Khadra's Spiritual Journey: Discovering Inner Power

I think one big inspiration for Khadra in her journey is the poet. In their first interaction, I wondered if the poet was real or a vision that Khadra had seen. Yet throughout her journey he is almost a teacher. He shows her how small she thinks of herself. For her whole life, she has believed that Allah will judge all from a distance. “You still think of God as some Big Parent in the Sky, don’t you?” questions the poet. He makes her realize that Allah is always in her heart. She has the power over her religion and not the other way around. She also finds religious inspiration in an unexpected place, a synagogue. Khadra realizes that she has lost part of herself. She experiences a tremendous overpowering feeling of realization. The realization

Teta is a mother to Khadra’s father but also in a way to Khadra. Ebtehaj was never able to see past the halal haram world view. But Teta is. During her short trips to America, throughout Khadra’s life, she attempts to help her speak her own opinions. She is the only one who questions why Khadra believes she wants to marry Juma. Now that Khadra is in her land she can truly show her what it means to be yourself at all times. She takes her to places that take her breath away. She never forces Khadra to do anything or even listen if she doesn’t want to. She simply shows Khadra the other paths that are spread in front of her and gives her the ability to choose.Teta’s last words in the book are “cherish yourself.” She has always looked out for Khadra. She has been the one to make her think of herself. I think she has always wanted Khadra to take hold of her

Prayer is an important connection to Allah. I never realized how hard it must be in a non-Muslim country to find the ability to pray during the day. Khadra struggles with this aspect of religion. At one point, she’s stopped praying but keeps count of those that she misses for later. It isn’t until later when she encounters the poet that she is confronted with her belief of God He tells her that “God is what you think of God.” For her this is blasphemy. But through her experiences in Syria she realizes that her connection with God is personal to her. She can prayer the five daily prayers or prayers, but she can also choose to prayer as she feels. She no longer feels as if she has to follow the stricter version of Islam. Although her parents feel like she is turning from Islam, I find that she’s turning to her Islam. She no longer needs the Dawah center to teach her the ways of Islam. She instead finds comfort her newfound friends and old acquaintances. She finds the love that she was missing in her