THEMES

‘THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

BY
KHALED HOSSEINI
NURUL ILYANA
ANNIS ELIANA
NURUL HIDAYAH
 • Used Prophet’s name to validate his action.
Forced sexual intercourse with Mariam.
“It’s what Prophet himself and his wife did. There’s no
shame.” (Chapter 11, Page 83.)
Manipulation of
religion to validate
their actions
• Use his position as husband in determining his wives
/ Power abuse appearance – Burka
“Where I come from, a woman’s face is her husband
business only” (Chapter 10, Page 75)
Rasheed
 - Condemning other men for letting their wives walking
around ‘uncovered’, wearing make-up and skirts.
“It embarrasses me, frankly, to see a man who’s lost control
of his wife”
Manipulation of (Chapter 10, Page 75)

religion to validate
their actions - Mariam discovered that Rasheed had a stalk of porn
magazines hidden in his dresser.
/ Power abuse “If so, why did Rasheed insist that she covers when he
thought nothing of looking at the private area of other men’s
wives and sisters?”
(Chapter 12, Page 89)
Rasheed
 Used strict law to deny women’s
rights.
(Chapter37, Page 297)

TALIBAN
Muslim traditions have misinterpreted
the Qur'an's spirit and intentions in the
matters of polygamy, inheritance rights,
purdah (keeping women isolated and at
home), and veiling. These customs
were originally intended to protect
women and even guarantee women
autonomy; they have become instead
instruments of oppression. (Hassan R.,
2015)
 Asra Q. Nomani & Hala Arafa, 2015

Disturbingly, the government of Saudi Arabia

The most cited verse to defend the headscarf
twists its translation of the verse to impose
(33:59) states, “Oh, Prophet tell thy wives
face veils on women, allowing them even to
and thy daughters and the believer women
see with just “one eye.” The government’s
to draw their jilbab close around them; this
translation reads: “O Prophet! Tell your
will be better so that they be recognized and
wives and your daughters and the women of
not harmed and God is the most forgiving,
the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all
most merciful.” According to Arabic
over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves
dictionaries, jilbab means “long, overflowing
completely except the eyes or one eye to see
gown” which was the traditional dress at the
the way). That will be better, that they
time. The verse does not instruct them to add a
should be known (as free respectable
new garment but rather adjust an existing one.
women) so as not to be annoyed, and God is
It also does not mean headscarf.
most forgiving, most merciful.”
 - The Taliban beat women without mercy.
- Laila was beaten by the Taliban when she travelled alone to visit Aziza at the
orphanage.
“If she was lucky, she was given a tongue-lashing or single kick to the rear, a
shove in the back. Other times, she met with assortments of wooden clubs, fresh
tree branches, short whips, slaps and often fists.”
(Chapter 42, Page 343)

- Laila interviewed by the Officer after she, Mariam and Aziza got caught at the
bus station trying to escape.
“ ..it is crime for a woman to run away. You can be prison for running away..” ,
- Offering no protection for the Muslim women
“If you send us back, there’s no saying what he will do to us”
“What a men does in his home is his business. As a matter of policy, we do not
interfere with private family matters”
(Chapter 36, Page 284)
 “For some, like Rasheed, this means using violence
and manipulation to hold power over a few individuals.
For others, like the Taliban, it's about keeping a
whole country of people under your fist.”
Importance of
Education

Hakim - imposed the important of

education to Laila since she was
young.
(Chapter , Page 284)
 - Home-schooled his daughter and give personal lessons
to her every night after dinner.
“So what are we working on tonight? Converting fraction
to mixed numbers” (Chapter 18, Page 143)

- Wants Laila to take advantage of the communist when

they supported the education of women (Chapter 18,
Page 144)
LAILA
● Laila has different views because of her education background
● Speak out her opinion and mind regarding Taliban absurd rules “They cant make
half population stay home and do nothing. This is Kabul. Women here used to
practise law and medicine: they held office in the government..” (Chapter 37, Page
298)
● Not afraid to speak up and go against Rasheed even though it soon caused her to
be beaten/abused by him. (Chapter 41, Page 326)
● Quick-thinker and opportunist – perceptive and future oriented, think ahead on how
she will make use of the situation to benefit her need. So she decided to take upon
Rasheed proposal of marriage for the sake of baby. (Chapter 30, Page 232)
● Smart and strategic person - Well planned escapism - steals money and strategizes
her escapism from Rasheed. (Chapter 34, Page 262)
Mariam
- Accepting the arranged married despite her young age.
- Rasheed’s treatment toward her :
- Belittled her lack of education when talking about Karl Marxist. “You know
nothing do you? You’re like a child. Your brain is empty. There’s no
information in it.” (Chapter 14, Page 104)
- Loyal to her husband and never thoughts of running away
- “The lack of education becomes the obstacles in getting
empowerment.”(Dr.M.Shunmuga & Dr.M.Sekar, December 2014)
References:
Asra Q. Nomani, H. A. (2019, April 29). Opinion | As Muslim women, we actually
ask you not to wear the hijab in the name of interfaith solidarity.
Retrieved November 1, 2019, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of- faith/wp/2015/12/21/as-
muslim-women-we-actually-ask-you-not-to- wear-the-hijab-in-the-name-of-
interfaith-solidarity/.

Hassan, R. (1995). Women in Islam: Qur'anic ideals versus Muslim realities.

Retrieved November 2, 2019, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12346481.

Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). A Thousand Splendid Suns

Theme of Education. Retrieved December 5, 2019, from https://
www.shmoop.com/a-thousand-splendid-suns/education- theme.html