The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice

The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice

   by Zak Ebrahim with Jeff Giles

Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2014

            This non-fiction book is about Zak Ebrahim's life growing up as the son of one of America's earlist Muslim terrorists, El Sayyid A. Nosair  In fascinating detail, he describes how his mother converted to Islam and met his father, what life was like before and after his father's imprisonment and how his own beliefs were formed and transformed by the choices of his father and himself.   Indeed, the story revolves around the enduring themes of the ability to chose, the importance of family and the power of acceptance versus hate.

Personal Opinion and Recommendation

               I found the book a fascinating read.  The story is well told with Zak allowing readers to see into the life of a Muslim family touched by terrorism.  Just as Zak had to confront his ingrained hatred and distrust of Jews and homosexuals, so the reader has to confront his or her's views of muslims. For although, the book does not in anyway condone or forgive the actions of Zak's father and other terrorist's, it does cause a person to see them as people not monsters, and seperate the religious fanatics from the rest of the Islamic community.  I would definitely say the memoir is worth reading and would recommend it to any reader 12 and up.

Task

The purpose of the following webquest is to help readers better understand the cultural and historical references made throughout the book.

Through the completion of the webquest readers will:

• Learn more about Muslim beliefs, practices, and traditions
• Learn more about El Sayyid A. Nosair
• Learn more about the consequences of Nosair's acts of terrorism
• Learn more about the people that inspired Nosair to terrorism

El Sayyid A. Nosair (Zak's father)

http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-na-first-terrorist-20130516…

This article published by the Los Angelos Times in 2013 shares the thoughts and feelings of Nosair after 22 plus years in prison.  After reading the book, it's interesting to get an update on where Nosair is now in life and compare Zak's prespective of this father's actions and thoughts with Nosair's most recent thoughts and reflections as expressed by him to the reporter. 

Acts of Terrorism, Consequences and Reactions

http://articles.philly.com/keyword/el-sayyid-nosair

This website gives several articles that talk about El Sayyid A. Nosair, with some dating back to the time of his crimes.  They talk about how he shot anit-Arab, Jewish rabbi Meir Kahane, relationship with the Blind t Sheik, Omar Abdel-Rahman, his participation in plotting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the unfufilled plot to blow up the United Nations, the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, the George Washington Bridge and a federal building complex housing the FBI. There is also an article about Zak Ebrahim and his view of his father's actions.  These articles give interesting viewpoints and historical background in regards to El Sayyid's acts of terrorism.  As the book focuses more on the family's experience, this information is useful for understanding what was being talked about in the news and the non-familial consequences.

Islamic Beliefs, Practices and Traditions

http://islamicbulletin.org/newsletters/issue_24/beliefs.aspx

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligiou…

http://www.doc.wa.gov/family/offenderlife/docs/handbookreligiousbeliefs…

The three resoures above all give excellent overviews of Islamic beliefs, practices and traditions.  In A Terrrorist's Son there are many references to these religious elements, but are not often explained for the non-muslim reader.  Therefore, these sources allow further understanding of these elements in the book.  I have included all three in this webquest as they each provide a different prespective on Islamic religion.  Religions are complicated and are often protrayed differently depending on the source.  The first website is written by practicing muslims, which take an interesting stand point on terrorism and religious fanaticism, when looking at El Sayyid's actions.  The second website is written for a Catholic audience and after giving the background on Islam, goes on to talk about the relationship between Catholics and Muslims.  Considering that Zak's mother was Catholic before converting and her Catholic mother rejected her after she converted, this view point is interesting.  Also, the essay appeared the same year Al-Qaeda was founded.  Finally, the last website is from the government and gives a secular view of Islam and provides details not mentioned in either of the other sources.  During the book, Zak's family has several encounters with government people and the law and its interesting to see what their view of Islam might be based off of.

Abdulla Yusef Azzam

https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/219/377

This website gives an in depth look into the beliefs and influence of Islamic jihadist, Abdulla Yusef Azzam. Understanding more about Azzam may be helpful when looking at Nosair's actions, as according to Zak, Azzam played a huge role in turning his father to terrorism.  Indeed, Zak's mother says that Azzam's murder was "the moment she lost her husband forever" (pg. 33). The website contains a long list of resources and is published by the "distinguished" research center at the University of New Brunswick. 

Soviet and Afgan War

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanis…

This website talks about the Soviet invasion of Afganistan, the Civil War that made it possible, and the United States' role in the conflict.  This information relates to the book, as at one point, Zak's father want to move his family to Egypt while he goes and fight in Afganistan.  Also, it is this conflict that allows Osama bin Laden (who supported Nosair)  to eventually take control and begin Al-Qaeda.  The site is supported by the U.S. government, therefore hopefully reliable.

Questions for Consideration

The Terrorist's Son gives readers a prespective rarely seen in literature.  Therefore, readers will find much food for thought while reading this book and exploring the quests.  Some questions to consider are:

1) What drove Zak's mother to Islam and what drove Zak away from it?

2) What led Nosair to becoming a terrorist?  What might have prevented him from becoming radicalized? What elements of Nosair's path to extremism might be influential factors for young Muslim men today who are considering joining ISIS?

3) How might you have responded if your father commited an act of terrorism? What would life look for your family?

4) What does Zak teach you about choice? family? hate?

5) What do you think about Zak's viewpoint of religion at the end of the story?  Agree? Disagree? Is it understandable in light of his life?  What would you say to him?

6) What role did Nosair play in the history of Islamic terrorism in the United States? 

7) If Zak had been a student in your class, what would be your feelings toward him? Anger? Fear? Sadness? Other? Is your response different after reading the book than it would been before?

Works Cited

Ebrahim, Zak, and Jeff Giles. The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice. New York City: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2014. Print.

El Sayyid Nosair. Ed. Stan Wischnowski. Philly.com, 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.

Esposito, John L. "Introduction: The Islamic Tradition." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.         USCCB, 1988. Web. 10 May 2016.

"Islam." Handbook of Religious Beliefs and Practices. State of Washington (2013): 40-48. Web. 10 May 2016

"Islam Beliefs and Practices." The Islamic Bulletin. The Islamic Bulletin 19.24 (2009):11-12 Web. 11 May 2016.

McGregor, Andrew. ""Jihad and the Rifle Alone": 'Abdullah 'Azzam and the Islamist Revolution." The Journal of Conflict Studies. The Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society 23.2 (2003). Web. 10 May 2016.

Serrano, Richard A. "Early Terrorist in U.S. Condemns Today's Jihad." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2013. Web. 10 May 2016.

"The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. Response, 1978–1980."Office of the Historian. Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State, 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.