American Dervish

Akhtar follows the arc of Hayat’s faith from its inception at age ten to its transformed state as an adult. Through Hayat, the reader observes the motives that can inspire religious faith and the various practices one can follow within a larger religious framework. 

Hayat’s first version of faith inspires hope, confidence, and purpose in a boy caught up in his parents’ turmoil. At the start of the novel, the Shahs visit the local mosque on rare occasions, but their Muslim identities are largely secular. Mina, on the other hand, feels her connection to Allah deeply. In the tradition of Sufi Muslims, she prays and studies the Quran in pursuit of this connection and teaches Hayat to do the same. Eager to please the object of his desire and admiration, Hayat practices the rituals and memorizes the Quran with abandon, but Mina is quick to remind him about the meaning behind his actions:

the only reason to pray [is to] be close to Allah. If you just do forms, it’s useless. Even sitting quietly on the school bus and remembering your intention to be with God—even that is a hundred times better than just going through the motions.