Muslim Voices Rise Up: Favorite Books by Muslim Authors (Guest Post)

Welcome to Muslim Voices Rise Up, a month-long project taking place during Ramadan where Muslim authors and bloggers share their experiences on various topics. This project is dedicated to centering Muslim experiences and showcasing the diversity within our own narratives. You can find more info, along with other blog posts for this project, on the introduction post.

In this post, some bloggers and an upcoming debut author share their personal favorite books written by Muslim authors!

---

Rameela

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Okay first of all, I literally LOVE this cover. The book was so intense and heartbreaking (especially Reaper) and I just LOVE the fantasy, the world building, the characters, JUST EVERYTHING.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

I loved Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series, but I freaked out on a whole new level when I read this contemporary! I honestly tabbed so many pages (and I never tab or highlight unless I find a quote too powerful or absolutely relatable)! I loved the emotion and the story and I wish there had been more!

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

This was a book I never knew I needed until I saw it. A desi/Muslim Pride and Prejudice retelling? Complete with rishta aunties and crazy families?! YES. Honestly, this story was hilarious and witty and just overall so much fun! Forget Mr. Darcy, where’s my Khalid?

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

This book has legitimately taken over my life. I’ve never felt so hyped over a book since The Hunger Games–that was my obsession for all of high school! This has everything I wanted out of an Arabian-inspired world! It has the perfect writing and I love that Arabic is incorporated into the book so perfectly! And also, enemies-to-lovers (AKA the greatest trope to exist)!!! I will never stop gushing about how absolutely perfect this book is!

Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson

I don’t normally read comics but you can bet I picked this up as soon as I heard that there was going to be a Pakistani-American teen superhero! It checks all the boxes of representation including excellent fanfiction writing fangirl of all superheroes! These comics are a blast and I’m really hoping there might be a Kamala Khan movie at some point in the future!

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

This book was my first ever exposure to a book about a Muslim! I think I gasped when I saw the cover because I’d never seen a hijabi on a cover before! And what a delight this book was! It was witty and charming and totally relatable!

Follow Ramleela on social media:
Blog | Twitter | Bookstagram

---

Hanna

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

… while this book is a YA Contemporary, it really shows what many Muslim girls deal with being hijabis and openly Muslim in this day in age. Shirin really resembles me so I guess that’s why I was/still am attached to this book. Also, the romance was too precious, I had to include this book on my list.

Internment by Samira Ahmed

this book really makes you think about the future. This dystopian novel takes place “15 MINUTES into America’s future” really shows what many Muslims fear happening in the future. May Allah protect us all from any harm in the near future. If you don’t know me, books with powerful female roles really kill me and make me soft and “Internment” has a special place in my heart.

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

“The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali” truly presents what I believe many LGBT Muslims feel when in a relationship. Being that I have friends who could DEEPLY connect to this story, it really got me to preorder it and get it as soon as it came out.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

Hanna Alkaf really gave me a new coping mechanism for my anxiety so gotta credit her for that. Also, besides that fact that this is a historical fiction book, Mel is such a powerful girl and we’re all for a powerful female role.

Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali

This is the only book I’ve read that shows how much the community doesn’t really give attention to victims of sexual harassment. When I saw @wordwoonders recommending this book, I saw that the MC was Egyptian and that’s really all that got me to read this book, but I’m so glad that it was more than just a YA book about an Egyptian.

Follow Hanna on social media:
BTwitter | Bookstagram

---

Rumaanah

I’m so excited to share this post with you guys! As part of a brilliant project created by Fadwa and Adiba over on Twitter entitled Muslim Voices Rise Up. This project is all about a public discussion between Muslim readers and writers, as well as shedding light upon our experiences and what is important for our community. I’m so happy to be a part of it!

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

This book is a truly moving depiction of what life is like for refugees and the displacement that comes from leaving one’s home. While the novel primarily focuses on the relationship between Saeed and Nadia, lovers who find themselves adrift once they are in unfamiliar surroundings. Instead of drawing together, they find themselves changed irreparably and it’s heart-breaking and bittersweet to read. This story is deeply important and made more resonant due to the treatment and depiction of refugees in recent years.

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

This book takes you on such an incredible journey spanning from the Alhambra region in Spain to mystical lands further away. I really appreciated the historical elements incorporated into this magical realist tale, as it enables you to learn something new as well as be swept away into the story. I enjoyed every moment of this incredible book, due to the beautiful prose as well as the firm focus on the deeply loving friendship between the two main characters, Fatima and Hassan.

From My Sisters Lips by Naima B. Robert

While I generally prefer to read fiction, I got this book as a gift and was so moved once I read it. The book details the experience of Na’ima B. Robert as she finds her way to Islam and that of other Muslim women. In the mainstream media, Muslim women don’t always have a voice and are often talked over or misunderstood. Books like this one however put the voices of Muslim women at the forefront and provides nuanced and diverse perspectives on their lives, families, relationships etc. I also appreciated the fact that it can also be used as an informative read on those who wish to learn more about Islam and offers an important insight.

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

What I love the most about this book is the sheer span of time and countries Shamsie covers– starting in Japan in 1945 to India post partition then Pakistan, to the USA, it’s mind-blowing. The novel focuses on the impact of trauma on different individuals and how the lives of three families intertwine over the course of their lives. The characters are the real stars of this book – they’re complex and feel so very genuine, you feel for them as if they were someone you knew and that’s the mark of a truly powerful book in my opinion.

Follow Rumaanah on social media:
Twitter | Blog

---

Aline

It makes me so happy to see Muslim authors out there, killing it in the bookish industry and there are so many books by Muslim authors that are SO GOOD and deserve to be read by everyone! Here are some of my favourites:

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

THIS BOOK. It means so much to me, and I related to so, so much of it?? It’s so heartfelt, and important and heartbreaking ahh. I never ever would have thought I would see myself represented to this extent!

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

I loved the Indian rep in this one and I related to it so much as well ahah. I also love how this wasn’t only an Issue Book, and it did feature an Indian Muslim girl, just, living you know, alongside more difficult issues such as islamophobia.

Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali

This book was one of the first YA books I read with a Muslim protagonist, and it was so good?? It broke my heart following a Muslim girl who was sexually assaulted and it was so sad but so authentic and wonderful and hopeful, too?

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

I truly was not expecting this to be as heartbreaking and sad as this was, but it is such an amazing book. Truly. It tackles forced arranged marriage, and culture and I just… my heart. I could cry.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

This was so good! Set in Kuala Lumpur during the 1969 race riots, this historical fiction novel isn’t one I would typically pick up, but I’m so glad I did because it was written so wonderfully and is such an emotional read ahh.

An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

This is the only fantasy recommendation (I definitely need to read more oof) but it deserves all the praise! It is so thrilling and intriguing, full of political intrigue, action and high stakes. SO GOOD.

A few shout-outs to a few 2019 books by Muslim authors I haven’t read yet but am super excited for: Love From A to Z by S.K Ali, The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad, We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi, just to name a few! And there are also SO many backlist titles by Muslim authors I can’t wait to read. But I hope the books I listed above find their way to more readers, because they deserve it so much!

Follow Aline on social media:
Twitter | Blog

---

London Shah

Author of the Upcoming The Light at the Bottom of the World

An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

I love, love, love this series. It’s phenomenal. Laia has my whole heart. What a MC! The entire concept, the fast-paced, twisty, and unpredictable plot, the unforgettable characters, the romance, the premise, the settings, the writing, the whole world-building—and oof, the sheer moodiness of it all! It just broods from cover to cover! It’s brutal and stunningly woven and I could never recommend this series highly enough. Easily one of my all-time favourite fantasy series. Tahir is a natural and phenomenal storyteller, and I am absolutely in awe of her.

Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali

I love this book so much. It’s the first story I’ve read that centres a romance between western practicing Muslims. To write a Muslim romance, set in the turbulent and unpredictable western political climate of today, and to still have readers get swept up in the sweetness and wonder and thrill of first love, is no easy task to pull off. It’s such a realistic portrayal of Muslim love, and the story’s authenticity is its shining light. Such a sincere, honest exploration of how practicing Muslims navigate attraction, how we understand love and marriage. It warms my heart knowing practicing Muslim teens have this to read. We need many more stories like it. Stories that span first love, high school, and college, for all the Muslim teens who practice their faith. They really need to see themselves—especially in such authentic, unapologetic, and uncompromising narratives! It’s such a phenomenal, relevant, fun, special, and empowering read—and leaves you feeling so good afterward!

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

Love this story. So much detail and care has gone into it, and the sense of place is authentic, bringing every setting to life. Beautiful writing, which is also very honest. Vikram is my absolute favourite character, and many times reading this story, I got a Neil Gaiman vibe from the writing. LOVE Wilson’s style. No genre excites me more than urban fantasy. A brilliant read that’s utterly hilarious in places!

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Important and timely. A peak into one American Muslim teen’s life, her hopes and dreams for herself, and everything—from cultural expectations to bearing the brunt of societal stereotypes—that could ultimately stand in her way. So happy to see a variety of Muslim teen stories now being published. We’re not a monolith; we vary vastly in both the interpretation and practising of our faith. ALL of us should have a voice and be heard. I’d like to think dear Maya lives happily ever after and goes on to do everything she dreamed of doing!

Home and Away by Candice Montgomery

Family, friendship, and romance, this story has it all. I love it and Tasia Quirk so much. The way she goes about navigating life! Such a refreshing MC, funny, fab, and fiery. All the characters are nuanced, and all relationships complex and realistic. I don’t even like football and still I was hooked throughout. Tasia rocks!

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Oh how I love this book! Sweet and brave 16-yr-old Muslim Allie’s tale is an utterly fascinating one, and her sheer determination and integrity will absolutely win your hearts. It’s just the most perfect portrayal of identity and growing up. Allie, a non-practising Muslim girl, realises her growing desire to practice her faith. Her persistence in seeking out and practicing what she truly believes in—no matter the challenges she faces—is beyond inspiring. This story is an absolute joy, and fascinating for so many reasons. I’d never even heard of Circassian Muslims until reading it. It’s endlessly interesting! It’s also timely and a great reminder of how every group of people is made up of thinking, feeling individual human beings. An incredibly skilful novel, executed so considerately and honestly. It tackles so many anti-Muslim biases and stereotypes, it should be required reading in schools. A truly poignant tale of self-discovery and finding your place. It’s exactly what we need right now and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

I absolutely love this story. Chakraborty’s writing is so beautiful, so detailed and authentic. So much care has gone into the research of djinn, something I, as a Muslim, am especially grateful for. The MC, Nahri, is intriguing, you never know what she’s going to do next, and as for the love interest—Dara is unforgettable and takes the story to another level. Chakraborty’s imagination is glorious, the stunning and intricate details are vivid and beautifully done, and the characterisation is skilful. A fabulous read!

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Oof, unbelievably authentic and sincere, and no holds barred. To read of such accurate and relatable Islamophobia from a character who’s physically identifiable as a Muslim due to her hijab—and proud of her faith—was a really moving and ultimately affirming experience. Shirin, the MC, is such a joy to get to know—such a nuanced, realistic, and interesting character. If you’ve ever wondered what juggling high school during an incredibly heightened Islamophobic period is like for a visible Muslim, read this.

The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Oh this is such an exceptionally well-written story. So much care and consideration in every aspect of it. The characters are unforgettable and you’re hooked on their fates from page 1. The subject matter and premise are original, utterly intriguing, and so well thought out. The story took my breath away! Exceptional story telling from Khan, and a must-read for all fantasy lovers!

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

This story is epic, refreshing, and intense. Love the romance, and the culture! Best bunch of characters ever, and unexpectedly hilarious in places! Great dialogue and natural banter, I love it. Faisal’s writing is so beautiful & skilful. The setting and atmosphere are amazing. Fantasy lovers are going to adore this one—there’s just so much to love about it!

Follow London on social media:
Twitter | Website