Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

“For a split second, Yusuf thought about using an American version of his name. Joseph? Joe? How hard could it be? […] No. Abba always said, ‘Be proud of who you are. Be proud of the name and everything that comes with it.’”

Yusuf faces an early test and considers suppressing his Muslim identity and using an Americanized name. Instead, following the words of Abba, Yusuf sticks with his Muslim name, creating a brave pattern that he’ll follow throughout the story.

“China Star on the corner of Rochester and First was run by a Mexican family, and their signature dish of kung pao was laced with cilantro. Somehow this made the food even more endearing to Yusuf’s family.”

The detail about the Chinese restaurant counters monolithic representation as it brings together diverse ethnicities. A Mexican family owns and operates a Chinese takeout business, so the family doesn’t confine themselves to Mexican food, nor do they withhold their influence on the Chinese food since they add cilantro.

“Have you noticed how most kids would rather play football or even watch a football game than write code? And they’re so rude here. Nobody says hello, and one kid pushed me.”

Danial turns middle school into a symbol of adversity by attaching it to the word “rude.” The language links to action, as someone pushes him. As Danial bonds football to middle school, the latter becomes an insidious symbol.

“A robber came to terrorize us with a gun, but I was stronger and braver. And I defeated him.”

Abba uses the word “terrorize,” indicating that any kind of violence can qualify as terrorism. His representation of the robbery reinforces his binary view of the world, with his positive traits—strength and bravery—extinguishing the inimical robber.

“Yusuf had never seen anything good on TNN. Even the animal stories were horrible.”

The Texas News Network (TNN) represents the polarizing, unthoughtful media, and Faruqi parodies them with the quip about the animal stories. Within the toxic realm of TNN, even segments about animals, which are typically innocuous or uplifting, become ghastly.

“Something about this injustice made Yusuf stand taller. ‘You’re the one who smacked me with your backpack.’”

Like Muhammad Ali and Prophet Abraham, Yusuf continually confronts increasingly dangerous forms of injustice. His first test involves not apologizing to Ethan, and his brave words impact his body, causing him to “stand taller.”

“Forget about 9/11. Are you looking forward to the football game tonight? I bet some of your friends will be playing!”

Amma doesn’t want Yusuf to dwell on 9/11, not because he doesn’t want her to understand it, but because it doesn’t represent a positive time. Yet Amma inadvertently pushes Yusuf to another symbol of adversity for him—football.

“The 9/11 parade was always a small event organized by Frey’s churches. Hardly anybody showed up unless 9/11 fell on a weekend.”

The history of Frey’s 9/11 parade indicates that people don’t want to recognize the consequences of the attacks. “Remember 9/11” becomes superficial—something people do if it’s convenient and “on a weekend.” Though the 20th-anniversary parade is bigger, it remains uncritical, as the Patriot Sons use it as way to spread anti-Muslim prejudice.

“Your kind has been here in Frey long enough. We Patriot Sons are about to take this town back. This country back.”

Trevor Grant reduces the multifaceted Muslim community to a “kind,” while, concurrently, reducing the other Frey residents to a “we.” The “we” is misleading, as much of Frey doesn’t like the Patriot Sons and diverges from their reductive, bigoted beliefs.

“‘You seem to hate Muslims just as much as Ethan Grant and his father.’ ‘Whatever, dude. I was just trying to help.’”

Yusuf judges Cameron based on his style and relationship to Ethan, leading Yusuf to accuse Cameron of writing the notes. Cameron dismisses Yusuf’s accusation, but Yusuf’s suspicion isn’t unfounded, as Ethan tried to get Cameron to write the notes, but Cameron, proving his complexity, refused.

“You’re not American like me. Go back to where you belong.”

Jonathan uses the same anti-Muslim rhetoric as the Patriots Sons. He connects the past and the present, which supports Rahman’s belief that history shapes the present and continues to impact people in manifold ways.

“Why do you take your shoes off in the house? What is that language your dad is speaking on the phone? Why do you eat such spicy foods? But Jared was okay. He didn’t ask unnecessary questions.”

Jared accepts the differences when he goes over to Yusuf’s house, so he doesn’t make a big deal out of them or acknowledge them at all. However, Jared could ask such questions out of genuine curiosity, not to pester Yusuf or stigmatize him.

“If none of the zoning requirements even applied to their mosque, why were they all there? What exactly was the Patriot Sons protesting?”

The series of questions indicates that the Patriot Sons aren’t protesting the mosque because they’re concerned about zoning requirements or any kind of legality. The protest stems from their anti-Muslim views, and by making the statements questions, Faruqi lets the reader figure out the true reason behind the protests.

“They don’t belong here with regular folks. They should just…leave.”

One of Abba’s longtime customers, Mrs. Geller, speaks out against him and the Muslim community. However, the Muslims are “regular folks”—they’re doctors, business owners, parents, and students. They’re neither terrorists, and, in the case of Yusuf, nor heroes.

“Good always overpowers bad, that is God’s promise to believers. You must remember that, Yusuf. No matter how bad things get, we have to have faith that God will help us.”

As Abba surveys his vandalized store, he maintains his values and his belief in good versus evil. Abba’s binary view of the word manifests later when the New Horizons Church joins the Muslim community and stands up the Patriot Sons together.

“Nobody will guess we’re Muslim! Woo hoo! This is fun!”

Danial’s diction demonstrates his excitement about dressing up as Santa Claus. Danial isn’t ashamed of being a Muslim, nor does he want to repress his Muslim identity, but a post-9/11 US, being a Muslim can come with many stereotypes, and Danial is excited to be free of the burdens for one night.

“You’re the one who’s taking over, not us. You’re the one who thinks it’s okay to hurt people and humiliate them, not us.”

By repeating “not us,” Yusuf undercuts the bigoted formula and presents Ethan as the toxic present, not himself or the Muslim community. As a bully, Ethan is the terrorist, harassing people and making them feel unsafe.

“Someone just has to be brave enough to do something.”

For Yusuf, being a good person involves more than just words. A principled person must be willing to put their values into practice. In other, Yusuf links language and action by continually standing up to Ethan.

“I don’t like that word. Assimilate. It sounds like you have to give up everything that makes you, you.”

Yusuf’s thoughts on assimilation further his complex character. Though Yusuf has a place in the US and contributes to Frey Middle School through computer programming and robotics, he doesn’t suppress his Muslim identity or the parts of him that don’t easily blend in with Frey.

“It was before I knew you. Ethan made me. He said we needed to send a message to our country’s enemies. He said I was being a patriot.”

Jared isn’t prejudiced, but he’s impressionable, and Ethan took advantage of him and pressured him to write the notes. Jared perpetuates anti-Muslim beliefs, but he’s not anti-Muslim, so his characters suggests people should give others time to develop or grow.

“‘What if the laws favor the bullies? Like during the Holocaust? Or after 9/11?’ ‘Then the people must unite against hatred, and choose love.’”

Yusuf connects the genocide of Jewish people to the persecution of Muslims, and he reveals how laws supported both forms of oppression. Abba replies with a common refrain, but “choose love” becomes more than sentimental jargon as the Muslim community and the churchgoers use the idea of love to counter the Patriot Songs and their hatred.

“The only way to fight bigotry and hatred is through accurate information. Human beings fear what they don’t know, so the best thing is to get to know each other.”

Father Hancock’s sermon relates to the motif of media, implying that if the media was more truthful then there’d be less prejudice. At the same time, Hancock suggests that people should stop judging others based on media portrayals—instead, they should “get to know” the people around them.

“Nobody must be scared of reporting a bully, and nobody must be scared of helping someone else.”

Principal Williamson turns her words into action as she implements a zero-tolerance, proactive anti-bullying policy. Emulating Yusuf, Frey Middle School tries to take a principled stand against hate.