If you have been around Islam for a while you are probably very aware of the importance of stories in the way that Muslims understand themselves and their faith. These stories are, more-often-than-not, associated with the life of Muhammad as they are presented in the Islamic traditions (hadiths). Muslim leaders use these stories to inspire their followers to live for Allah and to expand the reach of Islam around the world. There are, of course, huge questions to be asked about the veracity of these stories. However, no one can doubt their potency in shoring up Islam’s power.
There are probably several reasons for this, many of them associated with the power of narrative itself. For example:
Narratives allow readers (or hearers) to strongly associate with the characters in the stories they are being told.
People get drawn into well-told stories, often despite themselves. This means that stories can convey truths that people would perhaps object to if they were presented ‘straight up’.
Stories are memorable in a way that most other forms of presenting information are not.
Stories, because we are drawn into identification with the characters, can lead people to ask the kind of questions that would never naturally occur to them.
If narratives do indeed have this kind of power would it not be a good thing to use the power of narrative to challenge the truth claims of Islam? This is exactly what I aimed at with ‘The House Built on Sand’. You may already be aware that it is different from my other books in that it is a novel. A novel with a very serious purpose. In telling the story of Emad Elmasry, I subtly challenge people who would never pick up a book overtly critical of Islam’s truth-claims to let their thoughts wander.
Do you have someone in your life who is highly unlikely to read a book like ‘The Mecca Mystery’ or ‘Nothing to do with Islam’? Maybe they need to hear a story! ‘The House Built on Sand’ is exactly such a story. Perhaps you can recommend it to him or her? Or, better yet, get them a copy!
Kind regards,
Peter
‘The House Built on Sand’ is available in both Kindle and Paperback formats. Click here for your copy. UK readers, please use this link.
Please share this message by clicking on the button appreciated. Thanks!