about "narrow interpretations" of history, we're bringing up simple historical facts. Anybody who believes that early marriages were not common until the last 120 years or so is ignorant, and needs to pick up a history book. Time for the idiots to do their homework and stop resorting to emotional nonsense over their BS cultural hangups trying to "standardize" history. Go take it up with the Prophets(a.s.) of the Old and New Testament who seem to be immune from this sort of nonsense by the usual suspects.
And really, Saudi "scholarship" masquerading as "islamic" means nothing as long as it stays silent on the massive betrayal of Islam by the Wahhabi client state.

>A doctor would be fully aware in the modern age that mental maturity and physical maturity are very distinct issues. <

Mental maturity coincides with physical development, however nowadays it's based on culture. We have "modern" people nowadays who act like teenagers even though they are in their 20s and 30s. This is partly due to the modern western diet with its high calories and hormone laden foods with people are maturing physically before their time. Muslims and others with no confidence and always look up to an uninterested white father for guidance need to get over their inferiority complex. We're not going to "interpret" our history to their polemical liking.

Umkay, like I said, put your money where your mouth is and implement the Prophet's Sunnah in this regard! Walk the walk and don't just talk the talk, lol...