PRESS RELEASE: TEACHING AND LEARNING FROM AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Bismillah!

DALLAS, TX — March 11th, 2023. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released its second homeschooling resource titled Teaching and Learning from an Islamic Perspective by Authors Jameela Ho, Aishah Ho, Maneera Khan, Mariam Seddiq, Taherah Moslih.

Summary: All knowledge is from Allah ﷻ. When we study, the knowledge of Allah ﷻ and His creations should go together. It shouldn’t be separated like it is nowadays. When children learn science, they should be encouraged to marvel at the Creator. Math is a set of patterns. Who is it that created these patterns? Allah ﷻ!

The purpose of this book is to link our Creator to the subjects taught in school. It encourages teachers and parents to find ways to teach about Allah ﷻ and Islam into school subjects, turning it into comprehensive lessons. Each chapter has examples of lessons that you can use with your children.

A Chat with the some of the authors revealed their intentions. Please see below.

More information on the authors is available next.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Chapter 1&5: Jameela Ho holds a Master of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney and a Master of Research from Western Sydney University. She is currently studying and researching factors that affect children’s academic achievement. She blogs on the subject of both education and parenting, each on two separate blogs. ILMA Education (www.ilmaeducation.com) is where she motivates kids to excel at studying and learning. Her Muslim Parenting blog (www.jameelaho.com) is where she helps parents to raise kids with good morals, manners and behaviour.

Chapter 2: Aishah Ho is a mathematics teacher who holds a Master of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney. She was also the head of the Mathematics department at AlZahra College, an International Baccalaureate school. She has twenty years of teaching experience. Apart from being a high school mathematics teacher, she had also worked as a primary teacher teaching fourth grade to sixth grade. She had worked in public high schools as well as Muslim schools, teaching the state mathematics curriculum as well as the International Baccalaureate mathematics curriculum. Currently, she is working on the wonders of Allah's creations and its links to mathematics.

Chapter 3: Meenara Khan is a former math and science teacher from Chicago with 6 years of teaching experience in the United States and Pakistan. Raised in the USA, Meenara’s experiences inspired her to create educational content that highlights Muslim/Islamic life and culture for classroom teaching. As a teacher, she believes hands-on, interactive learning for all ages is the key to engagement and happy classrooms.  In 2020, she received her Masters in Biology for Science Educators from Clemson University, SC. Recently, she became a Cambridge Certified teacher with honors distinction. Meenara continues to provide professional teacher training in Pakistan and makes amazing Muslim/Islamic themed resources! Currently, she runs her online teacher business at The Hijabi Teacher.

Chapter 4: Mariam Seddiq is a history enthusiast who studied at the University of Sydney, Australia, specialising in Islamic civilisation and history. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in psychology from Monash University, Melbourne. She appreciates how interwoven the subjects of history and psychology are in deepening our understanding of people and society. For the past thirteen years, she has been busy teaching history to secondary school students and continues to pursue her research and writing through her website (www.medrese.be).

Chapter 5: Taherah Moslih studied at the University of Melbourne, majoring in neuroscience. Alongside learning about how the brain grows and develops she completed a certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care.  She has been tutoring for 6 years, worked in childcare and is currently a Quran and Islamic Studies teacher at the PGCC Maktab. EasyTeaching (@easyteaching.melb) is where she teaches educators and parents about children’s unique brains, learning differences and psychologically proven learning strategies.

Teaching and Learning from an Islamic Perspective is available in paperback and eBook on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: SECRETS IN THE WIND

Bismillah!

A POIGNANT COMING OF AGE ORIGINAL STORY!

DALLAS, TX — February 15th, 2023. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the young adult thriller novel titled Secrets in the Wind written by Rumki Chowdhury.

Summary: Asha is a teenager hoping to get to know her Bengali culture on a deeper level by taking a vacation with her parents from America to Bangladesh. There, she meets her cousin, Kushi, with whom she hopes to form an immediate sisterly bond. However, her hopes are crushed when she senses Kushi is hiding a deep and dark secret. She eventually discovers that her cousin is being stalked and tormented by an older male. After Kushi opens up to Asha about the details, Asha wonders if she can help her cousin. Soon, she realizes that Kushi is just one of many young girls who fall victim to stalkers and child marriage in Bangladesh every year. Will Asha and Kushi be able to escape the wrath of one such monster?

Review

“Returning to Bangladesh after many years since her last visit, it’s a pleasure to follow along as Asha catches up with her family, and takes in the delightful surroundings in Secrets in the Wind. Along the journey, Chowdhury delicately reveals a disturbing and too-common social problem that Asha’s relatives have not escaped. Asha’s youthful and uncontrived approach to the situation made for a compelling read. It’s not a fairytale ending, but an honest-feeling one. I hope to follow Asha along on more life explorations or at least enjoy more of Chowdhury’s tales…The first story I have read by a Bangladeshi Author; an Honor.”— Brooke Benoit

The author also shared some of her motivations for writing a novel on the grey areas of Bangladesh. Check them out below.

1.    Why did you decide to author this particular story? 

I remember hearing about real life stalker victim stories in Bangladesh.

When I began researching deeper into the topic, I realized that it was actually a common struggle among young girls in Bangladesh. Moreover, due to societal pressures of Bengali norms, thereby the lack of support most victims receive from their own family members, these girls often choose to keep silent or are encouraged to keep quiet about their tormentors. 

There are many different reasons that trigger the girls to feel ashamed, guilty and consequently, alone in their battles. A lot of those reasons are highlighted in my novel, "Secrets in the Wind." I recently travelled back to Bangladesh and spoke to one such victim. I told her about my novel, and it touched my heart when she said that I understood her situation although I knew that deep down, I never truly could understand her circumstances. She is a survivor, a champion, but in that gain, she had also lost some things. What I wanted to do was show that yes, Bangladesh is a beautiful country with beautiful souls, but like any country, there are those dark alleyways that we need to shed light on. 

I can only pray that my own daughters feel that they can turn to me in their time of need and guidance instead of choosing to remain silent for fear of disappointing me.

2. What else do you want the reader or the prospective buyer to know?

I am hoping that "Secrets in the Wind" is one of those stories that propels the reader to ask the tough, deep questions and thus, empathize with the characters. When I read a thought-provoking book, I end up closing it at the end and releasing a long sigh as if my eyelids had just been pulled open. And I hold the book in my hands, looking at it longingly for a bit before putting it down. I want my readers to be able to do that when they have read all the way through to the end of "Secrets in the Wind." 

“Every country has hidden gems, but it also has those hidden dark alleyways desperate for light. You can shed that light through the power of written and spoken words.”— Rumki Chowdhury

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rumki Chowdhury was born in Bangladesh and grew up in the USA. She has also lived in the UK and Sweden. With an MA in English Literature from The Queen Mary University of London and a BA in English Writing from The William Paterson University of New Jersey, her literary experiences expand from journalism to publishing companies like Simon and Schuster Inc., Pearson Higher Education Publishing, The Herald Newspaper and The Record Newspaper. Rumki’s previous book publications include So Complicated: A “he vs. she'' romantic comedy/women’s fiction that won Honorable Mention at The New York Book Festival, Second Place at UK’s The Wishing Shelf Award and Finalist for Humor at The Pacific Writer’s Award. She has also authored Her Feet Chime, the first and only Bangladeshi version of a Cinderella story written in English. Moreover, 100% of profits from her poetry book, Unveiled, go to helping the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh via Restless Beings. Another poem was published in Hijri, a collection of stories by various authors. Her memoir was also published in Your Story with Musart, a collection of inspirational stories by various authors. Secrets in the Wind is her first work of fiction/thriller in the YA department. In addition, Rumki provides her own editing services to authors and various media including Bengalis of New York, The World Hijab Day Organization and Hayati Magazine. She is an active blogger on writing advice via www.rumki.com and Social Media @rumkitheauthor.

Secrets in the Winds is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: HIJRI — A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES

Bismillah.

Assalamu aleikum!

DALLAS, TX — September 29th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the anthology HIJRI: A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES Written by Rumki Chowdhury, Papatia Feauxzar, Sana Khan, Shoohada Khanom, and Umm Afraz Muhammed.

Summary: Hijri is the cornerstone of the Islamic way of life. Without it, Muslims would not be able to observe and perform their religious rituals. Hijri is also a time marker that helps us locate significant events in time, space, history, and in our daily lives. While it may seem elusive to many, we believe it’s a flexible calendar. It easily adjusts to each user’s schedule. For instance, all Muslims will consistently celebrate and observe holy or auspicious days within three days of each other and their ibadahs are still valid.

In this anthology titled HIJRI, acclaimed Muslim authors come together to tell their stories centered and surrounding the Islamic calendar. In their poignant accounts and tales, they share their hopes, their losses and most importantly their wins because the believer is always grateful for every situation.

Above all, HIJRI shows how Muslimah writers have mindfully reclaimed their rightful time frame for the only One that truly matters.

Some of the authors shared their reasons for writing their pieces. Check them out below.

“I wrote a poem focusing on Hajj beginning with the first time I did hajj with my parents and my brother, reminding myself of a cherished memory. I also wrote it for you, the reader, as motivation and a reminder of sorts. All journeys are meant to be taken together, whether physically or spiritually; I hope in reading my work that you are able to take that journey with me. May Allah make it easy for you, Ameen.”— Rumki Chowdhury

"Sister Papatia contacted me at the beginning of the year if I would like to be part of the Hijri Anthology and I was so thrilled. There was only one issue, only one topic remains to be covered: the month of Muharram and Ashura. I knew it was heavy and I committed myself to writing about it. It had led me to research more, both outside and inside of me. What does it mean for me as a born Muslim, a child, an adult Indian Muslim living in Belgium and married to an Algerian man? How does everything intersect and amalgamate in my life? The concoction is this essay. I definitely feel so much closer to Imam Hussein عليه السلام and the events of Karbala after writing this essay.”— Sana Khan

“When I started practicing Islam, I found out that some of my family’s cultural practices didn't align with it. Most were easy to drop. Others, not so much. Women coming out for Eid salah is one of those things. My story, although fictional, touches on the challenge one may find themselves in, trying to put religion first.”— Shoohada Khanom

“We all have memories that are close to our heart in relation to our religion and belief. When these memories and reflection pieces are put together in an anthology format that denotes a specific event or month of the Islamic calendar, that brings a whole new level of connection with the Hijri calendar. The Hijri Anthology is a unique concept that I am happy to have taken part in. May Allah ﷻ bless all those involved in it and forgive us for our shortcomings.”— Umm Afraz Muhammed

"I live the Hijri calendar daily and by contributing to the not so popular months, I pray that we are able to revive this sunnah and our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the same time.”— Papatia Feauxzar

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

RUMKI CHOWDHURY

 Rumki’s second book “So Complicated” is a romcom that won The 2017 New York Book Festival Honorable Mention, the 2016 Red Ribbon for being an enjoyable read in UK´s The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and runner-up for humor in The 2015 Pacific Writer’s Awards. Her first book, “Her Feet Chime” is the first and only Bangladeshi YA version of a Cinderella story, written in English. Her third book is an anthology of poems which revolve around the misconceptions of the hijab/headscarf. it is poetry with a purpose, rather than profit as all proceeds go to a charity called, Restless Beings, http://www.restlessbeings.org/about

Rumki has a Masters in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelors in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She is now a licensed English teacher in Stockholm, Sweden.

Visit her at www.rumki.com . 

PAPATIA FEAUXZAR 

Papatia is the Founder of Djarabi Kitabs Publishing and Fofky’s Bookclub. An American author, barista, and publisher of African descent, she lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, DFW Child and Voyage Dallas.

She blogs at:

- www.papatia.wordpress.com 

- www.aducktrinormom.wordpress.com  

SANA KHAN

 Sana is a Motivational Speaker, Writer, Host and a Confidence and Breakthrough Coach. With an Engineering background and a Masters in International Business, she has more than 15 years of experience working in Corporates. Loves to inspire and empower people through her writing, videos and coaching. She has been writing for more than 5 years on her blog: fromadaydreamersdiary.wordpress.com. She likes to write spiritual poetry as well. She is currently working on her first fantasy fiction YA novel which she hopes to finish by December 2021. Dreamcatcher Framework is her Debut non-Fiction work. Sana lives in Belgium with her husband and their son.

For more information about Sana and her work, visit www.talkwithsana.com

SHOOHADA KHANOM 

Shoohada Khanom is a Children’s author, writer and home educator. She has published several Muslim faith picture books and a couple of journals. She has written for Amaliah and Hayati magazines, and has a short story and poem published in an anthology. Shoohada was born and raised in London, UK, and lives a busy life, splitting her days between home-educating a few of her children and other responsibilities. When she’s not writing, she likes to spend time with her family, read and sip tea. Shoohada believes representation is important, and by sharing her lived experiences and the layers of her British, Bangladeshi and Muslim identity, she can inspire empathy and connection amongst people.

In her rare free moments, she likes to read, write and sip tea. Connect with her on www.shoohadakhanom.com  

UMM AFRAZ MUHAMMED

 Umm Afraz Muhammed is an Indian settled in the Emirates with her husband and three children. She is a Psychology-graduate, an Islamic Studies post-graduate, and a Certified Life Coach following the principles of Islam and the International Coaching Federation. She has authored her debut fiction, Here With You, and her debut children’s picture book, Zaynab bint Jahsh: The One with the Longest Hand.

She blogs at https://ummafraz.wordpress.com and is available in Instagram and Facebook at:

- @redefinedmuslimahcoaching.  

She can also be contacted at:

- ummafraz@gmail.com or

- redefinedmuslimahcoaching@gmail.com

HIJRI is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN: MUSLIM WOMEN WRITERS ON LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY MUSLIMAH AUTHORS

DALLAS, TX — August 27th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released an anthology Not to be forgotten: Muslim women writers on lived experiences of the covid-19 pandemic edited by Muti’ah Badruddeen and authored by Muslim Women.

About the anthology: Original essays, short stories or poetry, rooted in lived experiences of Muslim Women; stories about people's lives and relationships affected by the pandemic, and its resultant lockdown and travel ban.

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly one of the most significant historical events of our lifetime and, if mankind survives long enough, the events of our times will be studied and mined for history. The lived experiences of those of us living today would form the bases of those explorations.

Every human being living through this event has a story to tell, of their experiences and how this event has shaped their individual lives. As Muslims, the impact on our faith, and vice versa, of living through these times cannot be trivialized. As Muslim women, we consider it important that our stories—experiences, struggles and triumphs—centering this pandemic be documented for prosperity.

Contains works of Warda Abbas. Leila Aboulela. Nadirah Ashim. Muti'ah Badruddeen. Reem Faruqi. Papatia Feauxzar. Basheerah Jones. Hameedah Kehinde. Shoohada Khanom. E A M Lymer. Afshan Malik. Sarah Musa. Aisha Oredola. Aminah Oke. Gina Petonito. Maryam A. Sullivan (Umm Juwayriyah). Tayyaba Syed. Tumkeen.

1.    Why did Muslim Women decide to author and/or compile an anthology on Covid-19 ?  

“I wanted us to write stories about the impact of COVID-19 on Muslim women—a memoir of sorts— a book of history for us, Muslim women. Our stories are often left untold.“ — Basheerah Jones, Author

2. What else do you want do we want the readers or the prospective buyers to know?

“As Muslim women, it is important that our stories - experiences, struggles and triumphs - centering this pandemic be documented for posterity. As we are all too aware, as readers, writers and creatives, if we do not tell our own story, no one will! Especially as Muslims, the impact on our faith, and vice-versa, of living through these times cannot be trivialized.”— Muti’ah Badruddeen, Author & Creative Editor

“I hope that every Muslim woman who reads NTBF finds herself on the pages of this anthology. There was so much loss during the pandemic, but there were a lot of wins and moments of self–discovery, too. I pray that years from now, when COVID-19 is a distant memory. NTBF will serve as a reminder of what we went through and how Muslim women pulled through.”— Hameedah Kehinde, Author & Copy-Editor

What do readers have to say about NTBF?

“Relatable”

“Needed”

“Therapeutic”

“Well-written”

Join us on ZOOM and social media for the official book launch!

Join the Zoom Meeting. Link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83153063974?pwd=cCs1RWMwZlFLL3hvTmMyZURLeUpIQT09

Meeting ID: 831 5306 3974

Passcode: 084648

About the Authors :

●                Wardah Abbas

Wardah is a lawyer, writer and storyteller from Nigeria. She is the founding Editor of The Muslim Women Times and writes about gender, culture, equality and Islam ( www.themuslimwomentimes.com ) as well as a social justice activist who is especially passionate about the rights of Muslim women. She runs ‘The Mango Wordcraft,’” a storytelling company for individuals and businesses. You can see more of her work on Medium @Wardahabbas.

 ●                Leila Aboulela

Leila was the first winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. Her latest books include the novel Bird Summons and the short story collection Elsewhere, Home, winner of the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year. Leila’s work has received critical recognition and a high profile for its distinctive exploration of migration and Islamic spirituality. Her previous novels are The Kindness of Enemies, The Translator, a New York Times 100 Notable Books of the year, Minaret and Lyrics Alley. Leila was named Fiction Winner of the Scottish Book Awards and shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Her work has been translated into fifteen languages and she was long-listed three times for the Orange Prize. Her plays The Insider, The Mystic Life and others were broadcast on BBC Radio and her work included in publications such as The Guardian, The Washington Post, Granta and Harper’s Magazine. Leila is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Honorary President of the SSSUK-the Society for the Study of the Sudans. She was recently named Patron of Women’s Education Partnership, a charity funding educational projects in Sudan and South Sudan.

 ●                Nadirah Ashim

Nadirah is a Nigerian medical student and speculative fiction writer. She is currently working on her debut novel. When she’s not studying or writing, Nadirah can be found scrolling through social media or consuming the books on an endless to-be-read shelf. You can find her on https://linktr.ee/fareedah

 ●                Muti’ah Badruddeen

Muti’ah is a Nigerian author of contemporary Islamic fiction. An Obstetrician-Gynecologist and homeschooling mum, she struggles to write tales that reflect African Muslim realities during the early-morning hours. Her international debut novel, Rekiya & Z, is the 2021 Daybreak Press Book Award winner for Islamic Fiction, among others. She’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - all @deenprogress - and can be contacted via www.deenprogress.com Muti’ah blogs sporadically at www.deenprogress.wordpess.com

 ●                Reem Faruqi

Reem is the award-winning children’s book author of Lailah’s Lunchbox, a book based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States, Amira’s Picture Day, I Can Help, and a middle-grade debut novel in verse, Unsettled. After surviving Atlanta traffic for school drop- off, Reem spends her days trying to write, instead getting distracted easily by her camera and the buttery sunlight. Reem Faruqi lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters. You can find her at www.ReemFaruqi.com or on Instagram or Twitter.

 ●                Papatia Feauxzar

Papatia is the Founder of Djarabi Kitabs Publishing and Fofky’s Bookclub. An American author, barista, and publisher of African descent, she lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, DFW Child and Voyage Dallas. She blogs at www.papatia.wordpress.com  and    www.aducktrinormom.wordpress.com .

 ●                Basheerah Jones

Basheerah is the pen name for a social justice lawyer who enjoys journaling and loves to travel even though she hasn’t done much of it. An aspiring writer, this anthology was her brain child and she hopes to write more in the future. A Muslimah who finds herself constantly struggling to please Her Rabb and parent her mini-Muslims, Basheerah wants to travel the world to see the beauty of Allah’s creation and homeschool her mini-Muslims someday.

 ●                Hameedah Kehinde

Hameedah is a mum (of three kids), an English teacher, and Head of School in Abuja, Nigeria. She loves to read, hang out with family and close friends, sleep, eat, try new foods. and generally have a good time. Hameedah hopes to be a host for a Muslim radio show or a creator of cool, useful products for women and children. Or, in a perfect world, both. She enjoys meeting people.

●                Shoohada Khanom

Shoohada is a British-Bangladeshi children’s author and writer who lives a busy life, home educating her children amidst other motherly responsibilities. In her rare free moments, she likes to read, write and sip tea. Connect with her on www.shoohadakhanom.com

●                E A M Lymer

E.A.M. Lymer is a Home Educator, Theatre of the Oppressed Practitioner, and Student of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). She has written picture books for young children and is now drafting young adult fiction. She is on Instagram @EAMLymer .

●                Afshan Malik

Afshan, a Chicago native turned southern belle, works as the Director of Development at Rabata. She is the author of the 2019 young adult novel Pieces and enjoys browsing bookshops, rolling rotis, and soaking up the Texas sun with her husband and five children. Afshan can be found on FB/IG @afshanmalikwrites, Twitter @afshan1009 and on her website www.afshanmalik.com

●                Sarah Musa

Sarah is a children's book author of Ahmed and the Very Stuck Teapot. She hopes to write fiction for adult Muslims someday— books that truly represent Islam. She is a mother of six, from teenagers to toddlers. She loves farming and country life. She is on Instagram as @sarahmusawrites.

●                Aisha Oredola

Aisha is a Nigerian Public Health Practitioner and Writer. Her work has been published in the African Writers Review, Bad Form Review x Literandra Issue 5: African History, Blue Minaret Literary Journal, and elsewhere. Find her on www.twitter.com/aish_dols  and www.instagram.com/@aish.dols.

●                Amina Oke

Amina is a Nigerian copywriter and creative non-fiction writer who helps online brands increase their revenue with email, and enjoys sharing her thoughts on spiritual development for Muslims. She can be found on Instagram @amina.oke.

●                Gina Petonito

Gina is a writing mentor and coach; founding member of Writing Your Way, a full-service writing mentoring business. She assists with resumes, cover letters, college essays, fiction, non-fiction and classroom papers and projects. As the founding member of Academic Women Reclaim Your Power, she helps academic women weather current job market precarity by coaching them to start their own side businesses to achieve financial security. Dr. Petonito is currently editing her historical fiction novel Coming Home, which explores the human impact of gentrification and redevelopment.

  ●                Maryam A. Sullivan (Umm Juwayriyah)

Umm Juwayriyah is an African-American writer and author of the As Sabr Publications Best Sellers: The Size of a Mustard Seed, Hind's Hands, The Princess, and The Good Deed, Yaseen's Big Dream. She is the #MuslimGirlsReader Founder, New England Muslim Sisters Association Editor- in-Chief and the 2018 Highlights Foundation Fellow.

●                Tayyaba Syed

Tayyaba is the multiple award-winning children's author of The Blessed Bananas and Hafsa’s Kisses. She has written for over 20 titles including Encyclopedia Britannica and the Jannah Jewels chapter-book series. A journalist who has had bylines in publications such as NPR, Chicago Parent and Islamic Horizons, she is an active volunteer for Rabata, teaches writing to communities, leads a local women’s halaqa, and has worked as the Creative Developer for Noor Kids educational books. As a public speaker, she has conducted 100+ literary and faith-based presentations from all over North America to Qatar and Turkey. Tayyaba holds a Teacher Certification through the Ribaat Academic Institute and is an elected member of her local public school district’s Board of Education. She lives with her husband and three children in Illinois.

●                Tumkeen

Tumkeen is an award-winning and bestselling Canadian author, writer, and poet who lives in Detroit, USA with her husband and six children. After the international success of her first book Breathe: Reflections & Poetry from the 2020 Lockdown, Tumkeen is currently working on a memoir.

NTBF’s books—eBook and paperback— are available on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

Coming Next Year to Djarabi Kitabs Publishing : The Library Clerk’s e-Shop!

A Book Lover’s Must-Have

How is it like for a Black immigrant Muslim woman to navigate life in the US while trying to stay legal? In The Library Clerk's e-Shop, you get an idea! Pre-order it on Amazon here.

Summary : Qari D. Fofana–– known as "Kerry" by her American friends, is a twenty-three-year-old Ivorian girl living in the United States. Dallas, to be precise. As a bit of a social introvert, Qari has always wanted to open an online book-coffee-tea shop. She has visions of living “the glamorous life,” which consists of reading books and working in her pajamas all week long. And for a short while, it seems like Qari’s dream of opening up that shop––as farfetched as it feels at times, will come true––until her work visa and I-20 expire. Afraid of being deported and disappointing her family back home, Qari comes up with a scheme to marry her American Muslim hot, handsome landlord––a kind man who has made his feelings for Qari known to her. However, soon enough, this too backfires.

Faced with deportation, Qari packs her meager belongings and returns home to Ivory Coast, determined to make at least some of her ambitions materialize. Still, however, she soon realizes that a huge piece of her broken heart and deferred dreams remain back in the United States.

The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is a story about friendship, lost and found love, the hardships of immigration, the love of books and culture, and of course, self-determination. Most of all, it is a tale about following your dreams, no matter where in the world they take you.

The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is set to be released in June 2020 insha’Allah. Pre-order it here, and add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.

“Here With You” by Umm Afraz Muhammed — An Online Book Launch

Interviewer: Papatia Feauxzar at Fofky’s

Interviewee: Umm Afraz Muhammed

Here With You– An Interview with the Author

Umm Afraz has authored several short books on self-help but today she is at our bookstore to discuss her debut novel Here With You so she can give us some insights on her unique novel masha’Allah. Assalamu aleikum Umm Afraz, welcome to Fofky’s.

Q1 – Can you please give us some insights on the title of your book? Like why Here With You versus something more mothers-in-law related? It’s a romance story so I have some theories but I would love to hear from the mastermind herself.

A1 – Wa alaykumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh Papatia. Jazakillahu khayran for having me on your blog  . It is truly an honor <3. Okay, so I wanted to have a title that had an emotional connection – not only for the characters, but also for the audience. The phrase “here with you” could be understood in a romantic, platonic, parental love, or spiritual sense. It all depends on the context with which it is used.

Q2 – I liked how you portrayed the mother-in-law; she is not a bad person but there was discrepancy between her firm devotion in worship and her application of Islamic or courtesy sunnah manners towards her daughter-in-law. It portrays that many people with whom we don’t agree aren’t necessarily evil but simply imperfect Muslims. I found it relatable and realistic. Did you find emotionally easy or hard to pen her character based on your experience in marriage or scenarios you’ve witnessed in real life from people around you?

A2 – You are bang on! That was exactly how I wanted to portray Fatima. She is just like everyone else – trying to practice Islam whilst struggling with her humanly flaws – an imperfect Muslim. I think that is why she was fairly easy to characterize. She is someone we could all relate to.

Q3 – Aunties everywhere are inappropriate and especially during nikahrelated events where their intimacy innuendos are often raunchy. Have you ever witnessed them to relent? Now, it’s safe to say that sometimes they relay valuable info to the bride to take to the bedroom at times. And poor brides like Salma are usually left to their verbal claws. Do you think such customs should stop or do you think Aunties should carry on because it makes nikahrelated events fun?

A3 – You know, when you think back, it seems funny. But when you are in that spot, undergoing that experience or even when you are in the environment listening to the comments and innuendos, it gets uncomfortable. I believe there should be a balance in joking. It is possible to make a joke while maintaining the dignity of the couple. And if there is any information to be given, it should be done in private. Wa Allahu Alam.

Q4 – Financial security, which is necessary as Islam is about the middle path, pushes many of our parents to steer us towards STEM fields. It has advantages and Disadvantages. Faisal was conflicted with such decisions made for him by his parents. I believe in getting a degree that will support your true passion later. But do you think that one can live off unpredictable art revenues without getting a formal education which can be a safety net?

A5 – We were raised to believe only STEM fields generate income, and arts/humanities field don’t produce as much. I agree a formal education would give the CV a boost, but I also believe that with the way the modern-world is proceeding, as long as you have the passion and you invest your time and efforts in it by continuous learning, and practicing what you are good at, you will earn enough. After all, rizq comes from Allah, and what is meant for you will never leave you unless Allah Wills it. In the end, it is all about practicing yourself and trusting Allah. What are your thoughts?

Papatia Feauxzar : I agree. At the end of the day, it’s about rizq. Masha’Allah.

Q5 – Do you have any questions for me about your book?

A5 – I would love to know what you thought about the story, the writing style, and any critical feedback that you have. Also, what is one scene that you felt closely connected to, and why?

Papatia Feauxzar : The writing style fits the genre of this book; smooth, sensual and emotional. If you had written an adventure book or sci-fi book like this, it wouldn’t have worked because these genres require fast-paced storytelling to keep the reader excited and tuned-in.

Now, I only found very few things (subjective by the way) to be unsatisfied about. For instance, I felt tremendously teased with the sultry romance of Faisal and Salma. I loved them both and the way he stood up for her when it came to his mother meddling. That was very relatable, alhamdullilah. That’s all.

Papatia Feauxzar : Umm Afraz, thank you for being with us.

Umm Afraz : Thank you Fofky’s! Much love, and God Bless <3!

Papatia Feauxzar : Aameen, likewise! Check out a review and a reading of Here With You below, thanks!

Summary:

Salma, a new bride who is happily married to her husband, moves into her in-laws’ house as part of their South Indian culture. A new life, a new beginning, and a new family in a new country. Staying in a place far away from her loved ones, with no one to rely on but her husband, she undergoes the realities of life living under the same roof as her mother-in-law. How will she cope with the lifestyle changes and the daily challenges? Will her dreams of having a good relationship with her mother-in-law come true? Or will she discover the dreaded monster-in-law?

Fatima wants to be a good mother-in-law to Salma and yearns for a good relationship with her. Life and time throw opportunities her way to prove herself. Would she take the right decisions and keep her best foot forward? Or would she succumb to her ego and cultural stereotypes?

This book is about the emotional tug-of-war between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. Sandwiched between the two most important women of his life is Faisal, the son of one and husband of the other.

The story revolves around the lives of these three characters and the relationships they share with each other as they learn to stick together despite the ups and downs they face as a joint family.

Review: Salma is a such a sweetheart and a good mannered Muslimah masha’Allah. You will fall in love with her way to face adversity if your faith is a balm to your spirits or if your faith soothes your fiery nature when it’s appropriate. Her mother-in-law is also a steadfast woman albeit her other flaws. Their relationship was a very relatable one and not the worst when it comes to daughter-in-law and mother-in-law drama but still it’s a very challenging one. I loved the story the minute I read a snippet of it several years ago and I’m happy to see the author’s brilliant complete penned work. Salma’s husband, Faisal, is another relatable character masha’Allah. In his plight, you will realize that Allah is the best of planners and that to make omelets, you have to break eggs.

My favorite passage as usual dealt with finance and affirmed my point of views. “We may have seemed to live a luxurious life, but rarely do people understand that the struggles we experienced were the same as that of any other middle-class family. I found it unfair that just because we lived in a posh area, we were expected to live a posh life. Relatives back home were unwilling to comprehend the fact that foreign-residents like us suffered financial issues too. It was as if money rained upon us and we were expected to distribute it to every Ahmad, Muhammed, and Abdullah they recommended. And if we refused to support them financially, relations are severed, regardless of the ties of kinship that Islam asks us to uphold sincerely. Over the years, I’ve learnt that the world runs on money, and rarely on love.”

I agree, many people think that financially secured individuals also don’t have money issues. And when financially secured individuals can’t lend them money or refuse to be unnecessarily hustled, resentment ensues as if they are entitled to these bounties they sought. As Muslims, we need to stop making plans on other people’s assets or even Allah’s bounties. We need to accept what people give freely and let go of expectations and master the notion of rizq. Nothing belong to us, even ourselves, we don’t belong to ourselves.

The novel also delves into cultural and real Islam. That was refreshing alhamdullilah. In all, Afraz’s writing is very smooth, subtle, lovely and most of all soulful and soul searching. The pace was also to my liking. I finished the book in less than a day.

I definitely recommend this book to halal romance lovers and readers of Muslim women’s contemporary fiction. Bravo!

Rating: 4.5/5

Here With You‘s Reading by Umm Afraz Muhammed

Direct YouTube link : https://youtu.be/BuNsb2ROx4w

EBook available on Amazon here.

Paperback available on Pothi here.

Original Source: Fofky’s Blog .

The Tower's Online Book Launch

The Tower -- An Interview with the Author

Shereen Malherbe’s second contemporary novel The Tower debuts this April 2019, and we’re excited to pick the author’s brain with the following interview. So let’s get to it insha’Allah.

Q1- Shereen, have you ever been to Syria and did you have to interview actual Syrians for this novel?

A1 - I haven’t ever been to Syria, but I did interview a range of people for the book. Especially refugees and migrants with experience of London like their expectations versus the reality. Interviewing helped me with my major plot points and I think that is the beauty of research. Often life is more interesting, and in this case, it was more harrowing, than fiction.

Q2 - I liked the plot of The Tower and the writing masha’Allah. It’s a very smooth novel that fits a night when you want your mind to unwind and lull a bit. So while you write this genre of books, what other types (genres) of books do you like reading?

A2 - Thank you. I think studying English Literature and making sure you read widely contributes to how smoothly you write. Dissecting books is an important part of creating your own! I have heard that what you read always contributes more to how you write, even subconsciously and I would go further to say it isn’t just what you read, it is everything you experience. And that experience can come through books. Personally, I enjoy reading different types of fiction, historical fiction, contemporary fiction and the classics.

Q3- The Tower was a bit of stranger than fiction occurrence; the attacks on Muslims in their places of worship or their residences is a reality. The greed and politics that let this happen was also exposed in your book. Do you think this will be an eye-opening experience for readers?

A3 - I hope that in some way, all reading experiences are eye opening in some ways. My editor and I discussed the way reality happened and was mirrored in a scene in my novel. I had drafted the idea over a year ago and I did debate excluding it. However, I am glad we didn’t. Often, when communities pick up on a certain environment, like in this case rising islamophobia, the consequences are often predictable and that is exactly what happened in The Tower.

Politics have played a part in this and therefore I wanted to reflect that. Although this is fiction, I believe it is important to reflect how communities are feeling and I wanted to bring some empathy, humanity and hope in an increasingly hostile world.

Q4 - Your Palestinian heritage merges with Syrian heritage in this book. Do you have any Syrian roots?

A4 - I don’t myself, but I am aware of refugees from Palestine to Syria, made refugees again after the war. In that way my heritage shares perspectives with this view of movement and shifting homelands which I wanted to explore throughout the book. I think most of us are capable of shared empathy despite where we are from and the global refugee crisis is affecting millions so we are all part of it in some way.

That is the beauty of fiction; it doesn’t matter where you are from, we all have shared experiences.

Q5 - What else do you want your readers to take away from The Tower?

A5 - It’s hard to really expect certain responses from readers so as a writer, I believe the finished novel belongs to the readers now. So, I don’t like to say what I expect readers to take from it because it will mean different things to different people. However, if I had to say something, I would hope that it offers, even in a small way, a different, positive perspective of how we can all contribute something good to the world.

Shereen, thank you for being with us.

Readers, please check out the review below of The Tower.

The Tower published by Beacon Books is the second contemporary women’s fiction novel written by Shereen Malherbe; a British Palestinian writer based in both the UK and the United Arab Emirates. Shereen Malherbe is also a writer for Muslimah Media Watch, a forum for critiquing the images of Muslim women in the media and pop culture.

Book Summary

Reem is a Syrian refugee who has arrived in London, trying to discover the whereabouts of her 10-year old brother, Adar. Obsessed with history and consumed by her fragmented memories of home, Reem is also hiding secrets she hopes will never be revealed. After being placed in a tower block, she befriends Leah; a single mother who has been forced to leave her expensive South Kensington townhouse. Their unlikely friendship supports them as they attempt to find their place in a relentless, heaving city, and come to terms with the homes they left behind. Both bold and timely, The Tower shows how Reem and Leah’s lives change and intersect in the wake of individual and communal tragedy, as well as in their struggle to adapt to a rapidly shifting society.

In The Tower, Malherbe explores fictionalized real events and realities such as the Grenfell tower incident, the remnants of the war in the Middle East and women's mental health like she did in her first novel Jasmine Falling .

Reem finds herself triggered by the apparition of her detractor out of nowhere. Secretly battling a possible gestation, domestic and emotional abuse, she can't help but chase her brother's ghost in London.

Reem also faces both hardship and ease while trying to communicate in English, while looking and finding a job and while carrying herself around because while some strangers might be kind to you, some won't. And a Muslim woman wearing hijab is always targeted for some nonsense.

Thus, meeting Leah and the welcoming ummah in Reem's new UK apartment building— the tower—and neighborhood brings her comfort until tragedies/blessings in disguise rip the little struggling pieces of her life she had left.

In the narrative of Leah, Malherbe lightly touches on the positive privilege this character brings to society and the self-discovery journey Leah treads. Leah finally finds her call and Reem gets a happy ending with a decent chap.

We can definitely say that Malherbe's great narrative skills of the setting bring us to the scene, making The Tower a moving tale. The book shows that when stricken with deep love rejection, tremendous loss of family members, etc. human nature shows its resiliency by making an effort to survive the darkness.

Find it on Amazon here.

Rating: 4/5

Original Source : Fofky’s Blog .