Muslim Culture

Kathy’s hijab has been the subject of childish pranks and motherly discontent. The Arabic word “hijab” literally means curtain; it is a means for Muslim women to maintain their modesty. The Qur’an requires women to cover up their “beauty” from anyone except their husbands, children and a list of other family members. A more metaphysical definition of the word reveals that it is a veil that separates man from Allah. One of the more vivid instances of Kathy’s unfortunate situations purported by her hijab finds her in a DMV to get her license renewed. At this point of the novel, we know that Kathy’s mother is discontent with her conversion of religion. When the photographer tells Kathy to remove her hijab for the photo, something in Kathy’s mother told her to protect her daughter’s right to wear whatever she pleased, whenever she pleased.
Prayer in Muslim culture follows strict procedures. For instance, before one begins to pray, they must be cleansed of all impurities, namely, they must be washed with clean water. When Zeitoun was in jail, however, he had no access to clean water; he had to clean himself by dusting himself off. Another thing worth noting is how Zeitoun refused to eat the pork in the jail even though he hadn’t eaten in days. Pork is a prohibited food item for Muslims; the Qur’an states:

“He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Swine are considered filthy and therefore not consumable by those who practice the Muslim faith.