There is no fine line between real and online online is real and real is online. Now, of course, we live the very antithesis of this. It was up to each individual to decide where one ended and the other began’. Snowden reflects: ‘Back then being online was separate to real life. The book is valuable not only for its exposè of surveillance and control, but also for its interesting – and sometimes amusing – tidbits, such as the description of the ‘good’ days of the internet: the time when the internet was organic and enlightening, before the downfall that is the ‘monetising’ of human connection and ‘surveillance capitalism’. Such analogous perceptions can be made throughout the book. For Muslims, the essence of this dunya is about accountability, about passing the ultimate test through obedience and righteousness. The very preface of the book sets this tone: Snowden writes about the questioning of life choices and about holding himself accountable in doing what he believes is morally right. Not only does Snowden write in a gripping manner (and kudos to the editors for the excellent editing), but the subject of his writing is made accessible through various comprehensible analogies.Īmazingly, and what I didn’t expect at all, was that as Snowden reflected upon his life, I in turn perceived reminders pertinent to my beliefs as a Muslim a parallel function of the book, I found, was its echoing of values and teachings relevant to Islam.Īlmost everything Snowden wrote about resonated with significance to humanity at large, but with particular poignance for Muslims. The book was everything I could have hoped it to be, and then some more.

When I encountered Permanent Record, however, my interest was immediately piqued. At the time I followed the story, but not in much depth – nor, I have to admit, with lots of interest. I was in high school when Edward Snowden made the headlines.

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