American Dervish

Hayat’s mother Muneer Shah always talks about her beautiful and brilliant friend Mina and keeps her picture on the family refrigerator. As a child, Hayat develops a fascination with this woman and her elusive expression in this photograph, which he sees daily. 

Earlier, Mina married Hamed Suhail, a wealthy Pakistani man whose mother-in-law subjected Mina to an escalating series of insults, slights, and abuse. To escape the unbearable treatment, Mina moved home to the Punjab until the birth of her son Imran. Soon after, a lawyer arrived to tell Mina her husband was divorcing her and would take over custody of Imran when he turned seven years old. 

In 1981, Hayat’s mother tells him she wants to house Mina and her son at their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His mother also complains of the flies in the house, which starts a bickering match with Hayat’s father Naveed Shah. Hayat’s mother says Mina has faced so much mistreatment due to her intelligence. Naveed tells ten-year-old Hayat to kill the flies, though his mother protests. 

Hayat’s parents met in Lahore, Pakistan, and moved to Wisconsin for his father’s neurology practice. Hayat wakes one night to find Naveed’s car on fire. Muneer enters his bedroom to tell him his father’s mistress did this. 

The following morning, Muneer serves Hayat parathas. She rails about his father’s white girlfriend and Naveed’s drunken promises to his mistresses. Throughout Hayat’s childhood, his mother has told him about his father’s frequent affairs. Hayat’s mother insists that Mina and her son must come live with them after her husband’s indiscretion: “After last night, he owes me” (27). Hayat rises to leave for school, but his mother stops him to lecture about the importance of respect, which she learned from her father. 

Muneer negotiates with Mina’s parents to send Mina to America. Mina’s parents, the Alis, worry that living in a hedonistic Western culture will compromise Mina’s Muslim values. As Hayat’s mother and father discuss the matter over dinner one evening, his father jokingly refers to Mina as a whore, and Hayat’s mother commands her son to place his hands over his ears. Hayat can still hear their brief, unresolved dispute. 

A man with a facial birthmark delivers Mina’s telegram to Hayat’s home. The telegram announces that Mina will arrive in Milwaukee in May. At the Western Union, Hayat’s mother sends a telegram back to Mina, saying, “CABLE RECEIVED STOP SO EXCITED STOP INSHALLAH” (32).

Hayat and his mother arrive at the airport, where Hayat spots Mina and Imran. Muneer embraces them. Mina greets Hayat, complimenting his good looks, and her beauty leaves him speechless. At Hayat’s home, three white oaks in the yard remind Mina of trees at her and Muneer’s former school. Hayat takes Mina’s bag to the so-called green room, which sports cartoon decals on the walls. Muneer complains about the room’s appearance, but Imran delights in the large Daffy Duck decal. Mina and Muneer decide to keep the decorations.

After Mina and Imran rest a few days from their jet lag, Mina cooks Pakistani food with Muneer. Hayat’s father, enjoying the food, says he likes having Mina in their home. Imran thanks Muneer and Naveed for hosting them, and Naveed responds, “You’re welcome, kurban” (37). Hayat is hurt that his father uses this term of affection with another child besides him. Mina explains the significance of the term kurban—she sees Hayat as a precious thing as well. 

One day, Hayat watches Mina reading while he sulks about not going to an ice cream social with his peers. His mother forbade him from attending, since a Christian church hosts the event. Mina asks Hayat what’s wrong. Muneer enters and again dismisses the idea of giving money to the Christian church at the social, although Hayat protests. 

His mother leaves, and Mina tells Hayat to embrace his pain. He cries, and she encourages him to express his feelings rather than repress them. She explains this philosophy according to the Quran and Allah’s forgiving character. She asks Hayat what he wants and guides him into a state of mindfulness. Hayat sees a mental picture of his red bicycle. He cleans the bicycle, and then he rides it feeling joyful and free. 

Encouraged by his mother, Hayat tries to play with four-year-old Imran, who prefers solitude. Imran is fascinated by his absent father, whose picture Mina keeps beside his bed. Imran has always longed for his father, and now clings to Hayat’s father Naveed. Each evening when Naveed returns home, Imran runs to him, and Naveed carries him around the house for a nightly tour. Hayat envies his father’s affection for Imran, but uses their bond to justify his growing closeness with Mina. 

Mina tells Hayat nightly stories in her room, which become his favorite times of the day. She tells him about mystical beings from the Quran called djinns and stories about the Prophet Muhammad. Hayat, ignorant about Islamic tradition, delights to hear about Muhammad’s youth. One story features angels removing the young Prophet’s internal organs, cleaning them, and returning him to the world purified. Mina also explains how the Prophet relies only on Allah, rather than loved ones. 

Mina tells Hayat that Muhammad once prayed in a cave and was interrupted by an angel commanding him to speak. The angel repeated “Recite!” (51) three times before Muhammad spontaneously spoke the words of the Quran. 

Just before Hayat’s 11th birthday, Mina gives him a green Quran. She tells him to wash his hands, cover his head, and kiss the cover before reading the holy book. Hayat reads the first surah, called “The Opening,” aloud. It features the words Muhammad spoke before the angel in the cave. 

Mina explains why she adds “‘peace be upon him’” (53) when speaking about the Prophet. She also walks Hayat through the structure of the Quran and tells him about the hafiz, people who have memorized the entire Quran and will receive special provision in heaven. Hayat continues reading aloud. 

Mina asks Hayat to interpret the words he has read in the Quran, like benevolent and merciful, used as descriptors of God. Mina explains the words’ meanings, saying, “Allah will always forgive you, no matter what you do. No matter what you do” (57). She says that God works for the ultimate good and will protect Hayat. 

Lying awake in bed, Hayat feels newly alive and aware of his body’s every sensation. The following day he memorizes the verses from the first surah of the Quran during recess and recites them to Mina that evening. She rejoices, embraces him, and predicts Hayat might become a hafiz.  

Studying the Quran with Mina transforms Hayat’s outlook. He becomes more entranced by the world around him and obsessed with memorizing verses during sleepless nights. He relishes the taste of milk and the sight of the sun behind clouds, which distracts him during a football game. He considers the infinite, powerful expanse of the universe. 

Mina prepares tea with a special blend of loose leaves, spices, and milk. She teaches Naveed how to make her recipe and compliments his efforts while Muneer downplays them. Hayat has tried Mina’s tea, although Muneer believes he is too young. Muneer criticizes her husband for not teaching his son to pray, and Mina says she will take on that duty. Naveed tacitly agrees to this but urges Hayat not to become a maulvi, or imam.

Mina instructs Hayat in the series of precise motions and postures involved in prayer. She reminds him to breathe deeply and consider God when he prays. Hayat’s father takes him to a local masjid to participate in corporate prayers, but it is closed. The family, including Mina and Imran, prays together at home instead. Mina embraces Hayat for practicing his faith and asks if he thought of Allah during his prayer. She reminds him that intimacy with God is more important than proper ritual. 

Hayat discovers that Mina does not practice her faith in the traditional way, following external rituals and traditions, but rather interprets the precepts of the Quran by herself. This is called “ijtihad, or personal interpretation. The only problem was, the so-called Gates of Ijtihad had been famously ‘closed’ in the tenth century [...]” (66). Over tea with Mina and Hayat’s mother, he listens to Mina dismiss the idea that her practice will bar her from Paradise. She values the words of the Quran more than those of spiritual leaders or scholars. 

Mina decides to become a cosmetologist. She receives training in American beauty standards, which are diametrically opposed to those of most Pakistani women. She begins dressing more like an American woman and wearing makeup during school hours. One evening, she comes home to reveal a new short, spiky hairstyle. The family is surprised but complimentary about Mina’s new appearance, and Naveed suggests that Muneer follow suit with her hairstyle. Muneer maintains her more conservative personal style but encourages her friend’s new exploration of American beauty. 

The family has become happier, although the adults’ Eastern worldview tends to ruminate on suffering rather than joy. American media’s optimistic narratives contrast strongly with the tragic stories in Indian films, a perspective Hayat observes in his parents and Mina. 

Late one night, Hayat memorizes verses from the Quran. Hearing something, he creeps into the hall. Through the crack in the bathroom door, Hayat observes Mina naked. She is masturbating before the mirror and catches Hayat watching. The following morning, Mina behaves icily toward the boy. He tries to apologize, and she commands Hayat never to speak about what happened.