Fardeem Munir

Hana Khan Carries On By Huma Manjra

Ayesha At Last By Fizzah Jaffar

If you’re a South Asian Muslim woman trying to navigate life, this book is perfect for you. Meet the protagonist of Uzma Jalaluddin’s second novel, Hanan “Hana” Khan. Hana, a 24-year-old Muslim Canadian woman, is juggling an internship at an Indie radio station, waitressing at her family’s restaurant, and running her podcast. When a new restaurant opens up and threatens to sink the Khan family business, Hana finds herself stretched thin as she tries to save the restaurant while chasing her passion for radio broadcasting. To make matters worse, the co-owner of the rival restaurant, Aydin Shah, is annoyingly frustrating… but despite it all a special bond is formed. Join Hana as she navigates family, culture, her career ambitions, and a love interest. With a Halal restaurant rivals to lovers arc, finding one’s voice through podcasting, and growing up as a Muslim woman in the 21st century, Jalaluddin does it all and leaves readers wanting more.

A Muslim retelling of the literary classic “Pride & Prejudice”, Ayesha at last, by Uzma Jalaluddin centers twenty-something Ayesha, a hard-working teacher and aspiring poet set against arranged marriage. On the other hand is Khalid, a steadfast conservative Muslim man (who even wears a thobe to work), set to marry whichever nice girl his mother wishes – if he could get outspoken Ayesha off his mind. Their story perfectly depicts the struggles of wanting to follow one’s dreams and be independent amid the toxicity of desi family dynamics and Muslim marriage culture. Moreover, the drama that ensues when Khalid is engaged to Ayesha’s cousin Hafsa is riveting, making this novel a fun, cute, and halal romantic comedy.

We Hunt The Flame By Ifra Waris

Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame is a young adult, fantasy fiction novel, and the first in the Sands of Arawiya duology. Set in ancient Arabia, the novel centers around Zafira, a powerfully skilled hunter who ventures into Arz, the cursed forest, disguised as a man to feed her people. If her identity as a girl is unveiled, all her fame would fade instantly. Nasir, also known as the Prince of Death, serves his father, the corrupt sultan. Unable to escape the confines of his father, Nasir struggles with self-doubt and his underlying compassion. To stop the suffering of her people and the spread of the Arz, Zafira is sent on a mission to retrieve a lost artifact. However, this same artifact is sought by the sultan, who sends Nasir to find it, and kill the Hunter, Zafira’s alias. Things quickly spiral out of control as the two seek their prize, while, unbeknownst to them, an ancient evil arises. With vivid language, rich characters, and fantastical adventure Faizal’s New York Times bestselling novel is a dazzling tale.

Heart’s Turn By Fardeem Munir

Michale Sugich’s Heart’s Turn, is a heart-warming book exploring the act of tawba, or repentance. Through a collection of stories about men and women from different walks of life that have returned to Allah after being astray, Sugich highlights the vastness of God’s Mercy and Compassion. Told through many voices and experiences, this brilliantly written book demonstrates that everyone is on a journey and no matter where someone is today, you never know how they will be guided in the future. A must-read, emotional book for the many of us that face inner doubts and need a reminder of the spiritual power of Islam. Just be prepared with a box of Kleenex because this book is bound to cue the waterworks!

Sea Without Shore: A Manual of the Sufi Path By Fardeem Munir

Secrets of Divine Love By Ifra Waris

For many Muslims, their first contact with Islam is religion shoved down their throats with the invocation of only the fear of God and never His love. For those jaded with the strictness of rules and earning for something deeper, Sufism may hold the answer. Sea Without Shore, is an incredible introduction for anyone interested in Sufism or Islamic mysticism. Through a portrait of the Islamic mysticism that spans seven and a half centuries, Sheikh Nuh Keller, conveys a deeper understanding of the Sufi path while tackling wider theological questions from evolution to divine Wisdom and Justice in the face of human suffering. Overall this book will bring a new perspective to your faith while also bringing you answers to questions you may not have realized you had.

With incredible mastery, author A. Helwa, intertwines Quranic ayahs, hadith, prophetic tales, and beautiful poetry to guide the reader on their journey to discover Allah (SWT)’s Divine love. Secrets of Divine Love approaches the basic practices and foundations of Islam through a lens of characteristic metaphors, scientific evidence, interactive reflections, guided meditations, and of course, Islamic tradition. While discussing Allah (SWT)’s immense mercy, Helwa writes “Allah’s Rahman is like the sky, it covers everything in existence, including us and the worst of our sins. We were created from Allah’s mercy, and the Qur’an was sent like a ladder from Heaven to Earth, so that we could get closer to the Divine. Allah has opened the door for us; it is up to us whether we walk into the palace of His mercy and love.” Written with an open-mindedness for all faiths, the book encapsulates a genuine effort to nurture deep spirituality and provide heartfelt guidance. A. Helwa illuminates the beauty of Islam through her pragmatic guide to finding a deeper connection with the Divine.

Fajr and Noor By Rama Darayyad

As s.hukr puts it, “When you start your day with Fajr, your face starts to glow with Noor (light)”. Fajr and Noor is a collection of meaningful quotes, poetry and daily reminders. Filled with Noor itself, this book guides you with words of wisdom, peace and love. It’s a fun and easy read, and it motivates readers to be not only the best version of themselves, but the best Muslim they can be. The author s.hukr is relatable, especially from the Western-Muslim perspective, and I can definitely guarantee that it’ll make you smile one way or another.

Beginnings By Eman Hamed

Jenna Fliesen, a first-generation, Tunisian-American Muslim poet, wields poetry as a tool to share her Arab upbringing and its relationship to her journey of finding purpose and fulfillment. In her beautiful, page-turning debut poetry collection, “ Beginnings”, she gives readers a glimpse into her inner monologue while also addressing the clash between mental health and culture. While all poems are perfectly crafted and amazing, personal favorites include “Arab Enough” and “To God We Return.” Give it a read!

POETRY

“It comes as a great shock…to discover that the flag to which you have pledged allegiance…has not pledged allegiance to you.” - James Baldwin

By Noraan Mohamed

At age 7 I sit next to friends at lunch, giggling over our teacher’s silly accent and telling stories about our grandparents back home before walking to Jummah salah together.

At age 9 I enter my new public school after mama tells me to pronounce my name Nore-Ann and pledge allegiance to the flag for the first time.

At age 10 I change the way I speak, pronouncing every consonant and vowel The American Way, straighten my hair, sneak shorts to school, and hide it from mom.

At age 11 I sit alone at an assembly Somberly remembering Jummah salah with friends, and fall in love with the sound of the choir as they sing the Star Spangled Banner.

At age 12 I walk with friends to performance halls and fell even harder for music— until it became my new religion.

At age 13 A white peer calls me a terrorist, something I thought only happened on the news.

At age 14 A “friend” rips off my hijab, laughing as she runs down the hall, the fabric in her hand swaying like a flag as I hid and cried in the gymnasium I sat alone in time and time again.

At age 17 I stand for the pledge for the last time, finally understanding that I pledge allegiance to a flag that has never pledged allegiance to me.

At age 18

I bow in sujood and pledge allegiance to my Lord: the One who challenged me but never let me down.

OriginaL POems

By Sara Muttar Tea Time

You pour from an empty cup, Which remains barren, dry, fatigued, Yearning for a drop of tea, Learning to settle for a mere trace of humidity.

Just as you begin to acclimate to the drought, The wisp of a violent wind is drawn. A rutted spiral of leaves lay, Twisting in its wake.

A sullen drop of water falls, Followed by a million more. The sky unravels its anguish, Its tears and fury bombard you.

Peering through the gloom, hunched over, you sit, Shielding the cup with your silhouette From the torrents of rain— So focused on avoiding the storm, You missed your chance to refill the cup.

The storm recedes as quickly as it came. But before indignant despair surges through you, You realize this is monsoon season. The rains will come again.

beginning, miDDLe, enD To start anew is unnerving, Beginnings tease with suspicion, Anticipation that taunts with an ending, I don’t care for a long, arduous plot. I like my movies the way I don’t like my eggs: spoiled. They say the journey is redemption As one laboriously connects the dots, But I’m too afraid to feel and live, So how will I ever journey? Somewhere lurking in the shadows Is the fitna that hinders the beginning of journey But I will never be able to surrender my control. I let trivial things swallow me whole. To forget, to ease, to rescue, To free the mind from control, Is to live from beginning to end Without forgetting the middle