MUSLIMS’ REPRESENTATION: A CRITICAL STUDY OF NADEEM ASLAM’S MAPS FOR LOST LOVERS

Abstract

This study critically examines Nadeem Aslam’s Maps for Lost Lovers using a qualitative research design based on textual analysis. It is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Eurocentrism and the concept of the “native informer,” as discussed by Samir Amin and Hamid Dabashi. The research analyzes how the novel represents Islam, Muslim identity, and diasporic life, with particular focus on themes of religious orthodoxy, gender relations, honor-based violence, and cultural conflict in a British Muslim community. Findings suggest that the novel constructs polarized character types, often positioning religious figures as rigid or superstitious and secular characters as rational or progressive. This binary representation tends to narrow the complexity of Muslim identities and may reinforce simplified perceptions of Islam, especially when contrasted with implicitly positive depictions of Western norms. The study further argues that such narrative patterns align with Eurocentric discourse by privileging Western values as universal standards. In this context, Aslam’s portrayal is interpreted through the lens of the “native informer,” indicating how insider critique may unintentionally reproduce dominant Western narratives about Islam. Overall, while the novel addresses important social issues, its representational strategy is considered limited due to its reliance on binary oppositions and selective emphasis, thereby overlooking the diversity and plurality within Muslim communities.