This story is set in rural Sind, Pakistan in a wealthy Muslim community. Zarri Bano - the lead character - is the eldest daughter of the foremost aristocrat in the region. She is educated, beautiful and has a string of suitors, none of whom meet either her or her father's standards. When however, a man of her hearts does appear on the scene, her doting father is captured by an irresistible jealousy towards this  'other man' who is about to enter the life of his beloved daughter.

The tragic death of Zarri's only brother leaves her as heir to a vast family inheritance, this situation giving Zarri's father a 'legitimate' reason to prevent her marriage in order to safeguard the family estate.  He persuades his daughter to become a Shahzadi Ibadat or Holy Woman.

This refers to an unusual custom that is practically unheard of outside the Sind area of Pakistan.  It involves women 'marrying' the Holy Qu'ran and hence commits them to a life of worship and celibacy. Although this practice is in no way, shape or form sanctioned by Islam – which recognizes the need for each human to have a spouse in order to live a fulfilled life – this remains a tool through which eligible women are oppressed by their men-folk who are more interested in financial considerations than matters of faith.

The author very cleverly explores how Zarri chooses to acquiesce to her father's wishes and forgo her own legitimate marital rights in order to safeguard the family's Izzat or honour. As a Western reader I found it a real eye-opener to begin to appreciate that no matter how educated or independent-minded an individual is, the cultural norm is often still to put the family's wishes before those of the individual.

The remainder of the book follows Zarri's life devoted to religion, although she never forgets her 'first love'.  Eventually Zarri's father sees the error of his ways and releases her from the sentence of celibacy to which he had confined her and in true Mills & Boon, or perhaps the more appropriate comparison is Bollywood, style the couple marry and live happily ever after.

Although the main storyline concerns a rather unusual practise, this book nonetheless offers an intriguing insight into the complex personal, family, religious and social dynamics that are at interplay in Muslim households the world over.

Sabira Sheikh

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Qaisra Shahraz. The Holy Woman BlackAmber Books, 2002.

ISBN 1-901969-12-6, Paperback.  Price £8.99

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