Ramadan is here and Eid is coming up, which means ’tis the season to read books written by and about Muslims. There are many opportunities throughout Ramadan to spend time diving into a good book. Whether it’s during fasting hours, after iftar or just before suhoor, reading a novel that deals with themes of family and faith is just another opportunity to reflect on our place in the world.
Ahead, we put together a list of Muslim authors who tell phenomenal stories that are most certainly worth reading. Whether you’re looking to see yourself in a new story or want to read outside your own experience – from historical fiction to love stories and complicated family reunions to spiritual journeys, here are 6 novels that make for an excellent Ramadan read.
The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain
The Family Tree follows the life of a British Pakistani family settled in Bradford, UK. The novel is stunningly written, reflecting upon the ties of a family impacted by shocking events, while trying to determine what their family means now. It also gives perspective on the Muslim youth that were dealing with the aftermath of 9/11.
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Ayesha at Last is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in a Muslim community in Toronto. It’s an enjoyable romantic comedy with enough depth to get a good discussion started on following your heart, family secrets or religious intolerance in the workplace.
A Pure Heart by Rajia Hassib
A Pure Heart follows the divergent lives of two Egyptian sisters who are not very much alike. Rich in depth and feeling, the novel is a brilliant portrait of two Muslim women in the twenty-first century, and the decisions they make in work and love that determine their destinies.
The Baghdad Clock by Shahad Al Rawi
Set in war-torn Baghdad in 1991 during the Gulf War, The Baghdad Clock centres around two young girls who meet and become best friends in a bomb shelter. Throughout the story, first loves are found, school protests are had, honour is upheld and the fear of loneliness is explored through war and harsh sanctions that change the face of the city and the lives within it.
Minaret by Leila Aboulela
Written with directness, simplicity and force, Minaret follows the spiritual journey of a young woman exiled from her home in Sudan and forced to invent a new life in London, far from the comforts of her privileged childhood and secular education. The novel is a stunning and insightful one about one woman’s journey toward spiritual peace.
As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
Set in war-torn Syria, As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow follows a young pharmacy student’s inner battle between the desire to escape and the guilt of leaving her country behind. It’s a heartbreaking novel that explores the human beings affected by the war: their fear, love and hunger to change the world.
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