Footsteps

If I Should Speak #3

by Umm Zakiyyah

Footsteps, the third in Umm Zakiyyah’s internationally acclaimed If I Should Speak trilogy, is a story that stands on its own in both impact and inspiration. At the heart of the novel are Ismael and his wife Sarah. Married for twenty-six years and having accepted Islam on a journey they took together, Ismael and Sarah have what every marriage couple hopes to achieve. Stability, dedication, and a comfortable life. But as the story unfolds, the hairline fractures in their marriage become visible, and the fractures become splintering cracks as Sarah discovers a detrimental secret her husband has kept from her for four months—a secret second wife. In the face of his wife’s discovery, Ismael is torn between the love and security of his marriage, and the natural inclinations any man must temper in a world full of choices, and devastating consequences.

Genres: Novels, Fiction, Muslims, Islam

318 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2007

About the author

Daughter of American converts to Islam, Umm Zakiyyah writes about the interfaith struggles of Muslims and Christians, and the intercultural, spiritual, and moral struggles of Muslims in America.

Umm Zakiyyah’s work has earned praise from writers, professors, and filmmakers and has been translated into multiple languages. In 2008, Umm Zakiyyah was awarded the Muslim Girls Unity Conference Distinguished Authors Award. Umm Zakiyyah also writes under her birth name Ruby Moore.

Visit uzauthor.com

Reviews

[Kulsoom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Romance, Fiction

Oh and for the people who have issues about reading books by Muslim authors: the English and grammar are absolutely perfect, so don't worry about that. It's a fiction book. You will enjoy it. Read it.

This book gave me a completely new perspective about (1) polygamy and (2) racial struggles/issues.

The best thing about this entire thing was that it was completely untypical fiction. There were so many racially diverse characters, which I have never seen before in any sort of literature. And the fact that Umm Zakiyya chooses topics that are interesting to Muslims as well (not just a typical story about a Muslim in high school who has the same problems as everyone else but not really because Muslim).
It's such a compelling story that I think handles controversial issues well. My favorite of the three.

Anyway.
LOTS OF SPOILERS. IF YOU PLAN ON READING THIS BOOK (WHICH I THINK YOU SHOULD IT WAS SO INTRIGUING) DON'T READ ON

The main problem I had with the book was that everyone was more or less had perfect faith, no matter what they thought of themselves. Everyone seemed like an ideal Muslim, which tinged the story and made it a bit unrealistic. Anyway my imagination could handle that because if it wasn't so, the story would have been a hundred times more complex than it was.

The complexity of the story was easy to follow, I think even for non Muslims to understand. However, something I had trouble understanding was the divorce process. I think it should have been explained a little more because I didn't really know the ruling about 1 months or 3 months and I had no idea what was going on (or if they really were divorced or what?)

Okay and the whole issue of polygamy...wow... that was definitely a huge tug of war and I could understand Ismael's side and definitely sympathize with Sarah. I understand a little more why it shouldn't be as tabooed as it is, but I understand that our reactions are also understandable. Haha okay this is a hard opinion to write about. I would never want to be in a shared relationship of course, but this book makes the readers understand that it is possible and that it is allowed (and why it is) in Islam.
I'm still iffy about the fact that men's nature is polygamous and woman's nature is jealous...I could see why people have issues about that.

The book not only goes into the nature of polygamy but also explores the reactions and relationships of all the people involved. I enjoyed how Kate, an outsider and non Muslims was more open to it than any of the Muslims.

Overall, I was satisfied with the conclusion of the story that while polygamy is allowed, a truly understanding person (people) is (are) needed to carry through and shouldn't be attempted with any doubt in the heart.

Race is honestly something I knew was an issue but never imagined it to be explored in fiction and I am satisfied with the result. Honestly if there wasn't any Pakistani character, I might not have payed as much attention to it as I did when Zaid's cultural views came into place. I could see (inadvertent? ingrained?) racism in my culture and it really hit home.

I love that Umm Zakiyyah allowed us glimpses of all the families, which really helped us to imagine an established Muslim society and how everything affected many families not just one. Of course I enjoyed the romance between Tamika and Sulayman and especially Aminah and Teddy (this guy killed me ahaha he's perfect) (Also: No romance is complete without a love triangle.)

[Tahseen Faruqi · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this 0 stars I would . Sorry this is a long rant . First off I am Muslim . This story was ridiculous . The author seems to want to push the polygamy narrative as something to be aspired to . Its not , it was simply tolerated under extreme circumstances. She wrote two glaringly inaccurate things right in the beginning . The whole premise of the book is off . She wrote that God created men with a polygamous nature , and you need no reason to take another wife . If it was true that there is an inherent polygamous nature in men , there would be a lot more polygamy rather than just an infinitesimal percentage of all marriages . Islam allowed polygamy as provision in times of crisis , the prophet married all his wives except for Khateja as a lesson and ordained by God . This was meant as a solution to a crisis , it is not a sunnah in that the prophet took a wife for his personal reasons . To say that it is sunnah is twisting the reasoning. To say that you need no reason to take a second wife and that it is sunnah is grossly misinterpreting the reasons behind the provision in the first place .


The other main glaring issue is why Ishmael and Alika are “ dating “ before the Nikkah . He’s spending time alone with her , he’s in her house , she gives him the key . They are not supposed to be alone at all prior to the nikkah .They are running around together behind his first wife’s back .The Nikkah is the marriage , so they are not married . It is wrong for them religiously to be together . Either you’re married or not . I did not get the whole thing . Then he divorced her ? Then he can’t remarry her without her marrying someone else . The whole thing was wrong . There are huge glaring inaccuracies in the book .

She kept writing over and over , men are polygamous by nature and women are jealous by nature ( and men aren’t jealous ? - Ishmael is a total hypocrite and flips out at the thought of Sara having another man ) . WRONG ! You need a great reason , and of course you have a few cheaters but most men are NOT polygamous .

Why would an unmarried woman want an old married guy with two children ? Why on earth can’t she find a single guy ? She becomes Muslim in one second and doesn’t even get comfortable with the religion , then is willing to embark in a polygamous marriage the next second ? They keep repeating the narrative , want for your sister what you want for yourself .Really ? A good sister would want to force another woman to share a husband ? And this false equivalency that it prevents cheating ? Hello you should learn control, not marry another woman just to make the cheating acceptable and then lord it over your first wife .

The husband is a selfish prick and there is absolutely no reason to take a second wife .I don’t know why people don’t actually read the Quran . It clearly states that you cannot do justice . It seems that this author only reads the first half of the ayah . It’s Sunnah during extreme circumstances , but it’s not something the prophet even wanted for his own daughter . You need to have a solid reason to take a second wife, it was only allowed in special circumstances during war and when women had no way to protect or provide for themselves . ( like when there are orphan kids and war ) . All the prophets marriages were decreed by Allah except his first , and he married older women etc , there was a reason for each one . If you want polygamy it should be discussed beforehand , not sprung 26 years later . He says in the novel that Sara his wife is acting like a child and throwing a tantrum , he’s so condescending ( as if he’s not throwing a tantrum by insisting she accept a cowife ) . His lack of sympathy or empathy for what he is doing to Sarah is astounding in its selfishness . The one thing I never understood about polygamy is how can someone who’s put in 26 years be on the same footing as someone you just met .

This is also ridiculous that they try to justify everything with religion . Nobody behaves like the first wife meaning she’s too understanding and forgiving . Nobody wants to love the cowife . Its too Pollyanna . The truth is to be ok with something like that , it involves basically thinking of the husband as community property and thinking of him as more of a FRIEND WITH BENEFITS - his relationship with a wife is not longer unique , it involves basically demoting the husband in your heart . The husband literally cheated on her by marrying someone else behind her back after he had been married to the first wife for 26 years and the second wife tells him not to run after the first and he listens.?

It seemed like he married the second girl because she seemed exotic , she was African American ( he was biracial and the first wife is white ) compared to his “ white “ wife . Ishmael comes across as such a loser . Hey my wife is 50 now , so now that I’ve used her let me move on to girl close to my kids age . Midlife crisis anyone ? It was such a trope , he even says he married the first wife and she gave him self esteem , so now that she’s built him up his whole life , let me betray her with a previously unmarried young woman . He’s practically 50 and she’s in her late 20s ? Would she want to marry a man close to her fathers age ? Money ? Security ? Go find a single guy .
Does this guy want to start another family ? And he expects his first wife to be ok with it ???? And his adult kids are ok with it ?The second wife would only be his wife religiously . She would not be his legal wife and have no legal protection under the law in the US . Why would she want that with someone she met for a few seconds ? So she’s willing to have no legal rights ? Why ?

Gross .Literally just couldn’t keep it in his pants .Why do they always have to make black men look so bad ( even the son was disloyal )?? This was another trope. Ishmael was not remotely likeable , he was an utterly selfish , lying coward . She could have written him as honorable , instead she wrote him as a cheater ( he was emotionally cheating and lying to Sara )?who was willing to to run after a new shiny thing to satisfy his desire . Literally not caring that he was crushing his first wife , why can’t he control his nafs ( ego ) and lust , why does the woman have to control jealousy ? That is also sunnah .I am sorry it’s also completely unrealistic to write that the kids would have accepted his decision without significant hurt and resentment .Also sorry ,,the character of Kate was sooooo unrealistic , why would she side with her philandering brother in law when she says she barely saw her own sister . Plus she’s not even Muslim . Her character was just overall dumb .

Then the author tries to justify the whole thing by making poor Sara eventually go along ..pathetic .Sara had every right to leave and her reaction at the end was completely unrealistic . I don’t think Ishmael would have gone back to get her if his new toy did not dump him . He was such a selfish wishy washy prick .Sara should have just dumped his sorry ass , and stood her ground .There was no reason for him to be so infatuated / in lust with the second wife after half a second . No woman would be ok sharing her husband unless she hates him or is financially dependent and can’t leave . I don’t know what this author is trying to prove , what natural inclinations a man must face ??? There is no onus on the man to control his nafs( lust , ego ) in this story . All his behavior is excused . I wonder where she learned that ? It seems like a bit of brainwashing from where she grew up or who she grew up with to excuse this . It seems she has very low expectations of the men she has been around and she thinks everyone else should have low expectations of the men they are around .

All the Hadith go against the woman in her interpretation ., I guess they think it’s more culturally accepted for the man to cheat in certain demographics( where lots of men are not marriageable ?) that’s why they are constantly giving the man a pass . Infuriatingly stupid .

A more realistic version would be that Sara left , never came back , took him to the cleaners and his kids disowned him. Then he could run off with his new plaything who would eventually tire of him .

And this author is always so pro polygamy , l guess she was in a polygamous marriage at the time she wrote this , now she’s not I guess .I don’t get why she’s trying to normalize polygamy by basically saying ( oh boys will be boys ) basically Ishmael has absolutely no justifiable reason to take a second wife , but he’s willing to break his first wife’s heart and destroy his family to get a new woman . That is not in Islam , I hate the justifying the unjustifiable by twisting religion .

THE OTHER GLARING MISTAKE : he cannot marry Alika again if he divorced her ( like he said he did ) she has to be married to another man in earnest, consummate the marriage ? then divorce before she can remarry Ishmael . You can’t just divorce, get together , change your mind remarry . This is utter nonsense .
Full of inaccuracies , twisted to suit the narrative .

[سارة · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with a strong plot that took me where each one of the characters tries to understand this life in the best way.. and I was there -with them- thinking about all the conflict that they are facing and what will happen to me if I was one of them?
Umm Zakiyyahs books make me think more about many things that I will face in my life even if I am not with her in some small details.
Thank you Umm Zakiyyahs.

[Ashaunda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of living in the same community as Umm Zakiyyah, though at the time of reading "IF I Should Speak?" I had no idea that she was the same sister. lol I enjoyed the book immensely, and this one as well. I know a lot of women may take a certain stance that is covered in this book, but I feel that the author did a wonderful job conveying all the characters and their mind set. Wonderful book.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.85*

[Adeshewa]

Nice

[Ameenah Amusan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ain't able to read d book

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't plan on reading this book anytime in the next few years (for example, because you are too young ;) please DO NOT continue to read this review. I know you are really curious now, so all I will say is that a lot of the book covers an adult topic.



Just from reading the back of Footsteps, I knew the topic of polygyny was going to be part of the book. (I think anyone can figure that out.) While this might be an odd/ different subject to write about, I like how Umm Zakiyyah is open to writing about different topics related to Muslims/ Islam.

Footsteps focuses on Aminah and Sulayman's parents and while I don't like perfect characters, reading about Sarah and Ismael's thoughts and feelings about polygyny was frustrating at times. One minute I was sympathizing with Sarah and thinking Ismael was being silly/ naïve, while in other parts, I felt Sarah was overreacting and had some things she needed to work on understanding, if not accepting initially.

My opinion of polygyny changed since high school when I first learned about the subject and even before reading Footsteps, but I think this book is good for those (adults) who have feelings for or against it just because Footsteps provides different perspectives on the subject. I also think married and soon to be married people should read Footsteps for the same reason.

Besides polygyny, marriage is also brought up in Footsteps a lot (a subject that is becoming more and more relevant in my life...) I liked how the Nation of Islam was also brought up because it was explained and the difference it has to Islam (which many people don't know). The characters of Nusaybah and Alika were interesting to read about and good choices for Umm Zakiyyah to include. I really wish that I had someone like Nusaybah in my life (because of the way she explains things) and Alika, although not so "innocent" was a wise character for the most part.

This book was a little emotional, definitely interesting, and compared to the first two books in the trilogy, I enjoyed reading Footsteps more because this was the first time I read it and not rereading it like the other two. However, I feel like it wasn't a FAV/ I LOVED IT!!!, hence the four stars.

[Becky J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A continuation of the stories of the characters from the first two books - and this one deals with polygamy. It was a compelling read, although at times I felt like I was being hit over the head with a 'women are jealous by nature, men are polygamous by nature' stick. Considering the stance at the end of the book (that seems to be the author's) I'm wondering if that was supposed to be Ismael's thought process? I felt uncomfortable at times, since it felt like the author was advocating polygamy for everyone, but by the end it's clear that her stance is the same as mine: polygamy is allowed, but it takes a sensitive and capable husband to do it right.

When I reviewed 'A Voice' I said I thought it felt like the author's writing style had matured, and that's definitely evident in this book. This time I was able to be totally absorbed in the story without being distracted by anything clunky.

I know some reviews mentioned being frustrated by hearing so little of some characters, but I really enjoyed all the glimpses of the different families and how they live - I can't get over how thrilling it is to read a book and EVERYBODY's Muslim! I'm hoping for some more about Omar and Khadijah in a future book, I just have a feeling there are some interesting stories there.

[Ammena · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have to say I was not as impressed as I was with the first 2. Yes I cried a little in places but it didnt hit home as much as the others, maybe because I had grown used to getting to know Tamika rather than her husbands parents.The general overview of this book is that it follows Sarah and her husband Ishmael as he looks into finding himself another wife in the eyes of a late 20s new muslim, masha'allah. It talks alot about the struggles that women go through to understand this and it also has a character that is the second wife of a man who is friends with Sarah. There are a few surprises and Im glad Ive read it but I would definately not add it to the list of my best books :)

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this covers an uneasy topic and an Islamic opinion,I don't necassarily agree with some of the plot and actions in book Islamically,but from and eductaional view i learned some things i hadn't seen.also heart breaking issues. great insight to a world many will not know.

[Hamidah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am surely not as strong as the protagonist, Sarah...
Nusaybah's comment about not minding the "other" couple's business reminds me of a friend's similar sentiments....hard to swallow...but..if your soul depends on it, will you, too, submit?

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't stop crying.Wow

[بدور · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting & annoying :/ "polygamy issues"

[UmmSolodeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story. Well written. Another page turner for me.

[Aaisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with the rest of the sequel, opened my mind in so many ways and allowed me to see a perspective that answered questions that I'd been contemplating for months. MashāAllah tabaarakAllah, umm Zakiyyah is truly gifted.