M is for “Muslimism”*

           Mainstream American culture has become accustomed to memorizing misconceptions of cultures and religions outside of the states. Naguib Mahfouz’ Palace Walk complicates the issue of an Islamic perspective but does not resolve our contentions on the matter of so-called morality; effectively, it perpetuates the Americanized stereotype of Islam as an evil and misogynistic society.

Male Dominance and Obedience in Palace Walk: As is fairly obvious from the very beginnings of the book, Amina’s life revolves around her sometimes-neglectful, most-of-the-time strict husband. His treatment of her—verbal and emotional abuse—is considered normal by other characters in the book. Amina’s mother even tells her he could have “taken second, third, and fourth wives. His father had many wives. Thank our Lord that you remain his only wife.” (5), a proclamation of such validity Amina must accept it. She sits on the floor before him, as if in worship—the obedience to a master, and when once she asks him not to go out entertaining he fires back angrily, having been stripped of the authority entitled him.

Roles of authority don’t end with the couple, however. Their children exude the same tendencies; the boys’ relationship to their father is similarly docile because they are intensely frightened of him, the girls avoid him entirely when possible, and he them.

Perhaps part of the novel is rooted in Mahfouz’ life—if not literal details then at least thematic ones—and it should be accounted for that his male perspective influences the telling of the novel. But Ahmad Abd al-Jawad’s strong patriarchal influence is almost cartoonish in its representation of Muslim values, and only recycles American ideas about the violence “inherent” in the religion.

Americans have a reputation for ignorance. Perhaps we also have an affinity for it, at some times. Our culture is obsessed with simplification of other cultures because by contrast, our complexity makes us vaster, more intelligent, more able to conquer. “Muslimism” is a bastardization of two words, conjoining “Islamism” (Islamic fundamentalism) and “Muslim” (a follower of Islam) to perfectly muddy the entirety of the religion and its place in society.

Our warped perception of external societies is also present in Palace Walk, which, though told “through the eyes” (okay, so it’s third person but you get the idea) of a Muslim, vilifies Muslims—at least Muslim men.

 *as if to emphasize my point, Microsoft Word’s error indicator did not try to correct my use of the word Muslimism (the red zigzag line did not appear); it’s become so culturally engrained that American software has accounted for it.