Islam portrays as a bad religion and the people who are in the religion are terrorists. However, on the other hand, the religion itself has two sides/faces (like any other religion), there are people who bring a bad name to the faith and they do not practice their beliefs. The other side/face of Islam is that there are the modern believers who bring faith, prosperity, and peace to themselves and to the community. Also, they practice in what they believe (praying, charity, volunteering, and also the faith does not discriminate). Ms. Marvel couldn’t come at a better timing in what is going on in the world right now. The comic brings Islam, modern society/community (in all races), and generally, it brings in what the people are going through on a daily basis. The thing that brought to my attention the most is that they brought the Quran into the comic and that they had a mosque setting. The comic brought such a diverse society through the comic(when you are reading it) and that it shows that Kamala is becoming such a confident, powerful, and funny woman that is bringing justice to the world.
When Kamala saw Zoe fall into the water (when Josh pushed her) Kamala recited the Quran and she stated:
“Whoever kills one person, it is as if he killed all of mankind and
Whoever saves one person, it is as if he has saved all mankind”
The reason why Kamala said that (in my perspective) is that she was learning her new powers and when you recite a part of the Quran, you have a benefit of something not bad happening to you (just like reading a bible). I have been told myself (while I was growing up as a Christian woman and before converting to Islam) is that “if you do harm to someone then harm will come your way and if you do good to someone then something good will happen to you”. One of the things that I liked the most that Kamala revealed herself to Bruno that she was Ms. Marvel, after the fact that she got shot. That reminded me so much of me because I had to hide that I converted to Islam and later on (after I got married), I had to hide my pregnancy from my family.
When Kamala was in the mosque/masjid she was listening to the Imam/Sheik (basically a priest) there was some kind of binder blocking the men and the women. She asked the imam why they couldn’t sit together as a group instead of separated. Islamically, it is to reduce temptation, arousal, smelling of perfume/cologne, or any kind of thoughts (sexually or just having a simple conversation) and it goes the other way around for the men as well. However, if you are doing business of some sort it’s fine but as long as if you keep it clean.
“In most of their secret talks there is no good: but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between men, (Secrecy is permissible): to him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah. We shall soon give a reward of the highest value” (Surah 4.57.114).
As Muslims believing in a certain faith, in which we have to resist ourselves in many occasions, however, as Muslims we have to put ourselves on the front line to help/protect ourselves (from harm) or anyone who needs the help (homeless, charity, etc).
When Kamala went inside the house (with the flying robots), she was warned in not going inside that house, however, Kamala needed to go in there to find out what’s really going on and to defeat the enemies who started scaring the people throughout the neighborhood.
Amina,
This is a really important exploration of Islamic themes in Ms Marvel — I love it! I love the way you’re integrating personal narrative with pieces of the Quran — well done!
Remember though, that it’s important to make sure you’re creating a narrative arc with your writing. Let your readers know what you’re going to talk about, why, and where you’re going to take your readers. That includes making sure that you wrap things up at the end instead of ending on such a cliff-hanger. How does Ms. Marvel transform who an Islamophobic U.S. society constructs as the “enemy”?
I absolutely love where you’re going with this, and I can’t wait to see how you smooth it out and tie it all together!