Religion
The recurrent theme in the novel is religion. The novel is about the Black Muslims in the United States and their efforts to resist the influence of Westernization on their faith. All the stories revolve around Black Muslims' contemplation and conviction of their religion in America. Despite most of the characters being American-born, the reader realizes they have maintained the Muslim traditions and culture.
Spying
One of the biggest threats facing high-ranking Muslim leaders is spying. The United States regularly spies on Muslim leaders to know what they plan to do next. In the story "New Mexico," the authorities appoint a Federal Reserve officer to spy on a prominent Muslim leader to track his steps.
Love
The theme of love is dominant in the story "Candy for Hani," where Sister Norah is dedicated to caring for her disabled child after the death of her husband. Every morning, Sister Norah trips to the local store to purchase Candy for her son. Despite the life-threatening situations she sometimes encounters, Sister Norah is determined to make her son happy. More importantly, Sister Norah wants her son to follow Muslim doctrines and traditions.
