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The Fatwa Girl
Revealing a deep understanding of the human heart and its often mysterious attachments, The Fatwa Girl is at once a quirky exploration of a society on edge and a tender tale of shattered innocence.
The day Omar spots his neighbor Amina trying to teach herself to ride a bicycle – an act of defiance in their conservative surroundings – he knows she is special. In modern-day Pakistan, where sectarian prejudices continue to dominate life and fundamentalism threatens to tear society apart, their Shia–Sunni alliance is not meant to be. Yet, Amina’s grace and charm are irresistible, her feisty idealism contagious, and Omar soon finds himself swept up in the storm of her convictions. But even as they initiate their unusual war against radical religiosity and mindless violence, using poetry and music – and occasionally lust – as ammunition, the very forces they have set out to oppose creep insidiously into their lives...
The day Omar spots his neighbor Amina trying to teach herself to ride a bicycle – an act of defiance in their conservative surroundings – he knows she is special. In modern-day Pakistan, where sectarian prejudices continue to dominate life and fundamentalism threatens to tear society apart, their Shia–Sunni alliance is not meant to be. Yet, Amina’s grace and charm are irresistible, her feisty idealism contagious, and Omar soon finds himself swept up in the storm of her convictions. But even as they initiate their unusual war against radical religiosity and mindless violence, using poetry and music – and occasionally lust – as ammunition, the very forces they have set out to oppose creep insidiously into their lives...
- GenresFiction
232 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Akbar Agha
2 books7 followersAkbar Agha is a Pakistani author, educator and former diplomat.
He started his career in the Pakistan Foreign Service as a career diplomat. He was posted as Acting High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. His next assignment was Acting Ambassador to Romania, following which he served as Acting Ambassador to Tanzania.
After resigning from the foreign service, he taught at the University of San Luis Potosi in Mexico.
His book, The Fatwa Girl written in 2011, is a story about sectarian prejudices which dominate life in current day Pakistan and the fundamentalism that threatens to tear society apart.
His second novel is Juggernaut, a thriller about the nuclear tension between India and Pakistan.
He started his career in the Pakistan Foreign Service as a career diplomat. He was posted as Acting High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. His next assignment was Acting Ambassador to Romania, following which he served as Acting Ambassador to Tanzania.
After resigning from the foreign service, he taught at the University of San Luis Potosi in Mexico.
His book, The Fatwa Girl written in 2011, is a story about sectarian prejudices which dominate life in current day Pakistan and the fundamentalism that threatens to tear society apart.
His second novel is Juggernaut, a thriller about the nuclear tension between India and Pakistan.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 20, 2015
This is the first time I read a book by a Pakistani writer. I needed help from my paki friends to understand few political parts and Urdu words and I honestly enjoyed every moment. It is such a good book and I don't understand how underrated this is. Won't be the last time I read something from Paki writers, this proves they have some mad skills!
November 24, 2020
Too religious for an atheist to take in - a lot of plot turns were backed by religious beliefs.
There were a lot of beautifully woven sub-stories in the plot. I loved the part about Gulbadan, although what happened to Gulbadan was never revealed.
This was my first book by a Pakistani author - a fresh perspective indeed. Learnt a lot about Islam and the subtleties within. Will try to read more such books.
There were a lot of beautifully woven sub-stories in the plot. I loved the part about Gulbadan, although what happened to Gulbadan was never revealed.
This was my first book by a Pakistani author - a fresh perspective indeed. Learnt a lot about Islam and the subtleties within. Will try to read more such books.
August 24, 2012
While memories of the fatwa issued against author Salman Rushdie with reference to his novel 'The Satanic Verses'(1989) continue to be fresh, upon reading a book titled 'The Fatwa Girl', one cannot help but assume its contents to have symptoms akin to religious controversy.
Read the complete review here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li...
Read the complete review here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li...
October 5, 2016
This book leaves you in a strange turmoil. It slaps with you the hypocrisy in your society, how the most despised sins are easily done and least detested.
Akbar Agha moulded his thoughts so brilliantly into words, it pierced through your heart with the impact it contains.
The Fatwa Girl, will somehow, definitely become my favorite book.
Akbar Agha moulded his thoughts so brilliantly into words, it pierced through your heart with the impact it contains.
The Fatwa Girl, will somehow, definitely become my favorite book.
September 1, 2015
One of those rare books you can't keep down till the last page.
April 15, 2016
3.5 Stars
June 1, 2018
“If there is one fatwa that should be heard from every mosque and church, every temple and synagogue, it should be this: Love one another as God has loved you.”
The story of this book surrounds around the three characters Amina, Omar and “ATTACHMENTS”. Yes, attachments often speak in the form of attachment to love, as in between Amina and Omar; in the form of attachment to extremism, anger and hatred; as in between Shia-Sunni conflicts; in the form of dominance as in between the Amina and her husband; and in the form of attachment to ignorance.
This very ignorance of doing suicide blasts and directly stepping into Paradise leads Amina to gather her bunch of friends to appeal Ulemas of their country and other Muslim countries to sign and decree a Fatwa that Suicide blasts are haram and not permissible in Islam and is not a path to heaven. Because of her this movement, Amina came to be known as FATWA GIRL, which is the title of this book and which is also the reason I bought this book, because of title. Nice Judgment.
Amina and Omar, being neighbors, first interact with eachother when Amina was trying to learn a bicycle on her own in a conservative family where riding a bicycle is not allowed. Omar, who get lost in the storm of her convictions, help her riding a bicycle and they both get into each other. But due to Amina being a Shia and Omar being a Sunni, they can’t hook up in the knot of marriage. So they both decide to set apart but as you all know that first love never dies so of theirs. So, Amina get married to a politician and a Shia who later was found that he is Ahmadi and he is the villain of this story.
What I like most about this novel is its versatility of giving real insights of our society, status of Pakistan, Politics, History, Islam and references of Quran and Hadith in the book. Author has been into foreign services of Pakistan, so how can we not have insights of International Relations. Few of the lines of book are really amazing. The starting quoted line is my most favorite. What I don’t like about this novel is its weak and superficial plot at some places. Like, Amina being a member of a conservative family is not allowed to ride a bicycle but is allowed to go to the parties every Saturday with their male and female friends, somewhere in Karachi, where booze and dance is common but she never dances and never drinks until she breaks out. Making a minority, which is in much controversy in our society, a villain didn’t impress me as well.
Overall it’s a very captivating and interesting book. You won’t leave it until you are done with it.
Happy Reading.
The story of this book surrounds around the three characters Amina, Omar and “ATTACHMENTS”. Yes, attachments often speak in the form of attachment to love, as in between Amina and Omar; in the form of attachment to extremism, anger and hatred; as in between Shia-Sunni conflicts; in the form of dominance as in between the Amina and her husband; and in the form of attachment to ignorance.
This very ignorance of doing suicide blasts and directly stepping into Paradise leads Amina to gather her bunch of friends to appeal Ulemas of their country and other Muslim countries to sign and decree a Fatwa that Suicide blasts are haram and not permissible in Islam and is not a path to heaven. Because of her this movement, Amina came to be known as FATWA GIRL, which is the title of this book and which is also the reason I bought this book, because of title. Nice Judgment.
Amina and Omar, being neighbors, first interact with eachother when Amina was trying to learn a bicycle on her own in a conservative family where riding a bicycle is not allowed. Omar, who get lost in the storm of her convictions, help her riding a bicycle and they both get into each other. But due to Amina being a Shia and Omar being a Sunni, they can’t hook up in the knot of marriage. So they both decide to set apart but as you all know that first love never dies so of theirs. So, Amina get married to a politician and a Shia who later was found that he is Ahmadi and he is the villain of this story.
What I like most about this novel is its versatility of giving real insights of our society, status of Pakistan, Politics, History, Islam and references of Quran and Hadith in the book. Author has been into foreign services of Pakistan, so how can we not have insights of International Relations. Few of the lines of book are really amazing. The starting quoted line is my most favorite. What I don’t like about this novel is its weak and superficial plot at some places. Like, Amina being a member of a conservative family is not allowed to ride a bicycle but is allowed to go to the parties every Saturday with their male and female friends, somewhere in Karachi, where booze and dance is common but she never dances and never drinks until she breaks out. Making a minority, which is in much controversy in our society, a villain didn’t impress me as well.
Overall it’s a very captivating and interesting book. You won’t leave it until you are done with it.
Happy Reading.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews