I'm trying to find different approaches on how to write a literature review about this book. I can perhaps talk about it in a cultural perspective but then again that sounds a bit cliche when it comes to talking about religion, background and the like.

My verdict is that I like this book not because it tries to make readers understand the importance of the hijab to a Muslimah, it also tells a lot about a majority of people dealing with racism and segregation as well as those who inflict racist comments, remarks and those who segregate because of the refusal to accept differences in colour, race and religion. To me, it wasn't the narrative itself that captures me into the life of Amal (the main character of the book) but also the journey I experience whilst reading.

I can relate to a lot of the things that is said within the book - especially the feelings and doubts when Amal first decided to wear the hijab full time. I went through it. I had doubts and was actually scared at one point, scared at how my friends would judge me if one day I walk into class with my head covered. Well, from my own experience, my friends were taken aback a little when they first saw me with it but at that time they knew it was Ramadhan so they perhaps understood my spiritual journey. We even talked about fasting together and I'm glad that I didn't have to go through the whole racist thing because I actually prepare myself for that every time I walk out of my apartment. Not everyone here accepts differences and there are instances when those minute minded people would look at me and have the questioning look on their faces. Well, they don't really know what my journey is all about, do they? So I let them judge me this time. I don't care because this is my jihad to get closer to my creator.

A girl actually questioned my intention of wearing the hijab. She questioned the reason why I get my head covered, questioned me covering up from head to toe. She said why show my faith when in the end I'm only going to relapse? Well, the answer is here already in front of your eyes. I don't do this to show off to people because I don't answer to people, I answer to God and only He and I know the real answer why I have chosen this path. I don't have any other answer to that because what is the real answer to why people become pious all so suddenly other than what we already know? Well, individuals have no rights to judge other individuals based on behaviour and aesthetics. I don't dress up the way I am to show to people or to be in-trend. When I first started covering up, I didn't even tell anyone the reason why I've done it because I don't need people to know what my hearts' contents are. It is between me and Allah and whether He wants to reward me for this in the afterlife is not within my grasp because I am not a perfect human being. I am thankful that Allah has shown me his hidayah and for a person as stubborn as I am, this is the most I have done in terms of swallowing my pride. I have never been one to love baring skin except for shorts but other than that, I don't always feel like. I don't even take pride in skin. But that's just who I am and who I am now.

It's up to you to say bad things about me, to question my intention and pray that one day you'd see me not wearing it again and covering up my body and talking about sex openly. I know a lot of people who would be very pleased with that but look at yourselves first. Look at your decision and what you have said when you decided to cover your head. Look back at what your intentions were when you covered your aurah - did you do it because you saw people suddenly covering up and they looked good so you wanted to do the same so people around would praise you? Or did you do it because you feel obligated, you feel that you owe your life and body to God, you feel that you want to earn that extra good deed and prepare yourself for jannah? Question after question from those who want to see me falter only reflects back on those people, not me. Any right minded person would agree to this. It's just like when you call another person "Cock-deprived". When you say this, it only reflects back at you - that you aren't. So the shame is on you. Get it?

So I don't see any reason why I need to justify my decision to cover my hair when I walk out of my apartment or anywhere I go because if you know anything about Islam at all, you'll know the exact reason why. I don't need to preach about religion. I like sharing about religion, of course, and I do stray away sometimes but Allah is just and Allah is forgiving. InsyAllah everyone will find their way so please don't contradict yourself because that alone tells a lot about you. Praise Allah and say Alhamdulillah if the path of righteousness has been shown to you in your heart or wherever, but don't ever be proud to be something the religion tells you not to be.

Remember, Iblis fell from grace because he was too proud.

So moral of the story, and how much I have turned from the book, is that no matter how different you are from the person next to you, no matter how ugly, how beautiful and how jealous you are to another person, remember that you are created different. Everyone is unique in their own ways. Why would you want to be a second version of someone else, when you can be the original version of yourself? I know that is justifiable when applied to individuals who choose to be different in terms of dressing up and whatnot, but it is what's in your heart that matters most. If you stick true to yourself, be yourself and not try to be someone else, guidance will come your way much easier than you think it would. Because of this, you can't judge anyone deliberately just because they have shown to you a different side of them that you have never seen before. Whatever people choose to do, what they want to become, what they wish to proof is all about their journey through this life. Remember Qada' and Qadar are in the hands of Allah so if your conscience tell you to pursue something, do it. If your heart tells you that what you're doing is wrong, listen.

No battle is harder than fighting to listen to the whispers of shaitan. So if one day you feel unattractive in a hijab, remember those are only whispers of the devil. If you can say no to being fat, or wearing smelly shoes, then you definitely can say no to the number one source of evil. Surely that's not too terrible huh? I bet if you set your ego aside and accept yourself for who you are and not look at the people around you and feel that you're lesser than they are, it would be easier for you to be the better person than who you once were. If you know me at all, I have not been a star pupil or the favorite granddaughter or the most favored niece. If you're a regular at my blogs than you'll know how many times I've proven to my non-believers that I am who they think I'm not. Like I said, a lot of people have always waited for me to falter, relapse, fall but my motto in life is to finish what I started. So you figure that out.

These are the kinds of things that are told in this book and that is perhaps why I like reading it so much. I think if time allows me to do so one day, I might give it another read. It's two weeks til my thesis submission now and I'm getting busier and busier by the minute but I'd like to read more books like this. It's not thick either, but the storyline is as real as it gets. There are characters in there who like to question, to block Amal's path and decision but she stands true to her faith and decision and that is what I like so much about this book. A book that makes me reflect on my own journey, that's my kind of book.

Til then, I'll try to blog more here. Tumblr's only taking a lot of my time as it keeps me browsing and browsing. But I'll definitely be back for good after my thesis submission. Toodles!