The Domestic Crusaders

by Wajahat Ali, Ishmael Reed (Introduction)

The Domestic Crusaders focuses on a day in the life of a modern Muslim Pakistani-American family of six eclectic, unique members, who convene at the family house to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the youngest child.

With a background of 9-11 and the scapegoating of Muslim Americans, the tensions and sparks fly among the three generations, culminating in an intense family battle as each "crusader" struggles to assert and impose their respective voices and opinions, while still attempting to maintain and understand that unifying thread that makes them part of the same family.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2010

Reviews

[Miroku Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book on many levels. I look forward to seeing the play, and hope that there is a recorded version that I can use in one of my college classes. It touches on so many issues of great relevance for Americans and American Muslims, and, quite honestly, the world as a whole. It is not a didactic work, not preachy, but multi-faceted and, I think, hopefully without being reductive, very representative of the complexity of the issues that American Muslims face. I am very glad that I read it, and I hope that recorded productions will be made available for distribution for personal and educational use.

[SKCA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most touching dramedy that delves into the lives of a Muslim American family. Each character complex,and familiar emotions and issues portrayed in a fresh new way. A story that lends itself to American pluralism as well as Muslim pluralism. An easy read, a fun read, an important read. Add this to the reading list of anyone from ages 9 to 99.

[Ed Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a pilot for a sit-com. That isn't how it was intended, but it feels like that to me. It would be nice to spend more time getting to know these characters over a season or two.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly the play I wish I could teach in American Lit. Plotting and scheming how to get bulk copies as we speak....

[Mateen Manek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It could be that I grew up in a somewhat Pakistani background (I'm East African/Indian, but we have many similarities), but this play was very easily relatable. Wajahat truthfully captured the lives of many Pakistani (or even just Muslim) families. The entire culture of chai drinking and such was beautifully captured. But there was something that Wajahat did that truly amazed me; his characters, which did follow the Pakistani stereotypes fairly well, were entirely fleshed out. It was easy to understand these characters, and absolutely easy to sympathize with the characters. It was easy to see that he had truly understood these characters, and Wajahat gave life to these characters. That is incredibly hard to do.

The story was simple yet powerful, so you weren't ever confused but you were affected. The characters clearly had motivation and energy throughout the play. If I were looking at this from a director's point of view, this play has a lot of flexibility to play with.

If I had to be picky, there are two things that I have my opinions about. The first is the use of foreign words. I loved this, but in certain dialogues the author tried to have the character translate it. This came off as somewhat awkward, but it really wasn't a big deal. I think the fact that foreign words were used added charm to this play, and the author was trying to be clear. The second thing is in the book, there were footnotes to translate these foreign words. Excellent idea! I learned more urdu (I believe that was Urdu, I could be wrong) than I ever did all my life. However, the issue was that some words (and by some I mean 10%) were not translated. However, the context helped you understand what was going on.

Bottom line; this is a great play to read! Wajahat Ali captured the culture beautifully, and provided fleshed out characters. The story was great, and if this play is ever performed near where I lived, I wouldn't hesistate to check it out.

[Fatima Anwar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the play was very well-written. Coming from similar descent, I could totally relate to the characters and their personalities. It also outlined the ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) concept vividly which is a common syndrome in immigrant families with kids born and raised in US. Some parts also kind of concerned me since I fall into the immigrant family with young kids born here. It highlights the fact that every teen starts developing this dual personality where they pretend to be one person in front of their family and then turn around and have a different lifestyle with friends.
I think it reminds us of very important it is to spend quality time with kids while they're young to develop the bonding...because as depicted clearly in the play, once you get old, you may not have the same energy to even try to bond. Hakim, the grandfather was just too old and Salman, the dad, was too involved at work to spend any more time to understand the priorities of his kids.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to see this performed love, with just the right touch of humor and overblown stereotypes. Nice little glimpse of a Pakistani-American family hanging on to traditions and history while navigating the reality of current life in Amreeka. Of course, we all love grandfather, the oldest, Hakim, and Ghafur, youngest son, they seem to see the truth most easily. But the only character i could never really understand was Fatima, the daughter, so bitter and angry. Perhaps live she would be better. I see my typo, to see this performed love, and i'm leaving it, live would restore the missing love in reading it!

[Wawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centered around the life of a Pakistani-American family, The Domestic Crusaders complicates problems that arise from the different perspectives on post-9/11 Muslim experiences. We see the clash between the parents' generation whose minds are still in Pakistan and their feet are walking the American soil, the oldest son's purely American lifestyle while rejecting any connection to the Old Country (not even the savory curry!), and the youngest children who seem to be laboring to create some synthesis of the earlier two perspectives...

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, an interesting play, and well worth experiencing. Things start getting more interesting towards the end of Act I (i.e., the tension finally starts to build up). I did think the ending, which culminated in a great revelation, was wrapped up pretty quickly, as if the characters wished to bury their problems again (intentionally?). As with most plays, I'm sure watching it in action would've been so much more engrossing.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm here wiping the tears from my face. This was such a beautiful portrait of a Muslim family in a post 9/11 world, even with all the anger and hurt. It was so life-like and vivid, like a dragonfly in a picture that looks like it's about to zoom off the page. I could smell the lamb biryani and chai, it was amazing. I just want to thank the author for it and encourage all to read it.

How I wonder what Ghafur wished for. If I had to guess, maybe Allah's help for all of them.

[Luna Selene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might just be biased after reading a heap of Muslim American literature, but this play did not give me any great revelations or discuss anything ground-breaking. Really, I wanted to stop reading early on. There was little I actually found humorous and I found the dialogue dizzying and the characters inconsistent.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shorter than I remember it being, especially with that kind of abrupt ending. This time around, I found Salman's work story more interesting than the rest of the plot and wish we'd spent more time there. Fatima is not the greatest now with 2022 eyes, too.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Speaks to the playwright's ability to be able to fit an unheralded number of Paki-American tropes into a two-act play.

[Badrul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muslim family dealing with the problems that come with being immigrants. Reminded me of Jhumpa Lahiri

[Ironie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's pile up all possible stereotypical figures in an immigrant Muslim-Indian family and call it a play! Yay!

[Ali Khan Yousafzai · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a perfect depiction of the lives led by immigrants from the eastern side, who are now living in west and are coping with Hybrid Identities and Hybrid Life styles.

[Sarah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up.

[CJ Gerardy]

Read for my Literature of Ethnic America class.