Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan, Book Review Example

The purpose of this paper is to provide and discuss the various contemporary accounts of the lived experiences of Confucianism and Islam faiths and beliefs. The paper will also focus on the analysis of a number of contemporary reflections based on the societal experiences of the central teachings, principles and practices of these traditions faiths and values.  In this reflection, the paper will focus on the Ali Eteraz’s book entitled, “Children of the Dust”, and will include the major spiritual journey of Eteraz from childhood to adulthood especially from his life in Pakistan to the United States. The changes such as spiritual maturation, proper understanding of the Islam culture as well as Eteraz’s family experience and background in Islamic practices will also be discussed in this paper. Finally, the paper will illustrate how Ali Eteraz’s journey in both Pakistan and United States contributed and shaped his understanding of the Islamic religion practices in the American society. The paper will also cover and include various lessons that can be learned from Eteraz experiences in improving our individual faiths, religious understandings and spiritual maturation in the society.

“Children of the Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan” by Ali Eteraz-Book review

“Children of the Dust” by Ali Eteraz book mainly depict Eteraz life experiences from childhood to adulthood both in Pakistan and in the United States. During his early childhood, Eteraz went to Madrassa School in Pakistan as a Muslim American (Schilken 12). The book setting also begins in a rural Islam background in Pakistan society. The book also depicts the low socio-economic status of Ali Eteraz family despite his father strong Islamic beliefs on Allah as the creator of the universe (Eteraz 122). According to the author of the book, Ali Eteraz father believed that if God or Allah provides him with a son, then the son will be a leader in the society. Ali Eteraz is given a nickname in the book according to Islamic principles, and he is known as Abir ul Islam, which literally means “perfume of Islam” according to the book (Schilken 14). From the book, we can clearly see how Ali Eteraz is trying to come to terms with his father strong believe in Islamic teachings and principles in the society. This includes understanding the role that he should play in Islam as well as understanding the role that Islamic beliefs and teachings will play in his life and future experiences (Eteraz 140). It is also true from the book that Ali Eteraz was born in Pakistan but was mainly raised in the United States from the age of ten years. In the book, Eteraz describes and outlines some of the major teachings of Islamic religion and various western society perspectives and opinions on Islamic faiths, teachings and principles (Schilken 8). The changing views and perspectives of Ali Eteraz on Islam are depicted in the book, and this illustrates how different political, social and religious views can contribute to individual life experiences (Graff 7). For example, religious-based issues and changes in the society such as reformism, Salafism as well as secularism and fundamentalism are discussed in the book (Eteraz 187). In that sense, this is an informative and research-based book that outlines the major religious and spiritual changes that individuals usually experience in the society (Schilken 6).

Furthermore, Ali Eteraz was born to the Islamic-based family in Pakistan and promised presented at the Ka’ba Mecca as a dedication to Allah according to Islamic teachings and values (Phelps 16). In madrassa school in Pakistan during Ali Eteraz childhood days, it is clear that Eteraz feared the beatings and strict Islamic rules that were in the school. In the United States especially in New York City Ali Eteraz also experienced a number of fundamentalist religious problems. However, he later went back to Pakistan during his adulthood and married his wife in Pakistan (Eteraz 30). Here he experiences Taliban activities and operations in the society, and this changed his perspectives and views about Islamic teachings and beliefs.

Therefore, the major motifs in Islamic spiritual teachings illustrated in Eteraz’s journey from childhood to adulthood and from Pakistan to the United States successfully improve Eteraz self-understanding of Islamic policies and ethics and promote his spiritual maturation. For example, the book depict  that Islamic teachings and practices are based on diligence, helping the poor in the society as well as the provision of good foreign relations, good governance, effective fasting, chastity and other marriage based cultures (Eteraz 65). This are well illustrated in the Ali Eteraz journey especially in Pakistan including his marriage was based on Islamic cultures in Pakistan, and he had to go back to Pakistan from United States to get a wife.  Father to son relationship is also highly valued in Islamic cultures as seen in the relationship between Ali Eteraz and his father (Eteraz 20).

Moreover, Ali Eteraz experiences in the United States also shaped his view and perspectives towards Islamic and other religious faiths in the society. This is because, in the United States, he experiences various western religious perspectives that changed his spiritual beliefs and experiences in the society (Schilken 11).   In that sense, individuals should consider various religious beliefs and viewpoints towards their religious practices in order to improve and promote their spiritual maturation and understanding.  This will also improve individual’s toleration of other individual’s religious practices and values in the society.

From the book, the male and female relationships in the Islamic society especially in Pakistan are also illustrated. For example, from Ali Eteraz childhood experiences in the Pakistan we learn that boys are not allowed to play with girls in the society. His mother tells him that good boys do not play games with girls (Eteraz 19). In that sense, it is clear that boys and girls are not allowed to involve in emotional attachment and relationships until the correct age. According to Muslims teachings and values, men are only allowed to marry fellow Muslim women, and an ideal woman should be virgin and a good homemaker (Eteraz 135). Intelligence among women is not highly valued in Islamic society (Eteraz 137). Muslim and Islamic teachings also indicated that sinners will burn in hell due to their sins (138). In Islamic society, men are given more powers than women, and this is illustrated in the book based on the Ali Eteraz relationship with other women in the society (Trager 567).   It is also clear from the book that Ali Eteraz Pakistan-Muslim-American experiences contributed to his cultural, social and spiritual maturations and understanding of various religious activities in the society (Eteraz 56).  In addition, the book also illustrates some of the orthodox practices in Muslim communities especially about sex and sexuality as well as other Islamic identity factors.

The book also provides an effective reference point for non-Muslim and Muslim activities and religious practices in the society.  This is because the book illustrates Ali Eteraz experiences in Pakistan during his childhood which mainly involves Islamic and Muslim cultures. In addition, the book also illustrates Ali Eteraz experiences in the United States where Christianity and other Islamic-based religious faiths are practiced (Eteraz 27).American Muslims can effectively adopt the teachings and principles in the book in order to improve their actions and beliefs based on orthodox faiths of the Muslim culture (Eteraz 78).

From the book, it is also clear that Islamic cultures involve various social, political and cultural identities in the society (Children of Dust 49).  As a young man faced with various challenges in the society, Ali Eteraz moves from Pakistan to United States and struggles to maintain the observance of strict Muslim policies in the society (Eteraz 67). Despite this, his life experiences in United States provide him with various viewpoints about strict and orthodox practices in Islam and he becomes disillusioned with some of the Islamic practices and procedures (Eteraz 24).The United States of America terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are discussed in the book and the main factors that changed Ali Eteraz perspective about Islamic teachings. He promised to promote Islamic reforms after this United States attack by Muslim and Islamic based individuals. (Eteraz 241).Ali Eteraz college experiences including his leadership as the head of the Muslim student council is also illustrated in the book. Here we can clearly see his ability and willingness to help others in the society especially those who are need.  For example, he provides food Halal services to the poor in the society during his leadership activities and operations (Eteraz 240).

In conclusion, it is evident from this book review that Ali Eteraz’s “Children of the Dust” book is mainly depicted Eteraz childhood experiences based on his Islamic beliefs in both Pakistan and United States. Ali Eteraz spends his childhood experiences including his early schooling in Madrassa School in Pakistan. At the age of ten their family moved to United States where he tries to continue following their strict Islamic teachings and policies but later realized that there are some orthodox and poor Islamic cultures that cannot be applied in the modern literate society.  His struggles in United States later promote his understanding of various religious practices and also improve his spiritual maturation in the society. At the end of the book, Ali Eteraz decides to form reforms and a new identity to reduce poor and orthodox Islamic teachings.

Therefore, this book is a research-based and informative book that provides various Islamic beliefs, principles and teachings and how they are viewed in both Pakistan and United States.

Works Cited

“Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan.” Publishers Weekly 256.35 (2009): 49.

Eteraz, Ali. “Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan” (2011): 10-245

Graff, Keir. “Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan.” Booklist 106.2 (2009): 7.

Phelps, Marilyn. “Children of the Dust.” Christian Science Monitor (2010): 1-16

Schilken, Regis. Book Review: Children of the Dust by Ali Eteraz (2009): 2-14. Retrieved from http://blogcritics.org/book-review-children-of-dust-by/

Trager, Eugene P. “The Many Faces of Faith.” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 48.4 (2013): 586-600.