Until next time, subhanaka Allahumma wa-bihamdika ash-hadu anla ilaha illa anta as-taghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka. (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is no true god except You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance.) Aameen.
A dead archaeologist. A stolen artifact. A lost treasure. Are the three mysteries tied together?
That’s what teenage sleuths Zahra, her brother Zaid, and their friends Adam and Layla must discover during their vacation to exotic Noha Island. They are convinced that Idris, a university student, has been framed for the murder and they vow to catch the real killer. Soon, they’re in pursuit of multiple suspects and wriggling out of one sticky situation after another. As they come closer and closer to the truth, danger lurks at every corner.
Unfortunately, time is running out for Idris. As his trial approaches, the teenagers must make one more desperate bid to ambush the enemy. Will their ruse work or are they destined to become the ones ensnared?
First, I would like to expound on some points that my co-author brushed on. The first is about the weight of a woman’s testimony and the second is the fact that only men are allowed to marry non-Muslim women.
On the weight of a woman’s testimony, the male’s take has been widely incorrect. A woman testimony is not half of a man. From a seerah class I took and other female halaqas I have attended, the teachers said that the ratio is 2:1 to suggest that in a case that a woman is testifying, she needs another woman with her in order to deter the opposing parties from intimidating her. The second woman is merely there as moral support and to prevent common gender micro-aggressions or misogynist behavior to occur.
Now, based on my own analysis of things, we see that Islam once again…
Within the Muslim community, there has long been the debate over Islam’s gender discrimination and oppressive take on women’s roles. That being said, during the founding stage some 1,400 years ago Islam was revolutionary and feminist in its approach towards inclusion of women in the society.
The first person to embrace Islam after Prophet Muhammad received the decree from Angel Gabriel was his wife Hajrat Khadijat Bint Khuwaylid. At the time, Hajrat Khadijat was also the top merchant trader in all of Arabia who travelled across the lands for her work.
But today’s reality is completely different and mind boggling. What troubles me most is the prevalent day-to-day gender roles followed in Muslim communities. For instance, women’s testimony in some Islamic courts counts as half that of a male witness, men can take four wives and pronounces verbal divorce whereas women…
Queenie, by Candice Carty-Williams, is a must-read that not only reflects the reality of police brutality toward Black boys and men, it also reflects the sexual brutality many Black girls face. The book also touches on mental health and finding one’s confidence and footing after a great deal of trauma.
One sad thing about the book is the way Queenie settles for things. For instance, she settles for men who don’t satisfy her physically because she gets comfort or escapism in return. She eventually snaps out of this unhealthy phase with the support of her folks, friends, and her own comatose warrior spirit.
Author Candice Carty-Williams
The book also delves into the reality that when strong women are not careful with whom they give their hearts to, their whole being and spirit is shattered by careless and manipulative partners. Putting the pieces back together or trying to piece things back to the way they were or better than before usually takes up an immense amount of willpower. Queenie’s mom and Queenie herself share this experience, although as an abandoned child, Queenie raised herself mostly.
Queenie’s grandparents stepped in her upbringing at one point. Her family are tough people, but mental health is taboo for their generation. They deal with their issues by working hard, sticking to weekly routines, and by avoiding psychologists. The irony is that her family still puts family practice doctors on a pedestal regardless of their staunch stance of not talking about mental health.
Heart or blood pressure problems? Sure, let the good doctor tell us what needs to be done–even if he no longer practices medicine and has become a restaurant owner. Anything else? Forget it. Their attitude leads me to believe that they only put on a strong façade regardless of what life throws at them. However, they soon realize that they don’t have to act tough. They start accepting Queenie’s choice to seek mental health help. Her progress in therapy and recovery change her grandparents’ perspective a little. And that’s a start.
Overall, Queenie is a great read a four out of five stars. Add it to your reading list today.
About the AuthorPapatia Feauxzar is an Ivorian American author. Her recent books are titled The Library Clerk’s e-Shop and The Certified Accountant. She loves tea, coffee, and comfort food. A mother of one, she lives with her family in Dallas, Texas. Visit her at www.fofkys.com.
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