BEFORE YOU PROCEED, KNOW THAT THIS SECTION IS THE GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF ALL SPOILERS. 

I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU AVOID THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ FROM CHAPTER 1 TO THE FINAL AUTHOR'S NOTE.

I really wanted to avoid adding anything after the Final Author's Note, but after reading through the comments and messages from there, I think there are a few things that need to be cleared up. No, I'm not doing this because I'm angry or anything, but I've seen a lot of people think along these lines and it's probably best to clear the air right here.

***

Arabic and Urdu are languages. Like English, they can be spoken by anyone. English is not restricted to only (I hate pointing this out like this, but) "white people". In the same way, Arabic is not only for Arab Muslims, and Urdu is not exclusively spoken by Pakistani Muslims. In fact, there are a number of Arab Christians who speak Arabic, and Urdu is spoken all over Pakistan and in some parts of India - regardless of religion. Can you imagine if English was restricted to a certain type of people with a certain background and a certain faith? In that case, hardly any of us would be able to read this at all!

Next, Asia is the hub of most (if not all) of the world's religions and of such rich diversity. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and so, so, so much more! These religions don't have language or cultural or racial barriers. They can be practiced by anyone! Therefore, just because I am a non-Muslim does not mean I am non-Asian (and I very much am - can't live without salwars and samosas, ya know :3 OH AND BIRYANI!!!!).

It is certainly not impossible for a non-Muslim to write about Muslims (hey, look at me! ;D). The internet is a lovely, vast source and that makes it possible to learn a lot. However, I do find it mildly off-putting when people think I am not capable of writing this story on my own. I had a slightly easy way out on this because I had wanted a good grade for my Public Speaking class, and so a lot of the research I did for those speech assignments were able to be carried over for the makings of ODaD's plot. Regardless, it did take time, especially since I did not emerge from the womb with all this information.

You don't need to be of a certain background to write about something, but you should be very sure you aren't being biased! (*stares at all of you*) Yes, I do have Muslim friends in reality, however, nobody in my reality knows that I write. Plus, they're not huge readers to begin with, so no, I did not get any help from them. I'm not calling myself a bighearted saint, but I truly do consider everyone (except for jerks...) to be my brothers and sisters, whether they are Christian or not. I never, in my head, ever discriminated people just because they were of a different religion or background than me. And I know I am not the only one who thinks this way. We all bleed the same color. (Although, I think I've read that some animals bleed blue? - LOL not the Indian cricket team! xD But some animals actually have blue blood...or maybe that's some illogical myth and I'm just really confuzzled. I dunno why I even mentioned that because its irrelevant since I'm supposed to be talking about humans here...)

ANYHOO...

On another note, my grandfather was fluent in Syriac, written and verbal, and even went to Syria in the 1930s - way before any of this present nonsense had occurred and yes, once upon a time, Muslims, Christians, and those from other faiths had resided there in peace. He was an Orthodox Christian priest (as was my great-grandfather whom I have never met) for over fifty years. Perhaps my interest in Syria sprouted from flipping through my grandfather's Syriac books and from growing up to chants and lyrical prose in Syriac. Either way, telling me I should not write about a foreign culture just because I have no direct roots from there is not going to sit well with me.

Also, I did not write this story as a means to convert. Life isn't about competing to get the most people to think like you. I know enough to respect Islam and Muslims, but that is it. I am not religiously, spiritually, or emotionally invested in Islam. In other words, I do not have any sort of attachment to it. I am more than happy with my own faith beyond words, and I'd appreciate it if you all would just respect that.

I've noticed the change in demeanor in some people's comments/messages. From a Wattpad writer's perspective, it was initially upsetting but not so much anymore. I could have played along under everyone's assumption that I was Muslim. However, I kept up the facade for over a year to prove a point and if you choose to be closeminded, then I have nothing to say to you. I am not trying to be rude, but I think you would react similarly had someone approached you for conversion into whatever their religion was. My faith is as much a part of my identity as is yours, and I find no reason to hide behind a mask any longer.

Moving on. If you live in the West, or in an area where you see an array of different types of people, you will know that you can't quite give everyone the same label. You just can't fit everyone under the same umbrella. I know very well that Hayat is not the ideal Muslimah character. In other words, she is not the hijab-donning girl with downcast eyes, who avoids males at all costs and recites a Quran ayah every so often. I write from reality. I have Muslim friends who wear abaya+hijab and some others who do not. This is just how they are, and I (nor anybody else) have no room to judge. That does not make them, or Hayat, any more or less closer to their Lord. Spirituality is not wholly defined by solely what you choose to show in the public eye. There is so much more to faith than that.

Now, I have a few bones to pick with the whole "only Muslims can write about other Muslims and Islam" concept. Judging from the vast number of stories on this site (written by Muslims) with non-Muslim characters, non-Muslims are generally depicted as "sinful, horrible people" (this is prior to their obvious and anticipated conversion to Islam...). In other words, they are described drunks, drug addicts, un-religious, un-spiritual, wayward, misguided, lacking any sort of religious and/or "proper" upbringing, God-hating, and (I hate using this word...) "whores" even - among many other negative connotations.

Seriously?

I am a non-Muslim and I can assure you that I am not any one of those things, and I'm definitely not the only one.

If this is the way non-Muslims are primarily described to be in stories written by Muslims, what makes you inclined to think that non-Muslims would be ready to help defend Muslims for who they are?

It is downright rude, one-sided, disrespectful, and a prime example of a double standard.

Respect, understanding and tolerance are not signs on a one-way street. If you want these three things, you need to learn how to radiate respect, understanding and tolerance for others also.

There were many times where I had thought to myself, Why the heck do I even bother with writing this story?, and I wanted to drop the story halfway because of such ugly and horribly researched descriptions of non-Muslims. I'm only speaking for myself here out of frustration, but I did take the time to look things up regarding a religion that is mostly foreign to the way I had been raised. And if you are going to include characters with a religion and culture foreign to that of your own, an attempt to conduct impartial research is pretty much necessary and would be greatly appreciated.

If these indeed are the types of non-Muslims you've encountered, then I am no one to say anything against your experiences. However, if you are describing them to be like this because you believe them to be that way without conducting a bit of research, then that is just messed up. I could have very well portrayed Muslims as they are through the "media" by making it seem like they are all terrorists and anti-everything-that-is-not-Islam. I could have definitely made it seem as though Al-Tho'baan had successfully recruited Hayat as a female militant via Ahsan. I could have portrayed Islam and Muslims in a completely negative light.

But what would that make me?

A bigoted, prejudiced, uneducated, irrational ___________ (insert whatever colorful vocabulary word you want).

Is that what you want to be?

As for not being able to capture the whole essence of Islam because I am not Muslim, I partially agree. I know that I can't ever do so, but I even think that some Muslims also wouldn't be able to do the same. If a non-Muslim cannot capture the true essence of Islam and Muslims, then a Muslim cannot capture the essence of non-Muslims. Tit for tat. If we all just stuck to writing solely what we know, there'd hardly be any diversity or learning involved, even if it is through a Wattpad story.

That being said, this story is not what you would call Islamic (per se) because apart from a few Quran verses here and there, it is not a "Guide to Islam" kind of book. It is simply a story that follows the journey of distinctly different Muslim characters.

Phew, there we go. I am not trying to offend anyone. Again, I am not mad after reading everything, but I just wanted to clear these doubts here since this is probably the best place to do so.

To conclude: I have been showered with a lot of love and kindness in the past week and I cannot thank everyone enough for all the sweet words. Truly, ODaD has gotten some of the best people as readers and I am so happy I was able to interact with you wonderful people on this platform through this story. 

May you all be blessed with health and happiness and cookies :)))