Stepping towards Refugee Integration within Host Culture: An Islamic Ethical Evaluation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer in Light of Goksel’s

Abstract

This paper examines refugee integration into host cultures by synthesizing Gulay Ugur Goksel’s theoretical framework—which identifies love, solidarity, and basic rights as essential constituents of integration—with Islamic principles of hospitality, human dignity (Karamat al-Insan), and universal brotherhood (Ukhuwwah). Refugees often confront multifaceted challenges in host societies, including marginalization, cultural alienation, and denial of identity. While Goksel’s framework highlights the human and relational dimensions of integration, Islamic ethical tradition enriches this narrative by framing solidarity and empathy as divine moral imperatives rather than mere social obligations. Drawing upon literary depictions in Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer, this study illustrates how acts of solidarity enable refugees to negotiate their identities and construct a sense of belonging. By integrating Islamic socio-ethical perspectives on displacement (Hijrah) and rights of non-citizens/foreigners, the paper redefines integration not merely as assimilation into the dominant culture, but as a dialogic process grounded in mutual respect, shared moral responsibility, and the affirmation of fundamental human rights.