In this groundbreaking debut collection, Bilal portrays Black Muslims grappling with faith and race in America. Often told through a slice-of-life approach, TEMPLE FOLK captures various facets of life at different times through the evolution of the Nation of Islam (NOI).

A notable aspect of the collection is its examination of the intersection of religion, race, and patriarchy, emphasizing that while NOI fights for Black liberation, it's not exempt from sidelining Black women. Furthermore, the narrative sheds light on the challenges of adapting religious beliefs to suit the unique experiences of Black individuals in America, a perspective not often explored in fiction.

TEMPLE is the type of literature that requires the readers to "work for it." I looked up NOI's history to better understand the events referenced in the stories and re-listened/re-read a couple of chapters to capture the nuance. Some standouts for me are Candy for Hanif, Janaza, Woman in Niqab, and Nikkah.

TEMPLE succeeds in presenting a mosaic of ideas and invites contemplation on the broader themes of hypocrisy while practicing one's faith, the complexities of sexism/racism in religion, and the evolution of faith within a community striving for liberation.