Under the Full and Crescent Moon by Aamir Hussain

Reviewed by Sonia Saikaley

Aamir Hussain’s Under the Full and Crescent Moon takes readers into a Muslim society where women, from the Imam to the Circle of Mothers, hold most of the power. Set in the hilltop city of Medina’tul-Agham, the novel brings together an intriguing cast of characters who demonstrate what faith, family and politics mean to them. At the centre of this story is Khadija, a young woman who has lived a sheltered life with her father, the city’s leading jurist. When an opportunity becomes available, her father encourages her to become his assistant. She is nervous but also excited by this chance to put all her education and knowledge to good use. Hussain writes a convincing female protagonist and readers will empathize with her.

The beginning chapters of the novel focus on Khadija’s character development and, therefore, the intensity of the story unfolds at a leisurely pace. It is only when Khadija’s father dies that Hussain builds momentum and increases the action. For readers wanting a fast-paced novel, they might be disappointed, particularly in the early chapters, where the emphasis is more on establishing Khadija’s world than moving the plot forward. However, that excitement eventually comes in the middle of the book. The slower beginning allows Hussain to establish Khadija’s relationship with her father and to give readers a deeper understanding of the society she lives in, but some readers may find that the story takes longer than expected to reach its central conflict.

Khadija is an intriguing character and Hussain portrays her brilliantly, especially after the death of her father. Hussain writes that her “love of learning extended beyond the study of Sharia” and includes an interest in the bureaucracy that keeps Medina’tul-Agham running. However, much of her development happens through conversations and reflection rather than action.

The novel’s strongest relationship is between Khadija and her father. He is her father, but he is also her teacher and mentor. They share conversations, interests and morning walks. After his death, Khadija remembers those walks and imagines her father and mentor “stumping along beside her,” his walking stick striking the ground with the rhythm of a water clock.

This image is particularly moving. There is nothing dramatic about a morning walk, yet after someone dies, ordinary memories can become some of the most important ones we have. Hussain captures this feeling with warmth and compassion. Khadija’s father continues to influence her even when he is no longer there to answer her questions.

His death also forces Khadija to look to herself for support. How do you keep going when the person who was your confidant and support system is gone? Hussain answers this question well through his portrayal of Khadija’s grief. Furthermore, she is not suddenly transformed into a courageous person. There are moments when her spirit unravels and she wants to hide from everyone. “She even started to pray again, which brought her some comfort, especially when she pleaded with God to grant her father everlasting peace and happiness in paradise. But some memory would drive her back to tears, almost violent in their fury, followed by a return of her numbing despair.” With time, she gradually becomes more comfortable trusting her own judgment.

Hussain’s unique setting for Khadija’s story, a society in which women occupy positions of authority, adds to its appeal, but readers unfamiliar with Muslim traditions and Islamic religious laws may find some of the cultural and religious details challenging to follow. Hussain creates a detailed society with its own systems of authority, traditions and religious practices, but there are moments when these details slow the narrative rather than deepen it.

At times, the amount of information can also make it difficult to maintain focus. The novel asks readers to become familiar with a society that operates differently from the historical and religious worlds they may already know. For readers willing to take their time, this creates a rich setting, but those looking for a more immediate narrative may find themselves waiting for the story to move forward.

However, Khadija draws the reader back into the story. She is a fascinating character and readers will want to know what happens to her. Her emotional journey becomes particularly compelling after her father’s death when she must begin making decisions without the person who had always guided her. This is where the novel’s reflective style becomes one of its strengths. Hussain gives Khadija space to grieve and gradually develop confidence in herself.

Under the Full and Crescent Moon is published by Dundurn Press.

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Sonia Saikaley is a Lebanese-Canadian author whose novel The Allspice Bath won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award Gold Medal and the 2020 International Book Awards for Multicultural Fiction. Other works include two poetry collections, a children’s picture book and an award-winning novella. She is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and the Humber School for Writers.