Books
10 Books By Muslim Writers To Celebrate Ramadan
Ramadan 2015 is here, which means you’re going to see your Muslim friends fasting from dawn to dusk for the next 30 days. But — hold up — what exactly is Ramadan? (It's totally OK to ask if you don't know.)
Here's a primer: Night after night Muslims across the world will spend their evenings praying, eating, and swapping date puns (about the fruit, not romance, guys). At sunsets, you'll hear the azan (call for prayer), and everyone will gather — it's pretty gorgeous the way the community comes together.
And for non-Muslims, it's an awesome time to learn about what the holiday means to different people. Just take a look at some of these breathtaking pictures entered in the International Ramadan Photography Competition by photographers experiencing Ramadan all around the globe. (Take a peek... I'll wait.) So, stunning, aren’t they?
Whether or not you’re fasting this Ramadan, consider this an opportunity to explore unfamiliar worlds. Pick up a book by one of these talented Muslim writers who've been making a serious mark literary world. They're writing memoirs and science fiction, graphic novels and poetry — anything you feel like reading, really. And if you happen to look up from your book around 8 p.m., join friends like me at your local mosque. It'll be worth it — we’ll be passing around delicious platters of food (yes, of course there will be hummus and samosas), and there is always plenty for everyone!
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
First up: YA. Make space on your bookshelf right next to the Hunger Games trilogy and the Divergent books for Tahereh Mafi, who has been wildly successful for her Shatter Me trilogy. This beautifully written dystopian novel chronicles the life of Juliette Ferrahs who has been locked away by the Reestablishment for murder. She has supernatural powers that make her touch lethal, and the Reestablishment plans to use her as a weapon. The intensity of Mafi’s metaphors against the backdrop of her protagonist’s world make this book an addictive fast-paced read. Translation: It pretty much has everything you want.
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
You may recognize this book — or at least Willow Wilson's name. That's because she has become widely known for being the creator of Kamala Khan in the Mrs. Marvel series. (Which completely rocks, obviously.) Women in comics are kicking down doors for a new generation of readers, but a throwback to her first novel is worth your while if you haven't gotten a chance to spend time with it yet. In this dystopian techno-thriller of Islamic mysticism (yes, that's a thing!), Wilson fashions a world of hackers, jinns, and revolution. Her protagonist, Alif, named after the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, is a hacker who provides technical service to pornographers, Islamic revolutionaries, and bloggers from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, concealing their identities and locations. But his computer is breached by the state’s electronic security force and his lover’s fiancée is the head of State security. It's every bit as awesome as it sounds.
Where the Ghost Camel Grins: Muslim Fables for Families of All Faith by Linda “Ilham” Barto
Will you be babysitting this summer? If so, you might want to pick up Linda Barto’s delightful collection of fables and illustrations for story time. Her adventurous, funny tales are based on ancient legends from across the world. I'm head over heels for the unique fusion of traditionally Muslim cultural imagery with Euro-American storytelling, which gives birth to a lively set of Muslim American fables. Dotted with pearls of wisdom, Barto’s collection of tales totally shakes things up when it comes to the snooze-worthy old bedtime traditions.
The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalami
Laila Lalami’s mesmerizing third novel is one of those books that will change your world view. The Moor’s Account presents us with a fictional memoir that immerses readers in the story of Esteban, a Moroccan slave arriving in the Americas in 1527. The Moor’s Account was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction (not bad!), so there's a good chance you probably have a pretty solid story on your hands. Lalami’s telling of Esteban’s tale rings of authenticity, and invites readers into a fantastical journey of self-discovery and survival.
A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said by Omar Ibn Said
Muslims in America are as old as the country’s origins, and A Muslim American Slave offers insights into the early history of Islam in America. I was first introduced to Omar Ibn Said by a colleague who showed me some clippings preserved in the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Said, African Muslim who had studied arithmetic, business, and theology before he was enslaved and shipped across the Atlantic, garnered a lot attention for writing on the walls of his prison cell in Arabic after being imprisoned for entering a church to pray. If you really want to get into significant Islamic history during Ramadan, here's a great place to start — his story is eye-opening.
Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi
Nobel Peace Prize winner and accomplished jurist Shirin Ebadi’s deeply inspiring and revolutionary memoir is a manifesto of her life’s work. Yoking beauty and brutality, she reflects on her childhood in Tehran before the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the condition of women's rights. This book will teach you about class, identity, and Iran’s tumultuous history and shed light on the struggle for justice. There's a lot to learn, and this is such a lyrical way to do it.
Arab in America by Toufic El Rassi
This semi-autobiographical graphic novel is revolutionary, and deserves place next to John Lewis’ March for narrating the struggles of a marginalized people. Starting in the '80s and '90s, Toufic El Rassi traces the prejudice and discrimination Arabs and Muslims experience in America. From racist classmates to a gnawing sense of isolation, Arab in America is filled with heart-wrenching illustrations and accounts of his struggles and fears. This is not a light read, OK, but it's super-important, and you'll walk away a better person for reading it; it'll open your eyes to the history of anti-Arab, anti-Muslim sentiments in this country, as well as the need for empathy and understanding in fighting racism.
Sultana’s Dream by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
If you’re a fan of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland , add this one to your feminist utopia list. Muslim feminist and social reformer Rokeya Hossain brings us the riveting tale of young girl Sultana who awakes in Ladyland where men are confined indoors and women have taken over the public sphere, ending a war nonviolently and restoring health and beauty to the world. (Kind of cool, right?) This witty story, in which science fiction meets feminism, will have you smiling at the Hossain’s gorgeous subtle writing and repeating the words of her husband, “A splendid revenge!”
Taqwacores by Michael Knight
I was introduced to Michael Knight’s debut novel through a class I took with him. Go ahead, judge the book by its cover; it really is as radical as it seems, tackling Muslim misfits, punk rock, rebellion, and questions of identity. Propelled by philosophical and religious discussions, Taqwacores is kind of the Catcher in the Rye for young Muslims. A young Pakistani-American engineering student moves into a house full of Muslim punk rockers, who constantly push him to redefine aspects of his faith. What’s even cooler is that the imaginary band willed the Islamic punk rock scene into being with bands like Vote Hezbollah and Secret Five Trial popping up all over the country.
Breaking Poems by Suheir Hammad
Brooklyn-reared Palestinian American poet and activist Suheir Hammad’s book Breaking Poems was the recipient of a 2009 American Book Award and the Arab American Book award for Poetry in 2009. The title alludes to her use of the word “break” in every poem as she seamlessly blends Arabic vernacular with English language and Palestinian American heritage. Her poems speak of womanhood, diaspora, and culture, bridging various identities through lyrical writing. If you're going to fall in love with a book of poetry, it just might be this one.
So, happy Ramadan, all — there's a lot for everyone to be celebrating.
