Okay, let's dive into another one of the biggest cliche categories on Wattpad!

The spiritual cliches.

Someone - I don't know who, if I did I don't think I'd have been out of jail - started this trend that stories involving Muslim/Arabian characters just has to be put in the Spiritual section.

Yes, granted that there are many Christian inspiring and breathtaking along with Muslim Allah-loves-everyone stories are in this genre and those are simply beautiful.

BUT BUT what I see nowadays in this genre is these -

BAD BOY'S HIJABI WIFE!

THE BILLIONAIRE'S NIQABI WIFE!

Allah, me and Mr. Billionaire...!!

Ham donoki kismat aur Allah!  (The fate of us two and God)

I have just one question for these writers...HOW DO THESE SCREAM ISLAMIC??

Let me tell you a funny story. One of my Wattpad friends - I have countless bitch *flips hair* anyone who votes is one of my awesome friends! - wanted to know more about my religion and culture. For those who do not know, I'm a proud Muslim, I love Allah/God but I'm kind of a slut. Got a problem, bitch?

And yes, I'm going straight to hell. Oh well. *sips tea* What? I like tea.

Anyways where was I? So yes, she wanted to know more about my lifestyle and I said 'Cool!'

But instead of Googling it like a normal person, do you know what that amazing, most wonderful person did?

She started reading these 'Niqabi' stories.

*eye roll*

Sure, yes. Covering yourself - specially if you're a female - is a big aspect of our religion. So many girls wear Niqabs, Hijabs and Burkhas - Google them if you'd like pictures but PLEASE don't do what she did - in order to protect their body from the 'lecherous' and 'lustful' eyes of men.

Sure. As if men are the one doing the lusting in my case. But ignore me, I'm an unique case.

So what's the problem, you may ask?

Everyone's happy in their own little worlds and religions and I respect all of them seriously....

BUT WHY ADD BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES IN THESE TOO?!!

WHY ALLAH WHY?!

THIS IS WORSE THAN HELL!

Next thing I know books titled 'Bad Boy Billionaire Werewolf's Vampire Hijabi Wife's Illegimate Child' won the Wattys 2017!

...

Don't you dare go getting any book ideas from that or I'll throw myself off a cliff.

For curious people - NO. All Muslims don't wear hijab and burkhas. It's a choice, and I personally think it should be made only when you're completely sure about your love for Allah and ready to devote yourself. It's better not to start anything half-heartedly and then give up later on, only to adopt worse habits than before.

Alsso, we are not born with 'Terrorist' written on our forehead with permanent marker. We don't hate music, songs and/or condemn everyone non-muslim we see to hell. We're not homophobic - well, I'm not, that's for sure.

Imagine it like this - does every Christian you know goes to churches every Sunday? Does everyone stay a virgin till marriage? Does everyone does what they're told to in the Bible?

I didn't think so...*looks at the bad boy stories*

Point is, it's the same for us. There are many evil people among us. Along with many pious people who'll gouge their eyes out if they saw what I'm wearing currently and many normal girls like me who love just being normal.

And honestly, I'll give anything so see Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and any other religious people write their stories in other genres than just spiritual. There's no rule saying you can't write a Muslim Teen Fiction story or an adventure story involving people with different races and tribes and sexuality!

Be different! You may not get super famous like those bad boy billionaire authors but at least, you'd have done something different and unique to change the society.

Thank you. Have a lovely day.

In next issue, we're going to have an important discussion involving racial diversity hardly taking place in books. So stay tuned, because you're gonna learn some serious curses from me.

...what is this? New York Times?

- Zarin