The Language of Secrets
Page 30
All civilizations and religious traditions experience dark moments in their history. The current turmoil in the Middle East reflects a unique set of challenges facing Muslims today: the struggle to reconcile tradition and modernity, to advance democracy and overcome authoritarian rule, and to grapple with the complicated legacy of Western intervention in the region.
For those interested in exploring these questions further, I recommend the following works: the corpus of Khaled Abou el Fadl’s writings, particularly The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists and Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age. For history, context, and commonalities, I suggest Karen Armstrong’s Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence, Richard Bulliet’s The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization, and The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East by Robert Fisk. For an exploration of Islam and democracy, please see Nader Hashemi’s Islam, Secularism and Liberal Democracy.
And for a better understanding of ISIS, there is Charles R. Lister’s The Islamic State: A Brief Introduction, Fawaz A. Gerges’ ISIS: A History, and William McCants’ The ISIS Apocalypse: The History Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State.
For a comprehensive look at the Toronto 18 case, please see Isabel Teotino’s excellent dossier “Toronto 18,” published by The Toronto Star in 2010.
Acknowledgments
While there were many people and resources I consulted in writing this book, no one was of more help than my husband, Nader Hashemi, whose expertise on Islam and democracy, and on Islam-West relations and the broken politics of the Middle East, was an invaluable source of guidance. For the many long and demanding conversations about jihadism, for his boundless patience with my questions, and for these fifteen beautiful years, I thank him.
In addition, I would like to thank the two brilliant Crown prosecutors Sarah Shaikh and Moiz Rahman, who spared so much of their valuable time to instruct me about the law as it applies to terrorism charges in Canada, and to speak about their own very challenging work as prosecutors. They answered an endless series of questions with sensitivity, grace, and good humor. Any liberties I took with the story are my own invention.
My gratitude as well to everyone who works so hard and with such enthusiasm on my books, at St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and Raincoast Books. To Hector DeJean, for putting up with my correspondence, and providing me with so many opportunities to write. To David Rotstein, who designs my beautiful covers, and who gave me such a fascinating look at his process. To Dan Wagstaff for organizing my events in Toronto, and for many brilliant conversations about books. To Fleur Matthewson for her support and enthusiasm, and to Peter Ganim, for his beautiful rendition of the audiobook for The Unquiet Dead.
Many thanks to Ryan Warner at Colorado Public Radio, to the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, and to Ben McNally of Ben McNally Books in Toronto, for hosting my launch events. And to Lisa Casper for working so hard to spread the word. And to Dylan Scott for such brilliant and generous help in establishing my Web site. And to the community of writers and readers who responded with such enthusiasm to The Unquiet Dead, I’m deeply grateful to you all.
To the amazing women who have seen me through every moment of my journey: Elizabeth Lacks, my champion of an editor, who sees things I don’t even know are there, and whose brilliance at understanding the heart of a book is unparalleled. How blessed I was the day my manuscript crossed her desk. And my agent, Danielle Burby, who provides laughter, reassurance, and belief in equal measure, and who has worked so hard on my behalf that I truly don’t know how to thank her.
To Reza Aslan, whose eloquent books inspire me, and whose kindness and generosity opened so many doors for me. And to the communities, mosques, student groups, and halaqas that nurtured my understanding of the Islamic tradition—what beautiful lessons you taught me.
My gratitude to my incredible family and friends, whose love and support buoys me up every day. To the Khans, the Hashemis, the Shaikhs, the Ahmads, and the Raos (Shahjehan!), but especially to Hema, Farah, Fereshteh, Uzma, Yasmin, Semina, Haseeba, Red Velvet Irmy, and Nozzie. And to my beloved Summer and Casim, setting out on adventures of their own.
To Ayesha, Irfan, and Kashif—there is just no love like yours in this life, and no secret history as magical as ours. Here’s to those years in the Ravenscroft house. And, of course, to Gnu Books.
And to Mum and Dad, for your endless love and sacrifice. Dad, you can’t read these books now, but I couldn’t have written them without everything you taught me. You will always be my hero and my conscience.
I left for Ramallah with your letter in my hand.
ALSO BY AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN
The Unquiet Dead
About the Author
Ausma Zehanat Khan holds a Ph.D. in international human rights law. She is a former adjunct law professor and was editor in chief of Muslim Girl magazine, the first magazine targeted to young Muslim women. A British-born Canadian, Khan now lives in Colorado with her husband. The Language of Secrets is her second novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Also by Ausma Zehanat Khan
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS. Copyright © 2016 by Ausma Zehanat Khan. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
“A Grave for New York,” by Adonis, from Modern Arabic Poetry, edited by Salma Khadra Jayyusi. Copyright © 1987 Columbia University Press.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher.
www.minotaurbooks.com
Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein
Cover photographs: sky and moon © Jill Battaglia/Arcangel Images; tree branches © Christophe Meimoon
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-05512-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-5825-1 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466858251
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First Edition: February 2016
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