Chapter 4
1. How do people wind up in the mosque? What does this say about their ‘natural inclinations’ about going in to pray?
2. What is Atiq’s attitude toward the elderly? Why does he feel this way? What does it say about our culture that we are able to think about old people in a different way?
3. Why does Atiq ask for God’s forgiveness so many times? (This is the phrase Astaghfirullah)
4. Why do you think the war veterans are telling the “war stories” that they are? They’re clearly a little ridiculous (like tall tales)…what’s the point of them? What are some memorable features of these stories?
5. On the bottom of page 48 and top of 49, Khadra is talking about how Atiq hates himself and why. Is Atiq a bad guy, or is this a sort of understandable, if unattractive, position for him to be in?
6. On page 50, Atiq is wondering whether he’s being tested by God for enduring such hardships in war only to live in a rotten situation now. The prayer that he starts is lâ hawla wa lâ quwwata illâ bi Allâh
The phrase lâ hawla wa lâ quwwata illâ bi Allâh is mentioned numerous times in the hadith (sayings of Muhammad) as being highly regarded and highly recommended by the Prophet Muhammad. The phrase is a part of daily prayers for many Muslims, and is a common phrase in ceremony and dhikr. It is not uncommon to find the phrase lâ hawla wa lâ quwwata illâ bi Allâh translated simply as there is no power or strength except through Allâh
7. Why is Atiq so surprised when he finally went home?
8. What is Atiq and Musarrat’s relationship like?
9. What’s the situation at Mohsen’s house?
10. Who does Mohsen encounter at the very end of the chapter?
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