By Khawaja Azimuddin 

Sep/Oct 2024

The Islamic Arts Festival, a unique and unparalleled celebration, stands as the largest and oldest of its kind in the U.S. Drawing in visitors and artists from all corners of the country, it has cemented its position as the Americans’ go-to destination for Islamic art enthusiasts. 

Houston’s nonprofit Islamic Arts Society (IAS) has organized this festival since 2014 to share this rich heritage. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was held online.

The IAS arranges art events, lectures, and workshops to celebrate Islamic culture and promote a positive image of Muslims. Art is a common language and binds diverse communities. By promoting Islamic arts, the society hopes to promote mutual understanding and bring the broader American community together.

Since its humble beginning 11 years ago, the festival has evolved into a national phenomenon. Last year, it welcomed over 6,000 visitors, many of them non-Muslims who learned about Islamic traditions in a friendly and artsy environment. The festival brings people of all ages, ethnicities, and faiths together for two days of fun, festivity, and learning.

This year’s event, to be held on Nov. 9-10 at the University of Houston, will be even grander than previous years due to its enhanced programs and expected attendance. 

“This is a significant milestone for IAS, as we transition from our suburban location to the heart of the city at the University of Houston, a move that will amplify our reach and enable us to introduce Islamic art to a wider American audience,” said Shaheen Rahman (president, IAS).

The 2024 festival will feature a captivating live nasheed (religious song) performance by the Al-Firdaus Ensemble from Spain. And as always, Preacher Moss and his team will make the audience laugh with their stand-up comedy show. The event will also host a film festival spotlighting Islam in the U.S., a spoken art program, and an academic seminar organized in collaboration with the University of Houston’s Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. In addition to the extensive visual art display, interactive art sessions and live demonstrations of calligraphy, henna tattoos, ebru, and paintings will further enrich the immersive experience.

Featuring 50+ artists and 5,000+ pieces of Islamic art, the festival will have something of interest for everyone, regardless of age. Almost every form of Islamic art — paintings, illumination, calligraphy, ebru, henna, ceramics, woodwork, glasswork, and metal art — will be displayed and available for purchase.

Last year, the festival brought together some of the biggest names in Islamic art — Haji Noor Deen, Behnaz Karjoo, Paul Barchilon, Jennifer Usman, and Moina Sajjad — allowing them opportunities to network, collaborate, share ideas, and inspire one another. Other prominent artists who have participated in our events include Elinor Holland, Josh Berer, Nihad Dukhan, and Muhammad Zaman.

“The Islamic Arts Society’s Festival is a unique experience in the American landscape — nowhere else is there a coming together of this scale and breadth of artists exploring the many mediums of Islamic arts,” said Josh Berer, a famous calligrapher in his own right and a student of the celebrated calligrapher Muhammad Zakariya. “As an Arabic calligrapher, being invited to the festival was one of the great honors of my career. The connections and friendships I made among the other artists at the festival I will hold for the rest of my life,” he added.

The participation of schoolchildren is evidence of IAS’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Each year six Islamic schools are invited. Supervised by the IAS, they organize an internal competition that is evaluated by a three-judge panel. Their winning art pieces are displayed at the festival. Through such initiatives, the IAS aims to instill the love of Islamic art in these children.

There are several concurrent workshops that are held. In 2023, illumination artist Behnaz Karjoo from New York and geometric artist Paul Barchilon from Colorado held classes. IAS believes that teaching Islamic art is key to preserving our rich heritage of arts and culture. Young and adult students not only learn about the artistic forms of expression during these workshops, but also benefit from a broader understanding of the philosophical and spiritual interconnectivity between art and Islam.

During the festival, a dedicated children’s art program, overseen and supervised by esteemed institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Children’s Museum of Houston, and the Asia Society engage young attendees in coloring Islamic arabesque and geometric patterns, bead making, creating geometric patterns, writing calligraphy, and similar activities. 

Ultimately, the festival celebrates Islam’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, creates a sense of belonging and identity among attendees, and brings people together by fostering social cohesion and strengthening community bonds. In addition this event serves as a melting pot, for many non-Muslims attend our event and experience the beauty of our traditions through art. The event’s organizers believe that showcasing Islamic art to the American public is the best way to oppose Islamophobia and correct the negative stereotyping of Islam and Muslims. Visitors are amazed to see Islam’s beauty through art and take away a very positive impression of Muslim traditions and culture. 

Dr. Khawaja Azimuddin, a gastrointestinal surgeon in Houston, is an avid ceramic tile artist. Many of his large-scale murals are installed in public places. He uses his passion for the arts to help build bridges between communities. To achieve this goal, he founded the Islamic Arts Society, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit that aims to share the rich heritage of Islamic art.

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By Andrea Salamanca

Sept/Oct 2023

Art, perhaps the most abstract phenomenon in the hands of human beings, is boundless, revolutionary, fluid, and seeps into the lives of individuals worldwide. Islamic art does this and much more, for it transcends religion, language, time, and place to establish a connection between humans and the Divine. Drawing from sources such as Greek, Roman, and Byzantine art, Islamic art has found its way to the U.S., where it is ubiquitous and thriving.                                                                           

We start this journey in the incredibly beautiful and diverse city of Houston, Texas. A cultural hub like few others in the country, Houston is the proud home of the Islamic Arts Society (IAS), an organization whose mission is to share this rich heritage. The society highlights how the patterns and designs that Americans come across within their daily lives are often rooted in Islamic art created centuries ago, thereby focusing on commonalities rather than differences. In doing so, the IAS hopes to break down cultural barriers and unite communities that would otherwise remain isolated. 

As a student enrolled at the University of Houston’s World Cultures and Literature department, I had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Shaheen Rahman (president, IAS) and experience just how passionate she and her team are about making people aware of the society’s mission and providing resources for artists and communities alike. 

In an individualistic society such as the U.S., it’s essential to not forgo the value of culture and tradition. I believe the IAS is working tirelessly to make sure that this does not occur. By organizing the county’s largest annual Islamic arts festival, the society has created a cultural impact unlike any other. Drawing more than 6,000 visitors from different backgrounds, this celebration is only one of the many ways in which IAS impacts the community. The society also hosts events in museums, libraries, art galleries and college campuses, thereby offering the public multiple opportunities for the public to learn more about this art’s rich heritage. 

This rich tradition includes calligraphy, architecture, painting, ceramics, geometry, and many other forms. The tradition of Islamic arts is a way of life, a form of language, one used by artists to connect with their spirituality and share their culture. For these reasons, artists in the U.S. have prioritized it to help combat misconceptions and ignorance about Islamic culture. 

Dr. Essamedin Alhadi (director, Education and Curatorial Affairs, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures) shares how difficult it has been to attract audiences, pointing to the museum’s location as well as the surrounding population’s perspective on the world of Islam as possible contributing factors. Even so, she and the museum are working hard to educate the public on the extensive world of Islamic art and how it has influenced other cultures, all while finding much value in sharing this history. 

Other notable museums Islamic art collections include The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), which holds 15,000+ objects in its Islamic arts gallery; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which notably features works of present-day Muslim artists; and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art – where the Freer and Sackler galleries hold some of the most important Islamic illuminated manuscripts. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, displays its own Art of the Islamic Worlds collection, which recently expanded to six permanent galleries. The expansion brought hundreds of objects spanning more than 1,000 years of Islamic culture into the heart of Houston. 

To gain a better understanding of the experiences of Muslim artists in the U.S., I had the pleasure of speaking with several renowned artists, including Dr. Nihad Dukhan, an Arab-American artist who holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and is a traditionally trained calligrapher. Focusing on modern and traditional calligraphy, he hopes to bring awareness of the culture and connect with the American community. He believes that the public at large can relate to the themes often found in his work, which will help fight misconceptions about Islamic culture. 

Adding on to this same idea, Ms. Elinor Holland, a distinguished calligrapher in the U.S., likes to choose Quranic phrases emphasizing social justice to spark conversations on the harmful rhetoric that has become embedded in many people’s mind. 

 To spread the message of the Divine, these artists have spent many years pouring their hearts into the subject. While creating what they consider sacred art, they seek to honor their religion, not themselves. They view their pieces as channels through which a connection with the Divine can be achieved. Artists such as Behnaz Karjoo, an illumination artist, and Zinnur Doganata, a miniature artist, show us the beauty of connecting to a higher power and how meaningful this is for people seeking to discover Islamic culture inside the U.S.                                                                     

During my conversation with Josh Berer, an Arabic calligrapher, the lack of awareness and opportunities for Islamic artists arose several times. He advises any artists trying to develop their career here to find a community that will support their efforts and serve as a platform for their art. Paul Barchilon, a ceramic artist, retold his own struggles in this regard. He reminisced about how difficult it was to connect with an audience, revealing how out of place he felt during the early stages of his career. After many years of searching, he has connected with artists nationwide and wishes to beautify the world through the wonderful field of Islamic geometric patterns.                                                     

Sharing the true beauty of Islamic arts in the U.S. has never been more important. Fighting the ongoing negative portrayal of Muslims as well as sharing their rich heritage could open many doors for the artistic community, as well as serve as an educational opportunity for the public. In finding places like the IAS, where challenges only motivate the organization to continue its efforts and where art brings people together.

Andrea Salamanca is a student at the University of Houston’s World Cultures and Literature department.

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By Susan Labadi

March/April 2023

The 11th Annual West Coast ISNA Education Forum, “Reinvent and Design the Islamic Schools of the Future,” was held on Jan. 13-14 in Orange County, Calif. In collaboration with WISER (Weekend Islamic Schools Educational Resources, www.WISER-USA.org), a special weekend schools track was initiated to learn and network with full-time experienced teachers and administrators and to give them access to high-quality subject-matter experts.

Program committee chair Necva Ozgur stated, “Allah gave the answers in the Quran, but He doesn’t open our hearts unless we ask for it.” She noted that most Muslim students attend weekend schools and that WISER is a response to the need to increase and improve their efficacy.

For the second time since its inception in 2020, WISER and ISNA tailored sessions for weekend schoolteachers and leaders. WISER, formed by a group of Muslim educators, seeks to uplift, empower and raise these schools’ standards. Part of this involves educating staff on best practices. 

The sessions included: “Creating a Loving Classroom Community,” “Let’s Do it Right! The Unit Plan Based on Word-Readiness Standards,” “Arabic Language and Quran: Hand-in-Hand in Classrooms,” “Teaching Reading in Sunday School,” “How to Teach Islamic Studies to Touch Students’ Hearts and Effect Change,” “Interactive Arabic Virtual Story Time” and “Differentiated Instruction in Early Elementary.”

WISER’s founders, Necva Ozgur and Dr. Mehmet Ozgur, have dedicated this phase of their lives to serving the 95% of Muslim children who don’t attend full-time Islamic schools, yet deserve to have access to high-quality educational programs.

Attendees had open access to 25 informative sessions. Friday’s celebration banquet featured keynote speaker Dr. Rania Awaad (executive director, Maristan; director, The Rahmah Foundation; professor of psychiatry, Stanford School of Medicine), who holds several certifications (ijaza) and is herself a product of an Islamic school education. Her inspired address cited occasions when Muslims had innovated to meet humanity’s critical needs and prevailed, although confronted by naysayers and resistance. 

Awaad mentioned historical events, such as codifying Arabic with markings to facilitate pronunciation; the tenacity of Munira al-Qubaysi (d.2022; founder, Qubaysi Movement) to find a way to educate women in Islamic sciences from a male scholar and to initiate preschools in Syria; and the fact that Muslims were the first to incorporate mental health wards in their hospitals, which incorporated a holistic approach that recognized the individual’s mind, body and soul.

The event opened with a panel of former Islamic school students: Yasin Conoboy, Hala Khalifeh (Halaballoo), Sondos Kholaki (hospital staff chaplain, community chaplain in Southern California), and Hamza Soboh. Their favorable memories included sentiments of diversity, pride in accomplishments and special events. The greatest benefit was developing a Muslim identity and sense of belonging. Some of these graduates remain connected with peers who share similar values. 

They felt prepared academically for their futures, but thought that schools and parents shouldn’t overly protect them socially to enter college. One panelist stated that he learned healthy gender interactions via PPL — Public, Purposeful, and Limited — so that working with female students was done respectfully and appropriately. This prepared him for life outside of school. They responded “Yes” when asked if they would recommend an Islamic school for their children. 

The panel also included Abir Catovic, Sheikh Tarik Ata (The Orange County Islamic Foundation) and Habeeb Quadri (recipient, the National Distinguished Principal Award) who serves on Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, numerous youth education organizations and has authored five books. Their suggestions included helping students articulate their views through debates and discussions. They also noted that all prophets had worked with their hands, meaning that vocational training could be incorporated into our schools and be encouraged as hobbies. Acknowledging that parents and teachers at these schools make sacrifices, they deemed the results worthwhile.

In his energetic morning keynote speech, Islamic school principal Habeeb Quadri spoke on remembering that leadership drives change. To meet the future’s demands, he declared that we must assess, develop and then strategize; that students must be cognitive global citizens, for they will have digital futures; and that community service should be an active component of every school stakeholder and provide opportunities for parents and children to talk with each other.

ISNA president Safaa Zarzour, who headed two sessions, encouraged school leaders to work with faculty and staff in a culture of trust and stressed the importance of enabling growth and responsibility. When asked about financial difficulties, he advised that some schools have created endowments. In short, save 10% of revenues each year for a term and then use them as later investments to decrease the parents’ burden and give the schools sustainable security. In his second session, the audience tapped into his expertise in legal and HR matters.

While addressing the banquet, Zarzour credited Islamic school educator Abdelnasser Rashid, Illinois’ first elected state representative, for running for office after rejecting the “advice” to change his name or dilute his Muslim American identity. Zarzour emphasized that Islamic school-educated Muslims are making a difference in leadership roles in the U.S. 

In her session, Sufia Azmat (executive director, CISNA), worked with school leaders to discuss varying interpretations of success in “School Accountability Leads to Success.”

Chris Joffe (founder and CEO, Joffe Emergency Services), along with the ISLA team, Lisa Kahler and Samar Al-Majaideh, through an IRUSA grant, discussed emergency preparedness, “[This] is fulfilling the trust (amana), which is aligned with maqasid al-shariah: … maintaining, protecting, and elevating one’s religion, self, mind, wealth and family.” The session featured tabletop scenarios, exercises and access to a toolkit that can be found at www.theisla.org.

As educators, we see a higher level of mental and mood challenges today than before Covid. The human connections and relationships we enjoy most are what give us mental fortitude, and the pandemic certainly pointed out the relevance and value of social connection. Susan Labadi (founder and president, Genius School, Inc.) offered “Brain Health Matters: What Educators Need to Know” and Dr. Ilham Al-Sarraf Rope (clinical psychology), who has greatly helped the Iraqi community, shared her expertise in “Depression Disorder: Identifying Symptoms, Causations and Interventions.” 

Jihad Saafir (professor, Bayan; the South Coast Interfaith Council’s “2022 Faith Leader of the Year”) captured attention by stating, “Our people need as many positive triggers as they can,” and advised that saying “As-salamu alaikum” reminds us of our Muslim identity. He equated weak identity with deficient socializing influences and remarked that Prophet Mohammad (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) crafted the Islamic environment to support the internalization of religious identity in stages. 

Wadud Hassan (head of school, Good Tree Academy; founder, Mindfulness Matters) delivered “Behavior Intervention Through Islamic Psychology.” Ibrahim Yousef (school principal) presented “The Art of Positive Discipline.” Osman Khan, a faith-based educator and administrator for 21 years, titled his session “Theory of Relativity: A Guiding Dialogue to Proactively Cultivate Student-Teacher Relationships.” In it, he emphasized using elements of pop culture to open the door of receptive relationships with students. Lastly, Adita Arya (weekend school leader; executive director, the Afghan Literacy Foundation) chose to teach “How to Create a Loving Classroom Community.”

Abir Catovic, an experienced educator and administrator who has taught every grade K-12, stated in her “How to Teach Islamic Studies to Touch Students’ Hearts and Effect Change” that the basis of Islamic studies starts with teaching about faith through iman (faith) and the awe of God’s creation. For guidance in Arabic language instruction, Prof. Samar Dalati-Ghannoum (executive board member, the National Arabic Teachers Association; board member, the Arab American Press Guild) spoke on “Teaching Reading in Sunday School” and Lina Kholaki (director, Aldeen Foundation) a member of the team that drafted the Standards of Arabic as a Foreign Language for the 21st century for K-12, presented “Let’s Do it Right! The Unit Plan Based on World-Readiness Standards.” Layla Bahar Al-Aloom (professor, Arabic language; CSUF and Chaffey College) excited the audience with her “Interactive Arabic Virtual Story Time,” and Maria Kouli (dual language coordinator, ELC School, Los Angeles) shared exemplar videos for “Differentiation Instruction in Early Elementary.” Amal Sakr Elhoseiny (Ph.D., comparative studies of the German and Arabic languages; teacher for 20+ years at New Horizon School; a master teacher for Aldeen Foundation; executive board member of NATA K-12; and certified in the Nooraniyyah method) emphasized the art and importance of relating with students, meeting their needs and using brain science to make them feel rewarded and motivated.

Maisa Youssef-Osman (principal, Orange Crescent School) guided the professionalism of instructional design session through her “Understanding by Design: From Student Goals to Standard-Based Planning.” She facilitated the three-step approach of identifying the desired results, determining the acceptable evidence and planning the learning experiences to assess. 

To frame the forum’s theme and give good advice in these confusing times, Fouad Elgohari (senior director, academic affairs, Bayan Islamic Graduate School; instructor and advisor, the Sabeel Traditional Seminary program; and instructor, The Majlis in Southern California) stated, “Don’t follow the rules of society that are always changing. Follow the rules of Allah that don’t change.” In his session, titled “Redefining Islamic Education for the Future,” he set the order of instructional guidance to try to produce good people who worship God. Elgohari eloquently detailed, “It’s one thing to know what Allah wants me to do. It’s another to want to do it.” His progressive sequence was to teach Islam, then iman (faith), and follow it with ihsan (excellence).

Aldeen Foundation, Arabic Daily, Bayan Islamic Graduate School, Amana Mutual Funds Trust and Family Relief USA sponsored the Forum.

Susan Labadi (board officer, WISER) served on the West Coast ISNA Ed Forum Planning Committee.

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By A. Faizur Rahman

March/April 2023

Anwar hopes to transform Malaysia, a country in which Muslims constitute almost two-thirds of the population. He articulates his vision in his latest book, “SCRIPT: For a Better Malaysia – An Empowering Vision and Policy Framework for Action” (Institut Darul Ehsan, 2022). SCRIPT stands for Sustainability, Care and Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity and Trust.

Anwar believes that this framework, based on these “six drivers,” is an integrated, holistic endeavor that will lay the foundations for a thriving, dynamic and inclusive society. His policy agenda, he writes, aspires to steer Malaysia through “the complexity, contradictions, and chaos” of what he calls “postnormal times,” citing scholar Ziauddin Sardar.

After outlining these terms’ conventional meanings, Anwar redefines them and enunciates the specific vision behind them, as well as their targeted populations and areas. He also explores the policy requirements for each driver in terms of its economic, legal, institutional, educational, social, cultural and locational needs.

For instance, Anwar’s definition of sustainability is rooted in the Malaysian concepts of kemampanan (collective effort) and keseimbangan (humanity’s well-being).

In this context, he deserves to be commended for reinterpreting fasad and islah in “Do not degrade Earth after it has been so well-ordered” (7:56).This interpretation makes sense, because the next two verses speak of the planet’s natural rejuvenation through winds (riyaha) that distribute heavy rain-bearing clouds (sahaban siwalan) over barren tracts of land (baladin mayyitin).

Anwar’s benign unconventionalism is also evident in his inclusive understanding of “care and compassion,” which he universalizes to include love for not just one’s own community, but also for members of other communities as well. Additionally, he writes, “the right of the society to receive care and compassion is both a duty to give and a right to receive.” 

Anwar’s ultimate intention is to establish financial policies that advocate humane economic models. “To make up for lost time,” he warns, “we must abolish tax concessions and incentives that allow businesses and enterprises to pursue disrespectful practices with ill-regard for past, present, or future human dignity.” He also expresses the need to address the country’s ongoing debt crisis by “refining and reforming loan procedures and reviewing and canceling unjust and disrespectful debts and financial impediments.”

On the legal side, Anwar promises to repeal “draconic and disrespectful laws” that marginalize citizens on the basis of gender, race, religion, creed and lifestyle. And, to convince the world of Malaysia’s honest intentions, he states that “we must initiate a national human rights audit and respect third-party international audits requested of us.” 

His long-standing commitment to religious moderation and democracy is well-known. As far back as December 2005, in an address to the New York Democracy Forum, Anwar listed “freedom of conscience, freedom to speak out against tyranny, a call for reform and the right to property” as being among the Sharia’s higher objectives. In “SCRIPT,” he defines these objectives as “justice grounded in the empowerment of the poor and marginalized.”

In sum, “SCRIPT” is a feasible futuristic document that could put Malaysia on the path to inclusive democracy and economic progress — a task that is easier now that he is its prime minister.

Reviewed by A. Faizur Rahman, secretary-general of the Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought.

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March/April 2023

Islamophobia is a global phenomenon. This phrase may be widely known, and yet even among Muslims the dimensions and depth of what is unfolding against them globally is not well understood. 

While the UN declared March 15th the “Global Day to Combat Islamophobia” — a momentous feat for the transnational human rights organization — much more still has to be done, particularly with regard to public education. 

I wrote “The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims” (University of California Press, March 2023) to delve deep into the unseen stories and unheard corners of global Islamophobia.

Taking on a phenomenon that is rapidly expanding on an international scale is no easy task. Particularly when Islamophobia’s contours and character are dramatically distinct across different nations. 

While Islamophobia is global, it’s by no means monolithic. For example, we see it being enforced via hijab bans across France and in Quebec; concentration camps in Xinjiang that confine Uyghur and ethnic Muslims; and the rise of Hindutva supremacy in India that strips citizenship from Muslims, drives the bulldozing of their mosques and homes and fuels the mob violence that leaves their families vulnerable. 

“The New Crusades” consolidates these distinct faces into a cogent whole, providing readers with a clear portrayal of the real-time struggles of Muslim populations across countries, continents and cultures. Beyond its ambitious scope, its legal and political analysis, not to mention its daring engagement of issues neglected within the popular sphere, what separates this book from others is its focus on the voices of real people and victims, along with first-hand accounts of Islamophobia’s crises and catastrophes, flashpoint incidents and definite events. 

Muna, a Rohingya Muslim woman now living as a refugee in Illinois, shared with me that “Our village was destroyed in days.” I spoke to Muna, who survived the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar that left 1 million of her countrymen and -women displaced and then scattered across the globe — far from home and further away from their families.

Such accounts were hardly rare and came to color the book’s complexion. During the process of completing my book, I crossed paths with people I had known before through study, research and distant interviews. One of them was Jelilova, a Uyghur woman who survived the concentration camps and dedicated her life to telling her story … a story I wrote about in the book:

“I was arrested on 22 May 2017. The statement says that I’m a terrorist,” Jelilova recollected. Immediately after her arrest, she was taken to a concentration camp, where she learned that more than 1 million of her people were detained inside China’s network of 1,200 prison camps. The inner sanctums of these camps were theaters of mass discipline and ghastly punishment that, for Jelilova, began with the removal of her hijab. Prison guards cackled as they replaced it with a freshly shaven head. After that initial “dignity taking,” Jelilova was escorted into a cell where she met other women arrested on terror charges. Virtually all of them were Uyghur, and all of them were Muslim.

Those words were imprinted in my head and then written down in my book long before I even met Jelilova. Her story, in great part, inspired me to make a Uyghur Muslima the face of “The New Crusades.” Fittingly, the young Uyghur girl who graces the book’s cover is named Muslima, a refugee now living in Istanbul among a thriving Uyghur diaspora

It was humbling to meet Jelilova in person at the International Uyghur World Conference in Brussels during October 2022, where we posed for a photo and shared gratitude. Memorializing her story, as well as those of tens of other Uyghur survivors and victims, shapes the spirit of “The New Crusades.”

Their voices and stories, which I had the privilege of putting onto paper, distinguishes this book and makes it a landmark testament about a global experience that is more mosaic than monolith. However, what stitches together the stories of the Uyghur with the Rohingya, the French with the Palestinian, and the myriad of Muslims targeted is their faith, Islam, and their unrelenting faith in the face of tyrannical state violence and vitriolic societal rage. 

They are victims of Islamophobia because they are Muslims, and the War on Terror — made in America and exported globally — has left a target on their chests and a hole in their heart. But after each conversation and meeting, every page I wrote and every chapter I finished, what I learned is that their faith remained whole. Even when criminalized and under attack, they continued to fight.

And this fight is why I write and why I wrote “The New Crusades.” It is not only an imperative read for Muslims in the U.S. and beyond, but for anybody — regardless of faith or lack thereof — committed to understanding the inhumanity unfolding before our eyes even as we continue to ignore and forget the faces of those affected by it.

The UN’s formal acknowledgment of a global Islamophobia Day is a momentous symbolic moment for the fight against Islamophobia; however, it is only one step in a much larger movement that we must lead. 

Khaled A. Beydoun is a law professor at Wayne State University in Detroit and the Berkman Center at Harvard. He is the author of “The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims” (University of California Press, 2023). You can find him on his socials at @khaledbeydoun.

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March/April 2023

S.K. Ali’s upcoming book “Love from Mecca to Medina” is a part of Salaam Reads, a Simon & Schuster imprint that focuses on publishing books by Muslim authors. 

Islamic Horizons talked to Sajidah (S.K. Ali) about her book, which recounts the journey of Adam and Zeynab, a married couple who goes on umra and finds their faith tested.

Amani: Can you please tell us something you learned about yourself while writing the sequel, “Love from Mecca to Medina”?

Ali: Sure! I was truly scared to discover that it’s really hard for me to write villainous characters. Not to give any spoilers, but there’s a character who’s supposed to have been more monstrous than she ended up being — because I kept empathizing with her, inadvertently giving her the gift of nuance. And so, in the end I left her ambiguous, meaning it’s up to each reader to make sense of her actions. Were those actions done with ill-intent or in another spirit? (To clarify: I did write a monster into “Saints and Misfits,” but he didn’t get much page space, so I didn’t have to ponder on him too long.)

Amani: When you started drafting “Love from Mecca to Medina,” did you already have an idea of how Sausan was going to be included? I love that she’s a constant reoccurring character in all your books.

Ali: I had an idea that Adam and Zayneb would meet up with Sausun (who’s part Saudi) in Saudi Arabia when they went on umra, but not her role in the story. I can’t plan Sausun’s actions ahead of time. As I mentioned elsewhere, she has a mind of her own and once she knows where she’ll appear, she just comes on the page and does her thing. 

Amani: Can readers expect any stark differences in the story’s tone from the first book to the sequel?

Ali: There’s more spirituality in this book due to the setting and the nature of the couple’s journey. But there’s also romance, heartache and love — the best of the A-and-Z dynamics, the way they just make complete sense to each other and need each other to be truly at peace in the world. I love writing their love story.

Amani: In an IG story, you mentioned that readers will get to see Janna (from “Saints & Misfits”) again. How old is she now, and how have things changed for her since “Misfit in Love”?

Ali: In “Love from Mecca to Medina,” Janna is nineteen going on twenty. She’s stronger in terms of her place in the world and being open to people — especially to one person she met during her brother’s wedding in “Misfit in Love.” No spoilers, but expect two love stories to continue in my latest novel.

Amani: What inspired Bertha Fatima’s name? She’s one of the best side characters from “Love from A to Z,” and I’m excited to see her again in “Love from Mecca to Medina.”

Ali: I love when pets have interesting names. “Bertha” seemed to be an interesting name for a weak, stray animal you find behind a dumpster (like the cat Adam’s mom found when she was around Adam’s age), that you hope gets stronger. This original Bertha was the name inspiration for Adam and Zayneb’s cat. The “Fatima” part of the name came from Zayneb being inspired by the Muslima who established the world’s first university [Ed. note: Fatima a-Fihri, who founded what is now the famous al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, Morocco]. Thus, Bertha Fatima is a name with two inspirations, doubly blessed. (This backstory can be found in “The Eid Gift,” a free novelette hosted by my publisher at Rivetedlit.com that continues Adam and Zayneb’s story after “Love from A to Z” and before “Love from Mecca to Medina.”)

Amani: What was it like to write Adam and Zeyneb now that they’re no longer in high school?

Ali: It was challenging, because college experiences are so different for people. Also, I didn’t want to solely bring in my own college experiences, which were pretty amazing overall but wouldn’t have brought in the necessary tension I needed for Zayneb’s storyline. So, I interviewed young people in college and out of school in general (as Adam is) and asked what they found difficult, what they were grappling with. 

Amani: Adam’s sister Hanna is an important character in the series. Do you think there will ever be a story focused on her or on another side character like Sausan or Nuah?

Ali: Hanna has a story coming out on May 9, 2023! She’s one of the four points of view (POVs) in “Grounded,” an adventure set in an … airport. (Side note: What is it with me and airports?). 

In terms of stories with other characters, no. I think the Janna-Zaydam universe is complete. I finished “Love from Mecca to Medina” in a way that wraps up the storylines. 

Amani: Do you have any favorite reader interactions?

Ali: I’m happy that my books have resonated with so many young readers and that every day they write to tell me how they saw themselves in these stories. Each and every one of those messages touches my heart and helps me continue writing. As someone who felt erased from my wider society growing up, it’s really important to me that no other young reader feels that way. So, ultimately, all reader interactions are valuable to me. 

Amani: Can you reveal any of the books you’ll be working on after “Love from Mecca to Medina”? 

Ali: I’m working on a humorous historical novel with a friend who I absolutely love. We are having so much fun with it, and I hope we get to share it with the world. It makes us laugh out loud and long, and we want readers to do the same! 

Amani: Did you consider any alternate endings?

Ali: Not at all, actually, as I always try to set out to write a book only when I know what the ending will look like. In this case, I wanted two endings to Adam and Zayneb’s story. So, I put one in the last chapter of “Love from Mecca to Medina” and one in the epilogue. (Therefore, you get a two-for-one deal with this book — preorder now!)

 Amani: What are some of your favorite bookish tropes? 

Ali: I’m the worst person to ask this question to. For some reason, I can never see a trope playing out right in front of me even when I’m reading what others claim is a most-tropey book. Was I sleeping during that unit in English class or during that discussion on #bookstagram or #BookTok? I know not. All I know is that people have called Adam and Zayneb’s love by different trope names, and I embrace all of them wholeheartedly and say, yes, you’re right! It is exactly that trope! And that other one too! 

Amani: What does literary success look like to you, and has it changed since your debut novel?

Ali: To me, literary success is being able to do this on a full-time basis without hustling too hard. I’m still far from that. I currently have too many projects on the go so that I can earn a living properly. That said, not everyone quits their day job to write stories full-time. I needed to do that because it was too draining to continue as a second-grade teacher with all the energy that entails and the preparation time involved, while parenting too — all while paying the sort of attention needed to continue a writing career that had opened up for me later in life. 

I was terrified that doors would close if I waited too long to produce another novel, so I took the plunge and left my full-time career for this other full-time career — one I absolutely love, but is, in all-honesty, a lot of sustained work without security. I should add here that I was privileged to do this because I have a husband who works full-time who wholeheartedly supported me leaving my job to pursue a dream that was not necessarily financially solid. (So, thank you for buying my books — they keep me writing!) 

Amani: What’s one writing session essential that you can’t live without (e.g., cat, coffee, food, drink, music playlists, snacks)?

Ali: My desktop computer, which has no social media accounts and fits snugly into a cubicle-like space. It keeps me away from distractions.

 Amani: Audiobooks, physical books or e-books?

 S.K. Ali: Physical ONLY! I write too much on screens to read for pleasure on screens too. 

 Amani: Other than writing, what other hobbies do you have/would like to share?

Ali: Art of all sorts. And I mean all kinds. Like, if you were to go through my art cupboards, you would unearth artworks from over the years made using a wide variety of mediums. It’s my truest joy and simplest way to de-stress. 

Amani Salahudeen (B.A., The College of New Jersey, ‘20) is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education at Western Governor’s University.

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The post What S.K Ali Learned When Writing ‘Love from Mecca to Medina’ appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

January/February 2023

With daylight savings times happening, the days are shorter and the nights longer, which means it’s the perfect time of the year to read a good book. 

When it’s cold out, there’s nothing better than grabbing a fleece blanket and a good book. This winter there are so many options to pick from, both Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) fiction and nonfiction books that can be read by anyone (for the age listed and above). 

I read each book listed below. They will appeal to different readers. Graphic novels are included for those who prefer them. 

As Long as The Lemon Trees Grow (Zoulfa Katouh)

This YA novel is about the situation in Syria after the ‘Arab Spring’ and the ensuing civil war. A young Muslima’s life is turned upside down by the war. The story depicts how life was before, during and after the war. When Salama’s sister-in-law Layla gets pregnant, Salama needs to make the difficult choice to leave Syria to keep everyone safe. 

This book, an eye-opening and compelling debut, is good for tenth graders and up.

Bhai for Now (Maleeha Siddiqui)

Pakistani-American Maleeha Siddiqui enjoys telling unapologetically Muslim stories for people of all ages. “Bhai for Now” is a Parent-Trap inspired MG book with twin boys Ashar and Shaheer. As Shaheer and his father are always on the go — the latter ends up working in many places — Shaheer stops believing he can find someplace to call home and just be in one place. 

Ashar and Shaheer are complete opposites. When they meet on Shaheer’s first day of school, the resemblance is astonishing. It doesn’t take them long to figure out that they’re twins, separated at birth. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to get to know the missing parent, even if it means switching places. This is a book about two long-lost brothers who hate each other but eventually acknowledge how much they need each other. The two boys’ personalities clash. 

Punching the Air (Ibi Zobi and Yusuf Salaam)

Told in novel verse, the authors tell the tale of sixteen-year-old Amal, an aspiring artist with a bright future — until he’s imprisoned for getting caught in a fight. The book highlights how the odds were always stacked against him and that he’s living in an unsympathetic and prejudiced world.  This is for ages 14-17 and above.

Queen of the Tiles (Hanna Alkaf)

Hanna Alkaf’s newest book is a mystery with a Scrabble competition featuring protagonist Najwa Bakri, a talented Muslim player determined to win this year’s annual championship. When her best friend Trina dies during a match, the death is presumed to be due to natural causes. But when Najwa returns for next year’s competition, she realizes there was more to it than she’d been led to believe. Moreover, if she can’t figure out what happened, she could be next! This fast-paced page turner will keep you up reading from the very beginning to the end. 

This book, set in Malaysia, is perfect for ages 14 and up. 

Love from Mecca to Medina by S.K. Ali

“Love from Mecca to Medina,” the sequel to the author’s “Love from A to Z,” follows the story of Adam and Zeyneb, a married couple. Adam is in Doha, making plans for Umrah and worried about where his next paycheck will come from, and Zeyneb is a stressed-out grad student living in Chicago. But then they are given a marriage gift: to attend Umrah together during Thanksgiving break. The trip, which is nothing like they expected it to be, will test their faith and marriage. Can they make it work? 

This book is ideal for ages 16 and up. 

Grounded (ed. Aisha Saeed)

This anthology contains contributions from Aisha Saeed, Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, Huda Al-Marashi and S.K. Ali. After a thunderstorm strands Feek, Sami, Nora and Hanna at an airport, Hanna persuades the other three to help her find a lost cat. This is a zany middle grade adventure with a group of Muslim characters. I loved its family dynamics. 

This book, which comes out on May 9, 2023, could be the perfect Eid gift for young children or teachers to add to their classroom libraries.

Ayesha Dean: The Istanbul Intrigue (Melati Lum)

Ayesha Dean is perfect for Nancy Drew fans. During a trip to Istanbul with friends, Ayesha uncovers a note about a treasure that has been missing for years. Unfortunately, she isn’t the only one looking for it. Even worse, her vacation is about to get more dangerous than she had anticipated. 

This is for ages 10-13 and up. It was recently announced that this book, one of the first I’ve read set in Turkiye, will be adapted into a manga publication.

Huda F Are You (Huda Fahmy)

This graphic novel was written and illustrated by Huda Fahmy, known as @yesimhotinthis on Instagram. She tells the story of how after Huda and her family move to Dearborn, Mich., Huda realizes she’s not the only Muslim at school anymore — a realization that causes an existential crisis. This graphic novel is a hilarious exploration of self-discovery and what it means to be a Muslim. 

“Huda F Are You” is perfect for high school students and up.

You Truly Assumed (Laila Sabreen)

Sabreen’s debut novel follows three African American Muslimas as they make a digital space for others and break common stereotypes on their online You Truly Assumed blog. This is a heartbreaking and eye-opening book. When one of the girls is threatened, they have a hard call to make: shut down the blog they’ve worked so hard on, or stand up for what they believe in, even if it means endangering themselves.

“You Truly Assumed” is for ages 13 and up. 

Squire (Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas)

This graphic novel, set in the Ottoman Empire, follows Aliza, a young girl who has an epiphany: Battlefield glory is not as glamorous as she thought it would be. It’s also a story about creating a home with strangers who eventually become a close-knit family to her. 

This novel, which also includes bonus scenes, is perfect for middle and high school students. 

Amani Salahudeen (BA, The College of New Jersey, ‘20) is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Western Governors University.

Tell us what you thought by joining our Facebook community. You can also send comments and story pitches to [email protected]. Islamic Horizons does not publish unsolicited material.  

The post The Top 10 Young Adult and Middle Grade Books to Read This Winter  appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By Islamic Horizons Staff

November/December

 They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl’s Fight for Freedom 

Ahed Tamimi, Dena Takruri 

2022. Pp. 288. HB. $27.00. Kindle $13.99

Random House, New York, N.Y.

The small West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, in which the world-renowned Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was born and raised, became a center of the resistance to Israeli occupation when an illegal, Jewish-only settlement blocked off its community spring. Tamimi came of age participating in nonviolent demonstrations against this event and the occupation at large. Her global renown reached an apex in December 2017, when, aged 16, she was filmed slapping an Israeli soldier who refused to leave her front yard. The video went viral, and Tamimi was arrested.

This story, which transcends activism or imprisonment, is a teenager’s account of what it’s like to grow up in an occupation that has riveted the world and shaped global politics. One of Ahed’s earliest memories is visiting her father in prison, poking her toddler fingers through the fence to touch his hand. She would spend her 17th birthday behind bars. Living through this greatest test and heightened attacks on her village, Tamimi felt her resolve deepen, in tension with her attempts to live the normal life of a daughter, sibling, friend and student.

This book shines a light on the humanity not just in Occupied Palestine, but also in the unsung lives of people struggling for freedom around the world.

China and the Uyghurs  

Morris Rossabi  

2022. Pp. 182 HB. $58.75. PB. $29.00. Kindle $20.99

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, Md.

Prof. Rossabi, who first published a breakthrough book on this topic in 1975, offers an even-handed history of Xinjiang and its Uyghur inhabitants. He traces this ethnic group’s development from imperial China to the present, as well as its fraught relationship with the Chinese state. 

His focus — especially on the Communist Party of China’s progressive and repressive policies toward the Uyghurs since 1949 — will interest those debating “what’s next” in regional power plays and ethnic group tensions following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

No Escape: The True Story of China’’s Genocide of the Uyghurs

Nury Turkel 

2022. Pp. 352. HB. $22.99. Kindle $14.99

Hanover Square Press, Toronto

In this powerful autobiography/biography, Turkel (cofounder and board chair, the Uyghur Human Rights Project; a commissioner, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) rips open China’s repression of his people. 

In recent years, China has locked up as many as 3 million Uyghurs in “reeducation camps,” which some identify as concentration camps. 

Born in 1970 in a reeducation camp, this future human rights attorney was lucky enough to survive and reach the U.S., where he became the first Uyghur to receive an American law degree. 

Now working as a lawyer, activist and spokesperson for his people, he advocates that liberal democracies formulate strong policy responses to address the crimes being committed against his people. 

The Fate of Abraham: Why the West is Wrong about Islam

Peter Oborne

2022. Pp. 528. HB. $24.66 PB. $20.00. Kindle $16.99

Simon & Schuster, UK

The Cold War appears to have been replaced by a new conflict — Islam vs. the West. After 9/11 and the launch of the “war on terror,” this narrative seemed prophetic. In his new analysis, Oborne contends that the concept of such an existential clash is a dangerous and destructive fantasy.

Based on rigorous historical research and forensic contemporary journalism that frequently leads him into war-torn states and bloody conflict zones, Oborne explains the myths, fabrications and downright lies that have contributed to this pernicious situation. He shows how various falsehoods run deep, reaching back as far as Islam’s birth, and been repurposed for the modern day. 

Many senior government officials across the West have suggested that Islam is trying to overturn our liberal values — even that certain Muslims are conspiring to take over the state. Among them is Douglas Murray, who claims in his new book that we face a “War on the West.” But in reality, these fears merely echo past debates as we continue to repeat the pattern of seemingly willful ignorance.

With murderous attacks on Muslims taking place from Bosnia in 1995 to China today, Oborne dismantles the underlying falsehoods and opens the way to a clearer and more truthful mutual understanding that will benefit us all in the long run.

The Suspect: Counterterrorism, Islam, and the Security State 

Rizwaan Sabir 

2022. Pp. 256. HB. $99.00. PB. $24.95. Kindle $11.49

Pluto Press, London, U.K.

What impact has two decades’ worth of policing and counterterrorism had on the state of mind of Britain’s Muslims? “The Suspect,” drawing on the author’s own lived experiences, takes the reader on a journey through British counterterrorism practices and the policing of Muslims.

Sabir describes what led to his arrest for suspected terrorism, his time in detention and the surveillance he was subjected to upon release, including stop and frisk on the roadside, detentions at the border and monitoring by police and government departments while researching this book.

Writing publicly for the first time about the traumatizing mental health effects of these experiences, he argues that these harmful outcomes are not the result of errors in government planning, but the consequences of using a counterinsurgency warfare approach to surveillance. If we are to break this injustice, we need to resist counterterrorism policy and practice.

Islamic Divorce in the Twenty-First Century: A Global Perspective 

Erin E. Stiles, Ayang Utriza Yakin (eds.)

2022. Pp. 232. HB. $120.00. PB. $39.95. Kindle $37.95

Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J.

This compilation offers a wide range of Muslim experiences in marital disputes and seeking divorces. For Muslims, being able to divorce in accordance with Islamic law is of paramount importance. However, their experiences in this regard differ tremendously. 

The contributors, who discuss divorce from West Africa to Southeast Asia, explore aspect of the everyday realities that these couples face. This cross-cultural and comparative look indicates that their divorces are impacted by global religious discourses on Islamic authority, authenticity and gender; global patterns of and approaches to secularity; and global economic inequalities and attendant patterns of urbanization and migration. 

Studying divorce as a mode of Islamic law in practice shows that the Islamic legal tradition is flexible, malleable and context dependent.

Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia  

Natalie Koch 

2023. Pp. 208. HB. $ 26.95. Kindle $7.99

Verso, Brooklyn, N.Y.

The American Southwest’s iconic deserts could not have been colonized and settled without the help of desert experts from the Middle East. For example, in 1856 a caravan of 33 camels arrived in Indianola, Texas, led by a Syrian cameleer the Americans called “Hi Jolly.” The U.S. government hoped that this “camel corps” would help the army secure this new swath of land it had just wrested from Mexico. Although the camel corps’ dream — and sadly, the camels — died, the idea of drawing on this specialized expertise, knowledge and practices did not.

In this evocative narrative history, Koch demonstrates the exchange of colonial technologies between the Arabian Peninsula and U.S. over the past two centuries — from date palm farming and desert agriculture to the utopian sci-fi dreams of Biosphere 2 and Frank Herbert’s “Dune” — bound  the two regions together, solidifying the colonization of the American West and, eventually, the reach of American power into the Middle East. Koch teaches us to see deserts anew — not as mythic sites of romance or empty wastelands but as an “arid empire,” a crucial political space in which imperial dreams coalesce.

Education Transformation in Muslim Societies: A Discourse of Hope 

Ilham Nasser (ed.)

2022. Pp. 232. HB. $22.00. Kindle $19.79

Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Ind.

Hope is a complex concept — one academics use to accept the unknown while expressing optimism. However, it can also be an action-oriented framework with measurable outcomes.

In this compilation, an international group of Muslim scholars offer a wealth of perspectives for incorporating hope in the education of students from kindergarten through university to stimulate change, dialogue and transformation in their communities. For instance, the progress made in Muslim societies with regard to early education and girls’ enrollment isn’t well documented. By examining effective educational initiatives and analyzing how they work, educators, policymakers and government officials can create a catalyst for positive educational reform and transformation.

Adopting strength-based educational discourse, the contributors relate how critical the whole-person approach is for enriching the brain and the spirit, as well as instilling hope back into the teaching and learning spaces of many Muslim societies and communities.

“Education Transformation in Muslim Societies’ is co-published with the International Institute of Islamic Thought.

Metalwork from the Arab World and the Mediterranean 

Doris Behrens-Abouseif  

2022. 340 pp./350 illus. color/b&w. PB. $50.00

Thames & Hudson, New York, N.Y.

This latest volume in the al-Sabah Collection series presents metalwork made in Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Yemen from the early Islamic period through the end of the Ottoman era in the 19th century. The pieces include exquisite platters, serving vessels, candlesticks and pen boxes produced for royal courts, as well as many beautifully decorated bronze domestic items such as bowls, lunch boxes, door knockers, buckets and lamps.

Rooted in earlier artistic traditions from the Mediterranean, Iraq, Iran and the Indian subcontinent, these metalwork traditions reflect the Arab world’s complex history following Islam’s advent. The collection starts in the Late Antique period, which informed the early Islamic royal styles of the Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid dynasties, and goes on to trace the emergence of Mosul as a center for metalwork in the 12th and 13th centuries; the influential courtly Mamluk style during the Bahri period (1250–1380s); the Circassian era (1380s–1517); the growth of the European export market (15th century); distinctive vernacular styles in Yemen (14th–16th centuries); and the many revivals and fusions of international styles over six centuries of Ottoman rule (1517–1900s). 

Finally, an enigmatic group of zoomorphic fittings that defy easy dating is celebrated for the craftsmanship and charm of its animal figures.

Ahmed Goes to Friday Prayer: Ahmed se va a la oración del viernes

Wendy Díaz, (Illus. Muhammad Guadalupe and Mariam Suhaila Guadalupe)

2022. Pp. 48. PB. $14.99

Hablamos Islam, Baltimore, Md.

In “Ahmed Goes to Friday Prayer,” Díaz uses her puppet Ahmed to present a unique step-by-step guide to the Friday congregational prayer from a child’s perspective. Ahmed El Titeriti is the star of the YouTube children’s program Hablamos Islam con Ahmed (We Speak Islam with Ahmed) on the Hablamos Islam channel. 

In her 14th book, Díaz continues to bring Latino and Muslim representation to children’s literature by sprinkling Islamic vocabulary throughout with definitions and bonus quiz pages at the end for parents and educators to use as learning tools. 

This bilingual English-Spanish book contains colorful photo illustrations that are sure to delight any young reader.

(TAGLINE)Shima Khan, Department of English, Wellesley High School, Wellesley, Mass.

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By Amani Salahudeen

November/December

Brooklyn-born Linda Sarsour is a Muslima Palestinian American social justice activist who, in 2017, co-chaired the Women’s March on Washington and March2Justice. She is well-known in diverse communities for her social justice work.

The former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, Sarsour co-founded MPOWER Change, the first Muslim online organizing platform, as well as Until Freedom, a national racial justice organization that helps Black and Brown communities nationwide.

According to the synopsis of “We’re All in This Together,” Sarsour states, “On January 17, 2017, Linda Sarsour stood in the National Mall to deliver a speech that would go down in history. A crowd of over 470,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to advocate for legislation, policy, and the protection of women’s rights — with Linda, leading the charge, unapologetic and unafraid. From the Brooklyn bodega that her father owned to the streets of the nation’s capital, Sarsour’s story as a daughter of Palestinian immigrants is a moving portrayal of what it means to find your voice in your youth and use it for the good of others as an adult. Her uplifting journey of growing up in a working-class family Brooklyn and becoming one of the most influential leaders of the Women’s Movement shows that anyone and everyone is capable of changing the world, and that it’s up to a determined few to be a voice for the many.”  

Her new book, a modified version of her “We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders: A Memoir of Love & Resistance,” is directed toward young readers. 

A public speaker who often speaks at Islamic conferences, Sarsour studied journalism at Brooklyn College and Kingsborough Community College. She actively posts about social injustice on her social media accounts as @lsarsour. Sarsour discusses an upcoming book-related project and gives her advice to young Muslims. “We’re in This Together” asks readers to think about what their purpose in this universe is. It has a strong emphasis on courage, community and how even one person can make a big difference. 

In this exclusive interview, she talks about writing for a younger audience and tangible acts Muslims can do to become good activists.

Amani: Hi, Linda! Can you please tell us a bit about your upcoming book “We’re in This Together”?

Linda: “We’re In This Together” is my young reader adaptation of my memoir “We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders: A Memoir of Love & Resistance.” It’s an intentional opportunity to reach young people in an inspiring and engaging way in the hope of making them realize their power and impact. “We’re In this Together” shares stories from my earlier childhood that will resonate deeply with many readers. These stories helped shape who I am today.

Amani: What is one thing you wish everyone would do as a small act of activism?

Linda: We live in a very cruel world plagued by injustice. It seems the task is too great for any one of us to alleviate the pain and suffering. And we would be right [to think so]. I believe that it would be a great start if we were kinder to one another, gave a small donation to an organization doing work we cared about and showed up for a rally or protest in our communities. 

Amani: What is your writing process like?

Linda: Recalling stories from my childhood felt nostalgic, but also emotional and sometimes traumatic. I wanted to give young people a rounded story, even if that meant sharing pain and loss. The process was fulfilling and intentional. I hope it will move young people to action and to be unapologetic about who they are. 

Amani: Would you consider writing for other age groups in the future?

Linda: Yes, I have a picture book [in mind] soon for an even younger audience. My passion is to write for young readers, because I believe they deserve to learn about and discuss important issues that impact them and their families. I also believe they deserve content that may be difficult but helps them contextualize their own lives and connect their triumphs and struggles to others who may not look like them or come from where they come from.

Amani: Do you have any upcoming projects/book-related activities that you’re able to tease?

Linda: A picture book about a Muslim girl activist!

Amani: What’s your best piece of advice for other young (especially Muslim) activists?

Linda: Be unapologetic about who you are. Never dim your light for anyone. Focus on those who love you, encourage you and motivate you. Everything else is just a distraction from your own greatness.

Amani: How much time (months/years) did you spend writing We’re in This Together?

Linda: It took about two years in between the racial justice uprisings of 2020, then the continued fight for voting rights and so much more. I’m a full-time organizer, so working on a book takes me longer.

Amani: What or who inspired you to write?

Linda: I was inspired to write because I felt voices like mine weren’t represented in mainstream books. As a Palestinian, Muslima and American activist, I wanted to inject a different set of identities that are often marginalized and vilified in our society and provide my own perspectives in the hope that it would resonate.

Amani: How do you balance work and personal life?

Linda: After over 20 years in the movement, I still have a hard time with this. I work nonstop through the nights and weekends, and it’s something I’m trying to remedy because I know it’s not healthy. 

Amani Salahudeen (BA, The College of New Jersey, ’20) is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Western Governor’s University. 

Tell us what you thought by joining our Facebook community. You can also send comments and story pitches to [email protected]. Islamic Horizons does not publish unsolicited material.  

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Rebellious Wives, Neglectful Husbands: Controversies in Modern Qur’anic Commentaries

Hadia Mubarak 

2022. Pp. 368. HB. $29.95

Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y.

The past two decades have witnessed a proliferation of scholarship focused on women and gender in the Quran. Yet, much of it evades a substantive engagement with tafsīr as a scholarly genre in the field of women. This stems partially from evaluations of this tradition as patriarchal and incapable of offering egalitarian interpretations. This book argues for a critical reassessment. Rather than discard it as meaningless to Muslims’ contemporary efforts to recover the Quran’s ethics, this book brings it into conversation by exploring modernity’s impact on three influential 20th-century Sunni Quranic commentaries through the lens of gender: “Tafsīr al-Manār,” “Fī Ẓilāl al-Qur’ān” and “Al-Taḥrīr wa’l-Tanwīr.”

This author identifies significant shifts in modern Quranic commentaries on the subject of women against the backdrop of broader historical, intellectual and political developments in the early 20th century. A serious engagement with tafsīr opens up its gateways and provides a clearer understanding of the genre’s intellectual history, development, methods and construction of interpretive authority. Rather than pit a seemingly egalitarian Quran against an allegedly patriarchal exegetical tradition, this book captures a tafsīr tradition with pluralistic, complex and evolving interpretations of women and gender in the Quran. The capacity to bring new meanings to bear on the Quran is therefore not only intellectually viable, but also inherent in the exegetical tradition.

Living Where We Don’t Make the Rules: A Guide for Muslim Minorities

Ebrahim Rasool (ed.)

2022. Pp. 236. PB. $28

Claritas Books, Milpitas, Calif.

This work operates from the premise that today, 90% of all countries have significant minorities that constitute at least 10% of their populations. Approximately 25% of Muslims live in minority situations. Some have assimilated and forfeited their practices and identities to “belong”; others have isolated themselves with others who share their language, national origin, culture or religion. Some Muslims, however, have balanced both their Islamic identity and other elements of identity that come with their adopted countries.

“Living Where We Don’t Make the Rules,” which pursues the third option, balances theoretical rigor with practical direction. The book includes the lived experience of those on the forefront of living as minorities, as well as the scholarship of those who apply the synthesis of Islam’s timeless values, norms and principles with the exigencies of where these Muslims live. It provides leadership that can guide everyday life, manage our faith, direct partnerships with fellow citizens and campaign for inclusivity.

Understanding God and His System 

Akhtar Alvi

2022. pp. 214. PB. $21.99

Legacy Ventures International 

“Understanding God and His System” offers a uniquely precise guide to better comprehending the Quran and its teachings as translated into English.

For 50 years, Akhtar A. Alvi has researched God by reading English-language translations of the Quran. Finding most of the translated texts difficult to understand, due to their many verbose explanations and grammatical errors, he has translated the Quran into simple English. This Quran-based book helps readers better understand God and His system by covering such topics as God’s existence, location, names, characteristics, methods and actions, and system. A devotional, inspiring read for guiding individuals toward leading more fulfilling lives.

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