The Brainwashed Fundamentalist

By Rashid Alam

A psychological journey by two brothers, Safwaan and Bilal Syed, initiated by one fateful night that tests the bond between the brothers. On the mentioned life-changing night, Bilal presented Safwaan with an ultimatum: move from their hometown of Ashburn, Virginia across the world to a small village in Pakistan to live life according to Bilal's view of Islam. Safwaan and Bilal grew up in America during the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, navigating the complex balance and struggles of maintaining their Muslim identity while assimilating into American culture. For most Muslim youth in America, this journey was fraught with an identity crisis. They grappled with the challenge of growing up Muslim, embodying a hybrid version of Muslim and "American," or, in some cases, abandoning their Islamic roots altogether, leading lives with little to no concern for religion. This multifaceted approach resulted in a diverse interpretation of Islam among young people in America. They were part of a unique generation of Muslim Americans whose parents had emigrated from predominantly Muslim environments to a world starkly different from their own upbringing. This migration and subsequent assimilation formed what could be termed the "Muslim experiment" in America, an unforeseen blending of cultures and traditions. The Syed family, like many others, found themselves at the crossroads of this experiment. Mohammad and Aisha sought to instill in their children the values and teachings of Islam while encouraging them to succeed in a society that often misunderstood or misrepresented their faith. As Safwaan and Bilal grew older, they encountered the challenges of prejudice, the quest for acceptance, and the internal struggle of honoring their heritage while striving for the American dream. Their experiences shaped their outlook on life and impacted their choices as adults. On the fateful night, Bilal told Safwaan that he decided to give up his life in America and live under the law interpreted by a religious fanatic in a village in Pakistan. Distraught by this decision, Safwaan quickly presents Bilal, with a last minute ditch effort to keep him in America: In one year Safwaan will show Bilal the true path of Islam to abandon the plan to move to Pakistan and follow a puritanical view of Islam. However, Bilal also has an ultimatum: In that same year, he will attempt to convince Safwaan his view of the religion is the correct interpretation. This agreement starts a series of events that lead the boys to fate they never saw coming.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DFWYXMF6
• ISBN13: 9798337895383
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 101 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.2" x 6.0"