I Refuse To Condemn
I Refuse to Condemn consists of 19 remarkable essays (including the brilliant introduction) by a diverse group of talented individuals who have been accosted publicly, privately, online and offline to condemn or justify heinous acts committed by an individual/minority, despite having nothing to do with said individual or group. Initially outlining the exhausting and challenging reality of being (visibly) Muslim, the writers effectively empower, validate, and strengthen the (Muslim) reader.
What I found particularly notable in this work was the emphasis on how our (well-intentioned) swiftness in condemning every wicked act is not only unproductive but utterly counterproductive. The act of condemnation has been reduced to an empty, apathetic performative exercise, and, as one writer challenges, where do we draw the line? Is a sorrowful Facebook post or outraged Tweet sufficient? Or do we personally knock on our neighbour’s doors, get on our knees and atone for sins we did not commit?
The foul, discriminatory expectations burdened on the Brown, Black, British Muslim community are not only unfair and unjust but demonstrate deep-rooted explicit Islamophobia and racism.
Solely celebrating Brown, Black, British Muslims that “contribute” to society is also wholly counterproductive. Why are Muslim lives contingent on their economic/societal output or contribution?
As Suhaiymah dares,
“Love us when we aren’t athletes when we don’t bake cakes when we don’t offer our homes, or free taxi rides after the event,
When we are wretched, suicidal, naked, and contributing nothing.
Love us then.”
Not only do we refuse to condemn, but we also refuse to capitulate to a society that defines our worth and value on a discriminatory, conditional, case-by-case basis, and expects us to bend over backward to educate the privileged and deliberately ignorant.
I am in awe of how powerful, important, and empowering of a book this is, may Allah ﷻ reward each of the contributors.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Reviewer
Sahar is an avid reader from the UK who writes varied book reviews on her Instagram. An advocate of diversification in literature, she endeavours to amplify the voices of authors that are reclaiming the Muslim narrative. Read her reviews on her bookstagram page @bookifiction and for book recommendations follow her Goodreads page
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