45 pages • 1 hour read
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet
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Background
Social Context: Understanding Islamophobia
Omar and his family experience the impact of Islamophobia. Mrs. Rogers dislikes them simply because they are Muslim, and Daniel asserts that Omar and other Muslims should be deported with force if necessary. Anti-Muslim bigotry is an entrenched social problem. Zanib Mian shows how learning about other religions and cultures can go a long way to forging respect and appreciation, and bridging differences between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Islamophobia is fear, prejudice, and hostility toward Muslim people. Many scholars consider Islamophobia to be a form of anti-Muslim racism. Islamophobia manifests in many ways: from the social arena where Muslims like Omar’s family are viewed with distrust, to job discrimination, to false media representations that depict Muslims as dangerous—like the biased news stories that influenced Mrs. Rogers’s suspicion. Islamophobia also arises in national politics and international policies that portray Muslims as a threat and attempt to justify discrimination and even military operations against them.
Different factors cause Islamophobia, including prejudice against Muslims based on ignorance about Islamic beliefs. Some see them as a threat to Western values. News stories often show an imbalanced view of Muslims, focusing on Islamist terrorism, or the violence perpetuated by Islamic extremists. Anti-immigration sentiment, spawned by racism and xenophobia, also contributes to Islamophobia, as some people—like Daniel’s cousin in the novel—believe that immigrants with different religions and appearances are “others” and do not belong in their country.
According to an article in ABC News, “Anti-Muslim hate crimes spiked after 9/11 and during the Trump administration.” (Alfonseca, Kiara. “20 Years After 9/11, Islamophobia Continues to Haunt Muslims.” ABC News, 2021). Islamophobia and hate crimes are a growing problem and continue to increase due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. In 2021, the United Nations adopted a resolution making March 15 the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Mian advocates that the key to acceptance and tolerance is education and understanding. Islam is the second-largest religion in the world with over two billion Muslim followers as of 2023. It is expected that by 2050, Muslims will outnumber Christians worldwide (“Muslim Population by Country 2024.” World Population Review). Muslims make up a huge part of the world population. Representing, including, and celebrating the Muslim experience in literature and in life, as Mian does through her publishing companies and her writing, is a significant step toward combatting Islamophobia.
Cultural Context: The Significance of Ramadan
Omar’s family’s observance of Ramadan features largely in the novel. By showing how Ramadan is an important part of Omar and his family’s lives, Mian educates readers about this key component of Islamic faith and promotes the understanding of other cultures and religions. While Omar gives readers a basic understanding of the holiday, it is worth digging a little deeper to understand the powerful significance of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Islam follows the lunar calendar for religious events and observances. This differs from the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun, and accepted as the standard civil calendar by much of the world. Because Islam follows the lunar calendar, Ramadan begins on a different date each year, and can take place during different seasons. When the crescent moon appears at the beginning of the ninth month, Ramadan begins. Ramadan comes to an end when the next crescent moon appears. This marks the start of Eid al-Fitr, the huge three-day holiday that celebrates the breaking of the fast, and that Omar eagerly anticipates.
Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the key beliefs and practices that are the basis of Muslim life and that Muslims commit to fulfill during their lifetimes. The Five Pillars include Shahada, the profession of faith; Salat, daily prayers; Zakat, giving part of one’s income to charity; Sawm, fasting; and Hajj, making pilgrimage to Mecca. The fourth pillar, Sawm, specifically refers to fasting during Ramadan, when Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sundown. They are not even allowed to drink water. By showing self-restraint and abstaining from basic human needs during the daylight hours, Muslims can focus on their spiritual connection to Allah. Omar notes that during Ramadan the “Devil is locked up” so that worshippers are not tempted to sin or break their fast (112).
Omar discusses the Night of Power, which occurs sometime in the last 10 days of Ramadan, usually on the 27th day of the month. Omar understands the Night of Power as a time when one’s prayers are worth more “reward points,” angels descend to earth, and Allah grants rewards. The Night of Power, or Laylat-al-Qadr, is the holiest night of Ramadan and in the entire Islamic calendar. Laylat-al-Qadr celebrates the event when the Angel Jibril gave the first verses of the Qur’an—the Islamic holy book—to the Prophet Muhammad. The night is a time for increased prayers and acts of charity. As Omar says, an act of kindness or good deed done on Laylat-al-Qadr confers the blessings of a thousand months. If one gives up sleep to pray and perform good deeds on this night, Allah will pardon one’s sins.
Ramadan is a vital part of Islam. Understanding its significance helps promote tolerance, respect, and understanding.
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