Islamic Bookshelf
Growing up we read stories. They can be a great way for Muslim kids to learn and Islamic fiction even better; they can discover much about their faith, values and who they are in a fun and creative way.
Yet, if a Muslim child gets no exposure to Islam in their hours of reading pleasure, there is a chance that Islam never enters their imagination. Instead, they live through the eyes of heroes in whose shoes they don’t quite fit. While some heroes may well be morally decent in a universal sense, but there is still something disconcerting about growing up as a young Muslim whose literary and cultural heroes are almost all not Muslim and therefore their values and experiences may not quite click with their own lifestyle and choices. Especially when they see heroes they read about in books that may not look like them, pray like them, dress like them; or even not date as they themselves wouldn’t (which can be quite hard as stories become seemingly more laced with teen romances as the readership gets older).
Youth is an age of self-consciousness for some, often riddled with insecurities, and part of growing up is to seek affirmation and acceptance of who you are. So it happens, Muslim kids can sometimes be left feeling marginalised if the seed is planted in their minds that they could never be the heroes of a story themselves because of their own religious identity and values. But Islamic fiction allows them to be themselves and become the heroes they can be and should be; Islamic fiction can provide role models that bolster their self-worth and confidence. It reminds them that they do have a place in the world where their lives and the practice of their faith matter. So, it’s time to own the pages and become the heroes; to lead the adventures, discover and celebrate who they are.
The House of Ibn Kathir Series by S.N. Jalali – where traditional storytelling is intertwined with Islamic knowledge, heritage and memorable characters (inspired by the beautiful bonds as seen amongst the likes of the Ansar and Muhajereen). Read the page turning boarding school adventures where friendships and brotherhood come together, rooted in Islamic values.🌙
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
