Diaspora and the Reimagining of the Ummah in Leila Aboulela’s The Translator.
Sunday, 5th July, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (UK time).
Brief Outline:
- Introduction: Overview of Leila Aboulela’s The Translator (1999), the protagonist Sammar’s journey from Sudan to Aberdeen (Scotland), and the central thesis on diaspora, identity reconstruction, and the reimagining of the Ummah.
- Diaspora and Identity in The Translator: Analysis of Sammar’s displacement, cultural alienation, grief, and loss of status, and her evolving identity through Stuart Hall’s concept of cultural identity as a dynamic “production.”
- Reimagining the Ummah as an Imagined Community: Drawing on Benedict Anderson’s framework, how the novel presents the Ummah as a fluid, inclusive, faith-based transnational community that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
- Faith as a Tool for Resilience and Unity: Examination of Sammar’s spiritual awakening, return to Islamic practices, her relationship with Rae, and how faith fosters agency, solidarity, and resistance against diasporic challenges and cultural clashes.
- Literature and the Shaping of Collective Consciousness: The role of Muslim literature in redefining community, challenging stereotypes, and inspiring global unity grounded in Islamic principles, with translation serving as a metaphor for cultural and spiritual bridging.
- Conclusion: The novel’s contribution to narratives of spiritual renewal, resilience, and the enduring power of faith in a fragmented, globalized world.
The talk will follow the follwoing format : a presentation from from Dr Khawla and followed by Q&A,