Kindness is a Waiting Place by Minnah Arshad

Title: Kindness is a Waiting Place

Author: Minnah Arshad

Genre: Political Fiction

Publisher: Prolance

Released: October 2017

Format: Paperback

Pages: 208

Source: I received a soft copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Related Links: Amazon | GoodReads

Penelope Whitaker sets off for Syria as a relief worker, leaving behind her apathetic suburban life in search of meaning. But when a bombing in Aleppo derails her plans, she finds herself stuck in Istanbul. There, beneath all its beauty, she encounters untold suffering, through the eyes of Ameer, the forgotten Syrian boy, and Mr. Ghanzali, a cheerful professor turned peddler. When she returns home, only to discover a Trump sign on her father’s lawn, old wounds around race, family, and politics resurface. Throughout her journey, Penelope learns to see people as they are rather than as she expects them to be.

Toys Next Door by Sh. Soosi

Title: Toys Next Door
Author: Sh. Soosi
Genre: Children’s Book
Illustrator: Qa’ed Mai
Released: 2019
Format: Board book
Pages: 20
Source: I received a hard copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
Related Links: Author

An easy-to-understand children’s board book inspired by the story of the two gardens in the Qur’an. The perfect gift for kids ages 0 to 7.

Nooh said to the boy,
“Allah gave you more,
but you are not better,
I’m happy with four.”

“Allah gives what He wants
and He takes away, too.
He can give toys to me.
He can take toys from you.”

– Toys Next Door, Sh. Soosi 

The Beautiful Names of Allah by Ibrahim O. Jimoh

Title: The Beautiful Names of Allah for Muslim Children
Author: Ibrahim O. Jimoh
Genre: Children’s Book
Series: Part 1
Illustrator: Faisal Tahir
Released: 2021
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 82
Source: I received a hard copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
Related Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Author

One of the fundamental pillars of tawheed (faith) in Islam is tawheed al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat i.e. the belief in the names and attributes of Allah. It complements believing that Allah is One with no partner or associate in His Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah). Negating any of these makes a person a disbeliever.
Allah is perfect in every sense and His Names are most beautiful. This requires that He be described always with all perfect attributes which negate all their opposites in every sense. This perfect attribute of Allah is what stands Him out as the pure, holy, faultless One. Thus, the anthropomorphic conception of God is a negation of His holiness.
The Beautiful Names of Allah for Muslim Children is a collection of soul-inspiring poems filled with moral and belief teachings for Muslim kids. It is carefully written to familiarize your child with the names of Allah and their significance in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) using analogies, stories, dua’ and lots more.
The poems are sticky and beautifully illustrated to capture the interest of every Muslim child both at home and in the classroom.

Allah is the Fashioner
He gave me two eyes
To see and guide my way
He gave me two ears
To listen to what people say
He gave me two nostrils
To smell and breathe in air
He puts all of them on my gorgeous face
– The Beautiful Names of Allah, Ibrahim O. Jimoh

Adam’s First Day at Madrassa by Iqrah Razzaq

Title: Adam’s First Day at Madrassa

Author: Iqrah Razzaq

Genre: Children’s Book

Illustrator: Iqrah Razzaq

Publisher: Al Qasas Learning

Released: 2020

Format: Paperback

Pages: 28

Source: I received a soft copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. 

Rating: 3/5

Related Links: Amazon

 

It is Adam’s first day at madrassa but he is feeling nervous as he doesn’t know anyone there. Adam doesn’t want to go inside but his sister Fatima is able to convince him to go in to the madrassa. What will Adam think of the madrassa? Join Adam on his first day to find out if he enjoys it.

 

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book, perfect for a bedtime read with your little ones to encourage discussion on Islamic principles, the steps of wudu and introducing the concept of a mosque. Suitable for children between 3 and 6 years. 

The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal by Idries Shah

Title: The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal

Author: Idries Shah

Genre: Children’s Book (3-8)

Illustrator: Rose Mary Santiago

Translator: Rasha Al-Aqeedi

Publisher: Hoopoe Books

Released: September 2015

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle

Pages: 38

Source: I was gifted a soft copy from Hoopoe Books to review for the #ReadYourWorld Multicultural Children’s Book Day event.

Rating: 3.5/5

Purchase: Amazon| GoodReads | Hoopoe Books

 

When a boy visits another village, he is surprised to find the townspeople terrified of something that—just because they have not seen it before—they mistake for a terrible, dangerous animal. With his own knowledge and by demonstration, the boy helps them overcome their fears.

This story is part of an oral tradition from the Middle East and Central Asia that is more than a thousand years old. In an entertaining way, it introduces children to an interesting aspect of human behavior and so enables them to recognize it in their daily life.

One of many tales from the body of Sufi literature collected by Idries Shah, the tale is presented here as part of his series of books for young readers.

Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift | Sadiq and the Bridge Builders | Authored by Siman Nuurali

Title: Sadiq and the Ramdan Gift

Author: Siman Nuurali

Genre: Children’s Book (6-9)

Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar

Series: Sadiq

Publisher: Picture Windows Book, a Capstone Imprint

Released: August 2020

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle

Pages: 64

Source: I was gifted a soft copy from Capstone Publishing to review for the #ReadYourWorld Multicultural Children’s Book Day event.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase: Amazon| GoodReads | Capstone Publishing

 

It’s Ramadan! In the spirit of the season, Sadiq and his friends want to give back to their community. The friends band together to raise money to build a new school for children in Somalia. They decide to put on a community iftar as a fund-raiser, but not everyone agrees where their efforts should be spent. Can they find a way to work together?

Yasmin the Librarian | Yasmin the Scientist | Authored by Saadia Faruqi

Title: Yasmin the Librarian

Author: Saadia Faruqi

Genre: Children’s Book (5-8)

Illustrator: Hatem Aly

Series: Yasmin

Publisher: Picture Windows Book, a Capstone Imprint

Released: January 2021

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle

Pages: 32

Source: I was gifted a soft copy from Capstone Publishing to review for the #ReadYourWorld Multicultural Children’s Book Day event.

Rating: 5/5

Purchase: Amazon| GoodReads | Capstone Publishing

 

It’s library day, and Yasmin is the helper! She loves shelving books, but suddenly, Yasmin discovers that her own special book is missing. How will she find it among all the other books?

Be You by Kulsoom Kazim

Title: Be You: A Journey to Self Transformation
Author: Kulsoom Kazim
Genre: Non-fiction, Self-help
Publisher: Iron Heart Publishing
Released: 2018
Format: Paperback
Pages: 144
Source: I received a soft copy from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Rating: 4/5
Related Links: Amazon | Publisher (e-book) | GoodReads

To help you climb the Mountain of Life. To help you reach for the sky. This book will take you by the hand and the heart along a marvelous journey to attain your best self. outlines the importance of Allah, vision, relationships, self-care, and confidence. It is about the common struggles of women all over the world, and stories of inspirational people to help motivate and bring out the inner you. It has exercises and reflective questions, so you can begin embarking on the journey of ‘being you’ today.

Reflections from the Lives of Umm Musa and Hajar (peace be upon them) as Mothers

Mom Guilt.

What does that mean to you?

Does it mean feeling guilty when you are not there for them?
Does it mean feeling guilty when you think you could be a better mother?
Does it mean feeling guilty when your house is a mess, and your mental state is not at best?
Does it mean feeling guilty when you sneak into your room for some mental peace, or to enjoy a chocolate or two, away from the turmoil of stress?
Does it mean feeling when you acknowledge YOU need time-off from the chaos in your life?
Does it mean feeling guilty that you are doing everything you can, yet there is no peace?

Motherhood – a part of life that may seem to take away a part of you.
And with most mothers, they lose their identity as themselves as they take on the identity of a mother.

Looking at the lives of Umm Musa and Hajar (peace be upon them) as mothers, a major lesson I learnt from them was that they were brave mothers who took efforts and did their part by trusting their gut instincts from Allah, whilst having firm reliance on Him. 

Muhammad – The One Who Is Praised

Mudhammam مُذَمَّمًا – one who is dispraised.
Muhammad مُحَمَّدٌ – one who is praised.

How fitting is this hadith even in this day and age! This hadith that was stated more than 1400 years ago pertaining to a situation that was happening then suits even in our lifetime now.

Read below to see some of my reflections through this hadith: