WESTERN MUSLIMS: MIGRATION AND IDENTITY IN ABOULELA’S MINARET

Abstract

This essay examines how Western Muslim immigrants are portrayed in Leila Aboulela's novel Minaret. The study examines how the protagonists in the novel manage their identities as Muslims living in a Western setting using a postcolonial and diasporic framework, taking into account the difficulties presented by Islamophobia in the West and the stereotypical representation of political Islam. The article makes the case that Aboulela delivers a rich and nuanced representation of Muslim immigrants through a close reading of the book, one that challenges basic assumptions and emphasizes the variety of experiences within this community. The novel's characters are depicted as struggling with a variety of identity-related concerns, such as the conflict between tradition and modernity, the significance of faith in defining identity, and the difficulties of assimilating into a foreign society. The essay also examines how Aboulela's portrayal of Islamophobia and prejudice in the West illuminates the realities of Muslim immigrants in Western nations and how her complex depiction of political Islam defies simplistic stereotypes of the faith. Aboulela emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the diversity of Muslim experiences and identities through her depiction of the difficulties of identity building and the realities of diasporic groups. The research concludes by arguing that Minaret provides insightful information on how Muslim immigrants negotiate their role in society, particularly in light of ongoing discussions about Islam and Muslims in the West.