Muslims Represented in YA Fiction

ISLAM, FICTION AND MEDIA

I can't quite remember a time when I didn't read. I progressed from Ladybird books to Enid Blyton to Nancy Drew to Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen and then much later to Suzanne Collins. Despite devouring hundreds of book, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen myself portrayed in these books. 

I identify as a South Asian Muslim. And the handful of books that have portrayed people of color? They have always gotten it wrong.

Misrepresentation is not just a problem relegated to literature. A study released by 416 Labs reveals that the New York Times portrays Islam/Muslims more negatively than alcohol, Democrat, cocaine and cancer (WAIT. WHATTTT?!!) among other benchmarked words. It's no secret that the media often favors sensationalism (who cares about facts and stats, amirite?!) over balanced coverage. But what's surprising is prominent 'feminists' like Tina Fey in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, a movie that reinforces white superiority, erasure of Afghan women and the role of white saviors in 'rescuing oppressed Muslim women'. Not only are warped representations of Islam and muslims being propagated by media but now racist statements being tossed about in public by fear-mongering politicians. And it doesn't end there. We have Ayaan Hirsi Ali and other pseudo-experts on Islam who perpetuate offensive and untrue ideas about Muslims.

Often when literature with Muslim characters are published, they largely contain colonialist, orientalist narratives regarding Islam. They portray Muslims as a primitive, uneducated, backward, misogynistic and oppressed race. They show us as down trodden victims of war, caricature-like villains and terrorists. And often Muslims when represented are incredibly disappointing because they are made out to be two dimensional side characters who are included only to fill some kind of stupid quota of representation that writers have in their minds. These problems more often than not stem from people choosing to write outside of their own experiences.

Don't get me started on the book covers that do feature Muslim women! From Nawal El Saadawi to Jean Sasson, most covers feature semi-erotic, harem-like depictions of lone, veiled women in heavy eyeliner that are not even close in terms of representation of the content inside the book.

MUSLIMS IN LITERATURE: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

In an age where Islamaphobia is rampant, literature is a part of the solution to demolishing the alienation and demonization that surrounds Muslims. There's a gaping void in the publishing industry. The lack of Muslims employed in the publishing industry, the lack of representation of Muslims in fiction and the sheer lack of support for Muslim writers are only a part of the problem.

Unfortunately for me, I missed out on seeing my own experiences and struggles reflected in literature. It's not uncommon for kids who are coming of age to seek refuge in literature. So this kind of erasure has a significant and harmful impact on Muslim youth making them feel isolated.

Islam is an important part of this world's history. Our lives are a part of this world's story. We deserve to not be erased and to have our stories told.

While Islam is monotheistic faith, the Muslim identity itself is fluid. This means that our religious identity intersects with race, gender, class, sexuality, nationality, and ethnicity.

Many non-Muslims seem to have perception that Muslims equal Arabs. In reality, Muslims are a diverse community of people with different experiences in terms of ethnicity, denomination and background. Every individual Muslim has their own unique relationship with their faith and it is crucial that none of these experiences are erased in our fight for representation.

Being a Muslim is only one part of my identity. This is the same for millions of other Muslim kids around the world. Some of them are having their lives ravaged by war as we speak. Some of them have lost their families and homes. Some of them have had to leave everything behind restart their lives in a strange land while being subjected to a barrage of hate speech. Some of them are not unlike you, growing up straddling more than one cultural identity and struggling to find their place in this world.

Each of them deserves to have their stories told and heard.

We need more Muslims in literature because one day...

...I'd like to live in a world where I don't have to explain that my hijab is my choice. And no, I wasn't forced to wear it.
...I'd like to live in a world where women are valued regardless of what they wear and what they don't.
...I'd like to walk down the streets without the fear of being called a filthy terrorist, assaulted or worse, murdered in cold blood like Deah, Yusor, Razan and countless others.
...I'd like to not apologise on behalf of those who commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of my faith.
...I'd like to live in a world where I'm not pitied for the supposed oppression I have to face.
...I'd like to live in a world where I don't have to keep screaming that NO, all Muslims are not terrorists.
...I'd like to live in a world where people in positions of power wouldn't dare call Muslim women 'traditionally submissive' in public.
...I'd like my kids to be able to see themselves, their faith and their culture reflected in the books they read.

The list of Muslims who are taking control of what is being said about them by sharing their own unique narratives is growing daily. This is the only way to make sure our stories are told. Keeping that in mind, we also need to advocate for more books that address misogyny, homophobia, racism, colorism and classism within our own communities.

MUSLIMS IN LITERATURE: BATTLES WON

I believe in celebrating even the smallest of victories. While there is still a long way to go, there have been some incredible changes in the publishing industry in the past year. The introduction of Salaam Reads, a Muslim children’s book imprint from Simon & Schuster is one such victory! Three Somali-Canadian sisters, Hodan, Ayan and Ilhan Ibrahim who recently established the Qurtaba Publishing House to provide a platform for Muslims to reclaim their voices is another.

Publishing like many other industries is demand driven. The recent #RamadanReads campaign initiated by Aisha Rasheed proves that as readers we too can play a part in getting books with diverse narratives onto shelves. Speak to your local bookstores and express an interest in more inclusive literature.

MUSLIMS IN LITERATURE: RECOMMENDATIONS

I'm currently updating a Goodreads list that feature Muslim characters. It includes Children's Picture Books + Middle Grade + Young Adult + New Adult + Adult Fiction. Please feel free to add your own recommendations to the list but I kindly request you to avoid voting for books that feature tokenism, misrepresentation, sensationalisation, stereotypes and whitewashing!

Further Reading:

• Where are all the Muslim characters in children's fiction? - Na'ima B Robert
• #FSYALit: Muslim Representation in YA Lit - Kaye M
• A list of picture books about Muslim and Middle Eastern characters
• Representing the Muslim American Experience - Laila Alawa
• Words of American Muslims: A New Literary Movement - Mariam Elba
• Teaching Islam through Literature: A Recommended List of Books
• #RamadanReads – A Book Buying Revolution Includes a long list of fiction & non-fiction pertaining to Muslims.
• A list of Muslim Children's Books - Reem Faruqi
• Ramadan, Books, and a plea: be the change you want to see

OVER TO YOU:

What's your take on the representation of Faith and Spirituality in fiction? Have you ever felt the impact of cultural, ethnic and racial erasure in literature? 

Have a recommendation? Leave a comment below or tweet your thoughts at @wordcontessa and let me know, I'll be sure to add them to the list! :)

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