The House of the Mosque

The House of the Mosque (Dutch: Het huis van de moskee) is a Dutch-language novel by Iranian writer Kader Abdolah, published in 2005. The book follows the life of an Iranian family during the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, through the Iranian revolution of 1979 and the installment of the Khomeini government, and ends after Khomeini's death. Much of the plot takes place in a fictitious historical city of Senedjan, three hours by train from Qom. In the presentation of real historical events, many names and locations are altered, so that the novel does not pretend to be an accurate description of the historical situation.^[1]

The English language translation of The House of the Mosque was published in January 2010.^[1]

Main themes

The House of the Mosque primarily explores how the Iranian people coped with second half 20th century American influence over Iran. Additionally, the book portrays struggles between the leaders of the bazaar and the religious rule of the imams—and between parents and their children who are caught up in revolutionary ideas and do not follow the old rules of the house.

Kader Abdolah presents ideas in a manner that can be easily understood by European people. Islamic principles are explained, and references to the Qur'an illustrate that it is not just a religious masterpiece but also provides a model for thinking and living in society. The novel depicts the prophet Muhammad as "a Mohammed that Europe needs" (to change common European perceptions of Islam)^[2]

One of the characters in The House of the Mosque, Shahbal, resembles the author, who participated in underground political movements in the time of the Shah and later under Khomeini, and is also now living far away from Iran, in the Netherlands.

Main characters

• Aga Djan - head of the Bazaar and head of the family, works in carpet business
• Alsaberi - the imam of the Senedjan Mosque
• Fagri Sadat - wife of Aga Djan
• Shahbal - son of the blind muezzin, a spiritual son of Aga Djan
• Sediq - Alsaberi's eldest daughter
• Galgal -husband of Sediq, also imam, a close ally of Ayatollah Khomeini, and the judge of Allah later in the book
• Ahmad - son of Alsaberi, later imam in the Senedjan Mosque
• Zinat -wife of Alsaberi, later spiritual Islamic leader of the women
• The grandmas - women that helped in the house and lived there all their lives
• Nosrat - Aga Djan's little brother who left the house for city life
• Djawad - son of Aga Djan

See also

• NRC's Best Dutch novels

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Laksiri Fernando. ""The House of the Mosque": A Fascinating Novel on Iran". Asian Tribune 11 (610). 
2. ↑ Lara Carim (February 2009). "Kader Abdolah:In the kitchen of the writer". University College London. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 

External links

• Het huis van de moskee in Dutch presentation article.
• BBC World Service program, 'The Strand,' 23 January 2010, describes the book and interviews the author .
• BBC program, 'Saturday Review,' 23 January 2010, a panel of readers critique the book .
• Canongate's profile of Kader Abdolah