Religion and Fanaticism in The Kite Runner by Khaled - Essay Example

Religion: This book examines Islamic doctrines in or assumed to be in the Quran. The first example of such an examination is the qualities of a man both from a social and personal perspective. Two characteristics stand out, and these are devotion, and courage. The author uses an impressive approach clearly establishing the importance of these characteristics in a Muslim individual. The character Hassan is in all matters, saintly and courageous. Any wrong or ill light in his regard is not by his own doing but the results of selfish acts against him by others. Hassan is like the biblical David in his childhood, but he takes on a martyr’s ending perhaps to preserve the sainthood the author assigns him (Hosseini 54). These characteristics then set a base for description of some of the celebrated aspects of the Islamic religion. One of the aspects is adherence to love, forgiveness, redemption, and sacrifice to achieve or show honor for the first three mentioned aspects. All these beliefs derive from Allah’s ability to forgive and love even those who out rightly and knowingly transgress against him. Instances where the actions of a character are as a result of religious grounding include Hassan forgiving Amir for the things he did to him. He later on sacrificed his life protecting Amir’s Property while he was hiding from the Taliban in America a clear sign of forgiveness. Courage is also a vital character “requirement” in the Islamic religion. Some analysts’ confer that, the Islamic religion places women who stay home to protect their families at the same level as men who do not war for the cause of the religion. Amir, the Main character and narrator, lacks courage, and this puts him in an awkward position even with his father (Hosseini 76). Amir’s lack of courage causes him to do awful things. He betrays Hassan’s honor by failing to help him and then cunningly getting rid of him to avoid the guilt. These circumstances lead to the emergence of yet another theme associated with the Islamic faith, redemption. Amir wallows in feelings of guilt from as early as twelve years. Amir, in addition to his cowardice, has not tried to seek redemption. The author explores this theme by relaying that the narrator attributes unfortunate events to punishment. Amir punishes himself in several ways during the course of this book. For instance, he marries a tainted woman because of his personal guilt for his past actions. When Sohrab attempts suicide Amir cries out to Allah let this not be fate! All the while, Amir subtly commits himself to his religion. The author also shows the narrators reverence to those who uphold the religion in a manner that downplays others commitments for instance the Mullah. Amir recounts that reciting some verses in Koran which were half forgotten (Hosseini 135). In the face of disparities, the characters refer to Allah or as for the case of Amir, turn back to a once comforting idea. The position of religion in acquiring redemption for ones soul is prominent through out the book. On the other hand, there is Baba, Amir’s father whose opposing position mainly acts as a means of contrast between father and son. Perhaps alluding to some of the fanaticism the nation is bout to face under the Taliban rule, the author through the character Baba states of getting confused on what to learn in school from actual education (Hosseini 15). Hosseini further predicts the future of the characters through Baba who says “...God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands..,” perhaps referring to the looming Taliban rule (Hosseini 67). Aside from out rightly describing the Mullahs as idiots, he paints a picture of misguided fanatics, blind to the reality of the flux state of society. This point of view communicates to the reader about a more receptive Islam religion different from the terrorist kind. It is from this angle that the author examines religious fanaticism. Fanaticism: The author successfully manages to illustrate the full blown influence of fanaticism in Afghanistan. In one setting alone, the author reveals the influence of this fanaticism on both the social and private lives of the citizenry (Hosseini 234). Public interactions in Afghanistan construe to defy socially accepted norms approved on the grounds of internationally accepted standards such as is the case with approved football attire. On a personal level, the author implores the readers mercy on matters of punishment associated with some forms of defiance. “...During halftime, a man and a woman die by stoning for adultery on the same soccer field..,” (Hosseini 234). Though, not known for his ability to elicit the sympathy of an audience to his maximum advantage, the situation he depicts is not only shocking but also desperate. Cleansing using pain and death is also another aspect of the Islamic religion that fanatics embrace to keep other believers in check. Harsh punishments associated with Islamic fanaticism include the stoning of an adulterous couple. The author goes further to use irony to illustrate the eye for an eye employed by Muslim extremists. Amir’s final status at the close of the novel is due to the whims of fate, time and circumstances. For instance, Amir’s cleft lip resembles Hassan’s translating in a literal sense the adage, “an eye for an eye” and an epitome of Karma at its best. The Sharia laws derive an immense deal of guidelines from the Quran. However, critiques argue that some of the laws are self translations meant to achieve selfish purposes. Restricted dressings, restriction on women are some of the biased laws that encourage fanaticism. A representation of the fanatic ideas is dominant in the character Assef, the bully and later Taliban boss (Hosseini 234). Fanaticism is notorious for instigating violence and persecution. So is the case in this book. An example is the disparities between the Sunni Muslims and the Shia Muslims. The Taliban’s actions accomplished but mostly harmful are as a result of religious influence. The author also mentions Hitler, perhaps to the situation in Afghanistan is one that reflects the form of Fanaticism in the days of Hitler (Hosseini 34). Assef uses this statement to justify his actions afterwards when he stones the adulterous couple. The Taliban utilises this approach for its actions within and out of Afghanistan. Killing people or getting people to kill themselves for the religion. The author reflects on the effects of fanaticism outside the Muslim territory with the inclusion of the September Eleven bombing. Controversies: The greatest controversy raised in this book is the corruption of the Islam religion by the conformists rather than by those who take liberal views. The fanatics are the ones responsible for tainting the beliefs of the Muslims. For instance, the focus on homosexual rape as a theme in a Muslim context. The irony is that the person “bestowed the task of punishing transgressors of the true religion defiles young boys. Assef I wearing John Lennon sunglasses during the execution. John Lennon’s sexual life is controversial because of his perceived sexuality. Assef while doing wondrous deeds in the name of the religion still engages in john Lennon like controversies. One wonders whether Assef had so much hate for minorities he would rather sin to punish them. However, his narcissistic nature says otherwise. The liberals, such as Baba, do more honor to the religion than the fanatics. For instance, much as Baba Drunk alcohol and held not so positive views about Islam he is charitable and fair even to Ali his servant. The irony in the class issue is that, during the slave trade, people would convert to Muslims because of some of the doctrines in Islam in regard to slaves and free men (Hosseini 86). The book ends with the main character attaining some form of redemption. Hassan dies for his believes and his loyalty to his friend. Baba shows a final act of love to his son by moving to America to save him and by arranging his wedding. Amir gets to atone for his past by saving Hassan’s son. In religion, forgiveness from a human, though not as weighty as Allah’s forgiveness counts while in fanaticism forgiveness is not in their constitution (Hosseini 283). ‎ Works Cited Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2008. Read More