Not every Jewel is desirable!

Disclaimer: This is by no means a scholarly attempt at critiquing the following work. I just hope to provide the readers with an understanding from a different lens and more questions to contemplate.Sherry Jones’ recent book, Jewel of Madina, stirred quite the controversy (read the LA Times article). To summarize, the story follows the life relationship between the Prophet Mohammed’s (sahlla ‘llahu alayhi wa sallam) and his first wife, Aisha. Outside of the subject of the book, a major debate is its classification as historical fiction. Why is this a problem? Well, essentially because the subject is far from fiction to Muslims.Let me first admit, I have not read the book yet but I do plan to read it. However, the excerpts I read were quite indicative of the books future. In one chapter, there’s a rather descriptive scene of Aisha secretly observing an intimate encounter between Hamal and a little girl, or rather his wife. That’s how Aisha leared about marriage, as the book implies.What’s interesting is the publisher’s claim that the book is “extensively researched and elegantly crafted”. I am sorry, but in all my years of learning about Islam and reading its texts, there was not one incident of such intimate graphic details about anyone, let alone the Profphet or his wives.This begs the question, “where does the writer’s responsibility begin and end?”. Does classifying a work as fiction relieve the writers from their (ethical) responsibility towards the subjects they treat? We are not talking about complete fiction here. We are talking about fiction based on characters that actually existed. In general, everyone is fair game. But there are subjects that are (and should be) taboo for many; god, for example.Outside of the taboos, the book is filled with orientalist ideologies. It’s basically an exotic tale of a love between the Prophet and his wife as viewed by a westerner. But even outside of love matters, it is filled with a westerner’s point of view. For example, there’s a scene where the narrator, Aisha, tells us of some animosity between her mother and her father’s first wife (Queen Sheeba, as her mother calls her). Why is this animosity? Because the “Queen”, a dark plumb woman, is jealous of Aisha’s mother, a fair woman. Could this be an implied representation of the East’s secret desire for the West (dark vs. white – evil vs. good)? That this book was well researched is hardly an appropriate claim. This love story doesn’t “unveil” the human side of its characters, but rather views them through a very blurred pair of western glasses. It’s the western viewpoint that’s “veiled”, and not with a Hijaab, but rather a Burqa. Should it be taken personally? That’s an individual matter. To many Muslims (but also Christians, Jews, and other religions), religious subjects or icons are taboo. It should hardly surprise anyone that a book like that creates such difficulties for the author and publisher. The biggest concern is the community reaction. I am concerned that increasingly people (of various fundamental beliefs) are appointing themselves judge and jury of the actions of fellow humans.