American Dervish
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American Dervish is a 2012 novel authored by Ayad Akhtar that delves into the life of a young Pakistani-American boy residing in the American Midwest, who wrestles with questions of faith and personal identity. The book has been translated into multiple languages including Italian (La donna che mi insegnò il respiro), Norwegian (Begynnelsen på et farvel), Dutch (De hemelverdiener), Danish (Tavshedens smerte), German (Himmelssucher), and Spanish (El aroma secreto del limón y las especias).
Background
Raised in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield, Ayad Akhtar drew inspiration from his own upbringing to examine the role of religion in the lives of Muslim women through his protagonist, Hayat. The narrative focuses on Mina Ali, a woman who immigrates from Pakistan to the United States following a troubled marriage and subsequent divorce. Residing with her closest friend's family, Mina exerts a powerful spiritual influence on those around her, even as she contends with traditional patriarchal constraints. Akhtar uses this unresolved conflict to reflect broader challenges confronting Muslim communities today. Influenced by literary figures like Herman Melville and Toni Morrison, he integrated verses from the Quran into the novel’s fabric. After completing the manuscript in 2010, Little, Brown and Company purchased it for a six-figure amount just one day after submission.
Plot summary
Hayat Shah is a young Pakistani American boy living in a Milwaukee suburb with his secular Muslim parents who have an unhappy marriage. Mina, his mother’s closest friend, arrives from Pakistan along with her son Imran to escape her abusive ex-husband. Mina breathes new life into the Shah household, forging a strong bond with Hayat by sharing Sufi tales and instructing him in Quranic teachings. Motivated by Mina’s guidance, Hayat aspires to become a hafiz—someone who memorizes the entire Quran—believing this will secure Paradise for his parents. Mina develops romantic feelings for Nathan, Dr. Shah’s Jewish best friend, who contemplates converting to Islam. Dr. Shah, an atheist skeptical of the mosque imam’s intentions, cautions Nathan against conversion. During their visit to the mosque, the imam delivers an anti-Semitic sermon that discourages Nathan. Jealousy over Mina and Nathan’s engagement leads Hayat to betray Mina by alerting her ex-husband, causing estrangement within the family and prompting Nathan to move to Boston.
Dr. Shah forbids Hayat from reading the Quran and destroys his copy by burning it; nevertheless, Hayat continues his studies secretly at school. Despite objections, Mina marries Sunil, a divorced Pakistani man from Kansas. At the wedding, Hayat learns from Farhaz that true hafiz recite the Quran in Arabic—not English as he has been doing—and consequently abandons his memorization efforts for several years. Mina soon realizes Sunil is controlling and abusive, which forces her to return to Kansas.
Eight years later, facing terminal cancer, Mina reveals that Hayat was responsible for sending the telegram; she forgives him before passing away. Following her death, Hayat reconnects with Nathan and discovers they had kept in touch secretly.
Characters
- Hayat Shah – A curious and naive American boy of Pakistani heritage.
- Dr. Naveed Shah – Hayat’s father; an atheist physician engaged in MRI research who struggles with alcoholism and infidelity.
- Muneer Shah – Hayat’s mother; discontent due to her husband’s affairs; advocates for respect and tolerance.
- Amina "Mina" Ali Suhail – Muneer’s devout best friend who profoundly impacts Hayat.
- Imran Suhail – Mina’s spoiled son fixated on his biological father.
- Dr. Nathan Wolfsohn – Dr. Shah’s compassionate colleague and closest friend interested in Islam.
- Ghaleb Chatha – local pharmacist known for his piety and judgmental nature.
- Adnan Souhef – local imam recognized for delivering divisive sermons.
- Sunil Chatha – Ghaleb’s cousin; an unsuccessful ophthalmologist exhibiting abusive behavior.
- Farhaz Hassan – adolescent who has memorized the entire Quran.
- Rafiq and Rabia Ali – Mina’s parents.
- Rachel – Hayat’s girlfriend during college.
- Jason Blum – Hayat’s childhood best friend from elementary school.
Major themes
The novel centers around key themes such as identity, assimilation, and the experience of Muslim life. Hayat struggles to understand his Muslim identity, while Mina and his parents each embody distinct perspectives on what being Muslim entails. Akhtar's intention was to portray the American religious journey through the eyes of a young Muslim boy.
Reception
American Dervish was met with predominantly favorable critiques. The New York Times characterized it as a "confident and smoothly narrated" first novel. People awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars, commending its exploration of universal themes related to faith and belonging. Rayyan Al-Shawaf of The Brooklyn Rail described it as "almost revolutionary," emphasizing its thoughtful analysis of Islamic scripture. Conversely, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offered a less enthusiastic comparison to James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
Reviewers of Pakistani heritage also expressed admiration for the book. Nazneen Sheikh from Toronto's The Globe and Mail highlighted its "flawless replication" of Pakistani immigrant dialogue in American suburban settings. Amina Elahi writing for Divanee called it a "candid and unflinching portrayal" of Pakistani-American Muslim convictions and contradictions.