In her brilliantly vivid and descriptive article, Andrea Elliot is allowed access into a world that very few have seen before. It is the personal story of an Imam, Sheik Reda Shata, and his remarkable journey across tim, space, and culture, into a world he was ill-prepared to meet.
The story begins in present day Brooklyn where Mr. Shata works, then abruptly flashes back to Mr. Shata’s beginnings in Kafr al Battikh, perfectly capturing the juxtaposition between the radically different lifestyles. The reader is led through the dramatic voyage from a politically unstable Egypt with poor living conditions to the striking new modern culture of America.
Upon reaching his new mosque in Bay Ridge, Mr. Shata’s popularity soared. Where his religious sermons were censored in Egypt, Mr. Shata now had the freedom to captivate his audience with his authentic charm, confidence, and wisdom. In attaining the position as the new Imam, he also unknowingly took the position as judge, matchmaker, marriage counselor and police, addressing every concern of the local Muslim community. The story, after being supported by a intriguing base, revolved around the type of concerns that were being faced in the new modern culture, so intensely unlike his life back home in Egypt.
The conflict in the story, when finally revealed, revolves around Imam Shata’s internal ‘reconciling of two worlds’: the traditional and rigid culture and laws of his home, and the unprecedented and glaringly controversial issues that face community in the new American culture. In writing the story, Ms. Elliot does not provide many sources, yet ironically, it is Mr. Shata himself that provides the balance of the conflict. On one hand he welcomes the ‘American’ issues with flexibility and creativity, while at the same time strives to remain firmly attached to the religious laws that guide his everyday life.
The article would clearly be classified as feature writing, as seen from the descriptive lede and colorful anecdotes. The author fully developed the story, setting the stage and then working back in time to demonstrate the long journey taken by Mr. Shata. I Also enjoyed the various ‘gold coins’ laid down in the beginning of the article, of the controversial Big Mac and the scare at the hospital.
The story had many moving parts, yet although the Muslim community has been increasingly exposed to the hard-edged modernity of America, the constant throughout is the unwavering support and leadership of Imam Shata, a man desperately trying to balance two very different worlds.
Awesome review of the story, I enjoyed reading your play by play account and I find your writing quite sharp here.