posted
This is the title of a book I've just finished reading. It's written by a South African living in London who says how a trip to Egypt changed her life forever. Actually this was what caught my attention when I was reading the review.
The Daily Telegraph described it as "thought provoking" and some other accolades that escapes me at the moment. Acclaim from the Telegraph, out of all newspapers, is testament to the book.
The book is about a woman who converted to Islam (or reverted as she prefers to put it), she tells her story and that of some of her fellow female converts/reverts (her sisters).
Not only did I find it thought provoking but also quite engaging and intimate, and sometimes even funny. You feel like the author is talking to you personally, in the bookstore it was actually under biography not religion.
I found it an absolutely fantastic book, I enjoyed reading it and feel that you will too, irrespective of whether you agree with the author's views or not. It would make excellent reading in the long hours of Ramadan. I'm sure you should be able to find it on amazon. Title: From my sisters' lips Author: Na'ima Robert
Recommended by Ramses, lol
Here's an excerpt from the introduction
" Catching sight of a Muslim woman, covered from head to toe, on Western city streets rarely fails to provoke a strong reaction. Feelings of shock, horror, repulsion or pity are not uncommon, especially upon seeing this strangest of sights for the first time. Comments range from the patronising (“Poor woman, doesn’t she know she’s in England now, she doesn’t have to dress like that?”), the insulting (“It makes me sick to see them dressed like that!”) to the ridiculous (“I bet she looks like a dog under there!” or, the universal favourite, “NINJA!”)
Without doubt, the assumption is that this poor woman was forced by her husband or family to dress as she does, that she is an uneducated immigrant who probably speaks little or no English or that, steeped in ignorance, she has yet to experience the delights of Western freedoms. She is, in essence, desperate to be liberated.
Such is the common perception of this woman, who remains faceless, nameless and voiceless – a non-person.
But what if this woman had a name, what if she had a voice? What if she could tell you about herself, her history, her family, her thoughts and feelings? What if, by sharing herself with you, you grew to see beyond the exterior, beyond the veil, and see for yourself in what ways you are alike and in what ways you are different? "
posted
forgot to mention that the book addresses many of the issues raised here including converting to Islam, hijab/niqab, polygamy, etc
Posts: 444 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
It is a great book... I finished reading it a few weeks ago ... the experiences and feelings she describes are so accurate. Funny thing is it was Egypt that changed my life too.. good hasanat for the country
I don't know if they have it in Diwan, but you can order it on Amazon so ask Diwan if they can order it for you.. save you having any problems receiving it.
Posts: 815 | From: London and the other | Registered: Jul 2005
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