Analysis of "Kite Runner"

1157 Words3 Pages

‘Kite Runner’ is a multilayered story told by Khalid Hosseini and directed by Marc Forster. The paper discusses some of the crucial scenes from movie and connects them with Islamic views. In a scene Amir (while father holding a glass of wine and Amir looking out of window) asks his father that according his religious teacher, mullah, drinking is a sin. If so, why does he drink and if drinking makes him the sinner? Baba gives Amir his own perspective of values and attribute every sin with theft. Amir disagrees with his father initially but afterwards reluctantly admits what he says. Baba expresses anger for Mullahs and prays to save Afghanistan from such people.

In the movie Mullah is represented as the bearer of Islam, he teaches Quran and orders to refrain from drinking. Contrary to the conventional belief of Muslims, Amir’s baba hates such conservative thoughts and presents a more westernized version of understanding Islam. Islam clearly forbids Muslims from wine as Quran reveals it in three phases (over a time period of twenty two and half years).First revelation in Surah Baqarah says there is great sin and some profit in intoxicants (wine) but sin it holds is greater (Al-Quran 5:90).Second revelation in Surah Nisa (Al-Qur’an 4:42) prohibit Muslims to offer prayers in an intoxicated state because with a mind that is befogged, there is very little chance of understanding what is being recited. Finally, in Surah Maidah (Al-Qur’an 5:90) Allah strictly prohibits Muslims from intoxicants.

Right from the beginning of the movie, it is observed that little Hassan is always called as Hazara boy in abusive or discriminatory terms and looked down because of his being belonging to Shia community. Assef and other boys tease Amir and Hass...

... middle of paper ...

...heroic liberation of Sohrab is penetrated with ‘noxious stereotypes’ about Islam and Muslims. Neither Quran nor Muslims favor fascism, homosexuality or pedophilic tendencies. One must consider the post-Soviet war era, civil war scenario and different external forces while watching the movie in order to get a balanced view of religion and people.

Work Cited

Ashrof, V.A.M. (August 20, 2008).The Lure of Satan: Quranic Refutation of Racism. Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6b8s9rYHT5gJ:discover.islamonline.net

Horberg, W., & Forster, M. (5 October 2007). Kite Runner.USA: DreamWorks SKG.

Miller, M.T. (2008, January 5). ‘The Kite Runner’ Critiqued: New Oriantalism goes to the Big Screen [Msg 1].Message posted to http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/kite-runner-critiqued-new-orientalism-goes-big-screen-32097/.

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