reviews2

BY SHELINA JANMOHAMED (2009)
AURUM PRESS LTD.; 267 PAGES; £10.99
ISBN: 978-1-84513-428-0

This delightfully written account of a young British Muslim woman’s search for ‘the One’ is fresh, hilarious and inspiring. Janmohamed charts her journey of self-discovery and shares her roller-coaster of  emotions. She explores the dilemma that is the intersection of being Asian, Muslim and British all at once and how this uniquely shapes her arranged marriage experience.

The awkward and formal suitor introductions started at the age of 19 and over the years she and her family worked their way methodically through a series of ‘potential princes’. These encounters developed over time in more relaxed environments and often utilising the latest technology.

There was Samir who hated books, Ahmed and his lack of social grace and we can’t forget Khalil who couldn’t swallow the idea of a short wife. A combination of traditional Asian family support, a British stiff upper lip and patience inspired by her Muslim faith kept her going.

There was the time she sat on her prayer mat after Fajr prayer reflecting on the role of marriage in her overall life. It seemed that the different perspectives, romantic, cultural and religious, contradicted each other. However, through her experiences and social interactions we learn how she matured and reconciled these aspects over time. When she gave a talk at a wedding party and overcame the stereotypes of the elders, how she found her always calm and contented grandmother a source of support and how she journeyed through Jordan and Egypt with her friends.

Although she was born a Muslim, we understand how and why she chose Islam while being brought up in the suburbia that is North London. Janmohammed talks passionately about why hijab (veil) is important to her and how she finds wearing it in modern British   society. She also shares her experience of the workplace and how it was to be a Muslim woman in the UK after 9/11. Through confiding in her close friends, Sara and Noreen, as well as her experiences with potential husbands she   develops character, confidence and a deeper understanding of Islam.

In fact, what is most touching is how her search for love would help her to find her faith and divine love along the way. She is blown away when someone refers to God as ‘the Beloved’. It was enthralling to read how she comes to the realisation that Islam is more than a rigid set of rules but rather an approach to take throughout life in searching for perfection and seeking ‘the One’.

Janmohammed sets out in her introduction that she hopes this book will provide an alternative to the stereotype of Muslim women being either oppressed or having rejected their religion, it clearly has. This is an enjoyable page-turner that you will find difficult to put down once you’ve started – whether you are a Muslim or not, male or female. It is refreshing, informative and entertaining whilst taking you through a journey of seeking companionship, marriage and ultimately divine love.

More information at: www.loveinaheadscarf.com