Books

Aya Brings Arabic to Mainstream Publishing

Aya A. Khalil is the published author of two vibrant children’s books: “The Arabic Quilt” and “The Night Before Eid.” She is also a freelance journalist who has contributed to various notable media. She found a lack of the use of the Arabic language in the book market as well as an underrepresentation of Arab authors. Aya hopes that her having broken through those barriers will open up more doors especially considering Arabic is the fastest growing languages being taught at US colleges and universities. Here’s how:

“My Hair is Pink Under This Veil” Says Rabina

Rabina Khan’s “My Hair is Pink Under This Veil” is out TODAY, the 20th of May, 2021. It is a personal memoir ranging from the journey to wearing the veil, tackling the misconceptions and prejudices after having worn it, to the politics surrounding it around the world. “My Hair is Pink Under This Veil” is an open and bold plethora of real life experiences that relates to everything and anything that has to to with the veil or hijab; it even addresses issues that most people may find too controversial for conversation, the “let’s not get in too deep” kind. That is why we need a book like this on every bookshelf; it’s a book that will stir up discussions that most choose to avoid, but NEED to have! 

Uzma: Owning Her Identity Through Her Books

Uzma Jalaluddin is a published author of two books: “Ayesha At Last” and “Hanna Khan Carries On,” both a means through which Uzma owns her identity. Look out for “Hanna Khan Carries” on, release date April 13, 2021 (available for preorder). Through her books, Uzma aims to instill pride and motivation in one’s own identity, particularly those who have yearned to see a Muslim as the main character in a book. Having grown up in Canada and within a Muslim, South Asian community, Uzma also writes for the parenting column in The Toronto Star Newspaper and has had her byline in The Atlantic. Here is her story on how she came into writing, what void she felt needed to be filled in the book market , her books and on who she is:

Normalizing Black Muslims Stories

As a young girl, published author Rahma Mohamed moved with her family from Somalia to Canada where she struggled with learning a new language but eventually tackled it and became an avid reader, writer and today, a published author, publisher and TedEx speaker. Her mission? “Normalizing Black Muslim Stories.” Read how:

Shereen is “Jasmine Falling”

Shereen Malherbe is a true storyteller whose Palestinian background has greatly influenced her writing. She takes inspiration from quizzical people asking hard-hitting questions or seeking knowledge and turns those questions into a fictitious story that sheds light on the truth or the answers. Here is how:

A Prolific Author “Without Trepidation”

Sahar Abdulaziz is a gifted and prolific author whose collection of published books travel across a broad range of genres, themes and plots in the form of both individual and series. She is an author of eleven books––including The Broken Half, As One Door Closes, Expendable, Tight Rope, Unlikely Friends, Devoted Friends, The Gatekeeper’s Notebook, and her latest release, Unexpected Friends. Her work of fiction highlights the core of very realistic issues and challenges from domestic violence, mental health to romance. She is eloquent, مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ and my favorite quote of hers from my interview with her is, “I believe my responsibility as a writer lies in telling the stories that need to be told without trepidation.”

Her Life in Prose

She writes her life in the form of prose. Although we can say that poetry, in general, is the unveiling of one’s most inner self, Amerah Saleh writes her autobiography in the form of poems in her book, “I am not from Here.” This unique technique truly moves the reader just as prose and rythm normally do, but with a mixture of the speaker’s (poet’s) recollection of the past that has shaped her into who she is today. See interview below:

Breaking Cultural Barriers, One Word at a Time

If I could describe Nazhah Khawaja, I would say that if you are a woman, she is standing up for YOU. I was just speaking to my cousin the other day about how we need a South Asian author who publishes a book about cultural barriers, that we felt it needed to be broken. When it comes to Islam, there are so many spiritual/religious rights for women, but a culture with a patriarchal society puts a barrier up against it. Nazhah found her own way of breaking that barrier in both her personal life and in the publishing industry. For her bravery, my cousin and I applaud her as she did something we have been struggling to do…speaking openly about these cultural barriers or patriarchal society. Nazhah is a single mother and a author of a fictitious story based on realistic and relatable issues entitled, “The Other Side of Life.” Here is her inspiring story:

This Dreamer Achieves-Kazima Wajahat

Kazima Wajahat is not only a published children’s book author, but also a mother, a parent coach and a speech language pathologist! Kazima not only embraces her role as a mother and her role as a professional, but also as someone who has the skills and passion for them. From my interview with her, I discovered that she is a dreamer and an achiever ما شاء. Let’s get to know her:

How much does Allah love me - Hayati

How Much Does Allah Love Me?

Heba Subeh Hyder is a talented writer and I got to know this loving wife, mother and published author of “How Much Does Allah Love Me?”