Celebrating Muslim Literature

“I tried to tell him that the bigots and racists had always been there, and he said he’d honestly never seen them like this, that he never thought they could be like this, and I said yes, I know. I said that’s how privilege works.”

AVLEOS is a YA semi-autobiography of the author, Tahereh Mafi, about a hijabi girl, Shirin who lives in the United States after the event of 9/11. The book centres around her struggles after 9/11 incident, racism, islamophobia and eventually her numbness from the cruelty she had to face. This book will move you and perhaps make you feel uncomfortable since some of the incidents are based on the author’s personal experience, but it’s also mix of lightweight young adult story. A story about first love, learning and unlearning from one another. Mafi’s writing is simple and beautiful. The intensity and emotions; anger, frustrations, sadness, empathy, etc really got me every single time.
- Azzah Farras

It’s Not About the Burqa is a compilation of essays written by 17 Muslim women, discussing about women’s rights in Islam (that a lot of us may be oblivious about), what it means to be a Muslim woman who uses her voice in a racist world, and ending patriarchy within and outside the Muslim community. The book reveals a lot of information inclusive of some hadiths and Quranic lessons in which women are uplifted as how it really should be according to the true (non-biased) Islamic teachings.

This book highlights big themes such as feminism in Islam, intersectional feminism vs white feminism, racism, islamophobia, representation, humility, family, sexuality, marriage and many more. Deeply intelligent and thought-provoking.
- Azzah Farras

Rahman, one of the three Interfaith Amigos who have collaborated on two books, is a Muslim Sufi minister in Seattle, and he compiles "gems" of Islamic spirituality. He cites short verses from the Qur'an, hadith (sayings of Muhammad), and Sufi poets, especially the popular 13th century mystic Rumi; he then offers exposition that teases out the meaning and application of the verse and concludes with short suggestions for spiritual practices. Rahman's frame of reference is Sufism, the mystical school of Islam, so his focus is devotional. Yet he is skilled at weaving anecdotes from his everyday experiences into his discussion of Islamic teachings. Those who appreciate the poet Rumi will be able to locate their literary understanding in a religious context. And non-Muslims can learn Islam's 99 names--attributes--of God, listed in an appendix, a short but powerful devotional and theological lesson.

How does a father pass on to his two sons the essential elements of moderate Islam? Ghobash (ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Russia) does so through a number of letters addressing particular subjects relating to the faith. The author is concerned that his sons understand that genuine Islam is a religion of peace and openness; one that engages with people from different political, religious, and cultural backgrounds. He stresses that radical Islam, with its hatred of the West and its embrace of violence, does not represent the true character of Islamic teachings and practice. To readers who are outside observers of these messages delivered through letters, Ghobash provides a perspective on the religion that has not received much attention in American media in the last couple of decades. He also gives a vision of a possible future where moderate Islam is dominant and is a positive force in the world. VERDICT A useful work for anyone who has an interest in Islam as well as college students writing on the religion in general or its social and political elements.
- John Jaeger

Al-Hassani (mechanical engineering, emeritus, Univ. of Manchester, UK) is chairman of the Foundation of Science, Technology and Civilisation in Manchester, England, which created the 1001 Inventions exhibit at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The official companion to the exhibit, this book addresses the problem of the lack of awareness on the part of many Westerners of how Muslims have contributed to world civilization. It provides a high-quality catalog of technologies invented by Muslims, starting from the early days of Islam and extending through the modern age, divided into seven categories: home, school, market, hospital, town, world, and universe. Chapters are complete with highlights of each invention, biographical information on the luminaries who created them, and several fun-color drawings, photographs, or detailed diagrams of complex devices. Significant quotations and helpful sidebars complement the main text. Researchers will fred particularly useful the reference section, which lists additional scholarly resources on each invention. Also included are a helpful index and a glossary of Arabic terms. VERDICT Available in Arabic and Turkish, this book will spark the interest of general readers, students, and scholars alike.
- Justin Parrott

Revive Your Heart – written by American Muslim Nouman Ali Khan – is an indispensable book, offering guidance that is both bold and heartfelt to modern Muslims navigating their way through a life that is ever more destabilizing.