American Exceptionalism and The Dilemma of Muslim Immigrants in Post-9/11 American Life: An Analysis of

Author(s) : Sajid Ali Lashari, Saima Jabeen, Ahsan Chandio

Abstract:

This paper examines the experiences of South Asian Muslims in America after the 9/11 attacks, from the perspective of novel The Submission. It also analyzes the effects of American Exceptionalism among Muslim and non-Muslim characters. By using Martin Lipset's idea of a distinct national identity of America, the study contrasts pre-and post-9/11 attitudes towards Muslims in America. Just before the attacks, there had been a rise in implicit prejudice against Muslims, but immediately after them, overt expressions of hatred, discrimination, and violence became prevalent. The protagonist, Mohammad Khan, became a symbol of injustices faced by South Asian Muslims, which ranged from denial of civil rights to being evicted, threatened, and ultimately, to forced self-exile. Asma and others like her, met tragic consequences, creating growing mistrust among Muslims against their fellow Americans. This would allow through analysis of these experiences a reflection of some of the implicit, complex interactions between Islamophobia and American Exceptionalism and the ways in which South Asian Muslims were kept marginalized after the attack on 9/11 in America.