Empowering Women in Islamic Culture in Monica Ali's Brick Lane

Abstract

Monica Ali’s Brick Lane emphasizes on Nazneen’s innermost intellectual vision of Islam that has paved a path for Muslims which binds them to obey its principles. Nazneen initially believes in fate rather than in action. But when she gets to the state of multiculturalism, she grows mentally and gradually starts thinking. She gets aware of the fact that the world in her surrounding is oppressive and male-dominated and she will not be fit to the world of blind faith where rationality is not counted. Till she is in the maze of the Islamic world, she is obliged to obey the dictations of male members first that of her parent and secondly that of her husband, Chanu. Nazneen’s mental growth leads her to fight against superstitions and oppressive principles in Islamic culture. She gets to learn how to use her mind rather than to believe in fate. She defies to walk along the path paved by patriarchy especially that by Islamic culture. Monica Ali does focus on the Islamic feminism that stresses on issues of women in Islam. Ali draws a picture of Nazneen’s world, a world of regular prayer, regular housework, regular remembrance of Karim and frequent visit with Razia. The minute details in Nazneen’s everyday life, the readers observe equally minute changes take place in the relationship of Nazneen and Chanu as it waxes and wanes in response to life’s daily challenges. Why does Nazneen get successful to overcome all problems of cultural differences whereas her husband, Chanu fails to stay in England despite his university qualification? The daughters of Nazneen and Chanu: Shahana and Bibi do seek for liberty in order to put on English dresses which Chanu entirely opposes against. Due to the pressure of anti-women laws in some parts of the Muslim world. women with some degree of education and awareness are beginning to realize that religion is begin used as an instrument of oppression rather than as a means of libration. To understand the powerful impetus to Islamize Muslim societies, especially with regard to women- related norms and values, it is necessary to know that of all the challenges confronting the Muslim world perhaps the greatest of modernity. Islamic feminists advocate women issues that they face in the Islamic culture.