The 2020 Big End of The Year List of Muslim Authored Books By Authors Umm Juwayriyah & Juwayriyah Ayed

It's the end of 2020! This year, more than any other year of our lives, everyone in the world has experienced much of the same types of fears, hopes, losses, determination and even faith. As humans, those are the things that unite us all and brings us together. For us writers, capturing the human experience, with our words, is a vital and sacred art that helps us to preserve history. This year, more than any other year, the stories of Muslim authors will help future generations understand what it was like to live through the Covid-19 pandemic as a Muslim. These stories will help us remember that even during a once in a lifetime pandemic, there were people in this world believing as a Muslim, praying as a Muslim, working as a Muslim, dressing like a Muslim, dealing with depression and anxiety as a Muslim, finding love and celebrating as a Muslim. 

As always, make sure you support these Muslim authors! They are building a legacy and a lighted path for the new generation of Muslim writers; those still dreaming about writing and those who haven't even been born yet but are already destined to be great writers and protectors of our experiences and narratives. 

Umm Juwayriyah & Juwayriyah B. Ayed

David's Dollar by Tariq Toure

I want you to meet our main character, David Kareem, a Muslim kid who's just earned a dollar for his allowance and wants to spend his money on some tasty candy like any other normal child, especially my own. But after he spends it, David is curious to know exactly where it went. David's father Brother Amir takes him on a journey throughout the community to see how the dollar he just spent makes its way to other businesses.David asks his father a simple question, "Daddy, where did my dollar go?" 

Seeing Life Through A Difference Lens by Zaakirah Nayyar

Zaakirah, was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, non-hereditary bilateral retinoblastoma when she was nine months old. Zaakirah is a deaf-blind childhood cancer survivor who sees in one eye and wears hearing aids in both ears. This book alternates between the author’s personal memories of overcoming medical adversity and blog entries written by the author’s mother, Khai’dah. The blog entries highlight the search for proper treatment while the author’s personal writings share how she acclimated to her monocular existence. Ms. Muhammad began to form her identity through the adversity she was forced to overcome. You will be inspired as Zaakirah shares how she learned to fulfill her love of music, travel, and photography. This book helps you to gain a better understanding of this rare childhood eye cancer.

Wear What When by Hanifah Ashry

Confused about fashion "rules"?
Having trouble navigating trends?
Not sure how to dress for special events and certain seasons?
Need hijabi-specific fashion tips?
Want to be a stylish Mom, but not sure how?
WEAR WHAT WHEN is your guide for answering all of these questions and more.
Let fashion consultant Hanifah Ashry teach you how to be your most stylish self!

More Tresses Less Stress: A Natural's Guide by Ziyadah Deen

This is a guide for natural hair lovers. An easy guide to help you feel less overwhelmed while styling your natural hair

Sam: The Junior Herbalist: The Case Of The Tummy Troubles by Angela Rahim

Sam The Junior Herbalist is a groundbreaking book about an amazing ten-year-old boy who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Sam is an urban herbalist and environmentalist. He is passionate about plant conservation and helping his community. In each book, children learn about different plants, interesting herbs, and even how to prepare the same herbal remedy Sam makes.The book focuses on the spirit of ethical wildcrafting, environmental stewardship, and helping the creation-- from the smallest to the largest creatures on Earth. In Book 1, The Case Of The Tummy Troubles, Sam is on a mission to help his little sister Angela. Her tummy is hurting and Sam has to find herbs for the remedy and get home in time. Will he make it?

Zara's New Eid Dress by Nafisah Abdul-Rahim

Zara loves all the festivities of Ramadan and Eid. She enjoys visiting with her friends at the mosque and sampling delicious foods from around the world. But one of her favorite things is shopping for her Eid dress. In past years, she wore similar outfits as her friends from different ethnic backgrounds. This year, she wants something uniquely her own. Zara envisions a dress that represents her heritage and her style, a reflection of her culture as an African American Muslim. This picture book for children shares the story of Zara as she seeks the perfect dress for Eid, while offering insight into her Muslim culture.

My Kufi by Adil Ismaaeel

My Kufi is a children's story about a young boy's journey to taking pride in his identity as a Muslim. Jaysh, the main character, is confronted with challenges that allow him to grow and become secure in his identity as a Muslim.

Goodnight Knight by Jannah Bayyan 

Goodnight Knight is a bedtime book for children who love to procrastinate before bedtime. The story is an ode to the classic Goodnight Moon bedtime book. The main character endeavors to acknowledge silent letters in common words like the silent letters in his name.

I’m Divorced Now by Umm Zakiyyah 

On August 30, 2020, internationally acclaimed author and speaker, Umm Zakiyyah, parted from her second soul companion in marriage and made the difficult decision to heal in community instead of silence and shame. In this honest book, she shares her journey of love and heartbreak, which begins with a toxic relationship at eighteen years old and ends with walking away from a man she considered her soul mate. In a soul-touching effort to heal her own heart and inspire others along the way, Umm Zakiyyah shares deep personal reflections and interactive journal prompts as she gives us a glimpse into one of the most vulnerable times of her life.

Muslim Women Are Everything by Seema Yasmin 

Tired of seeing Muslim women portrayed as weak, sheltered, and limited, journalist Seema Yasmin reframes how the world sees them, to reveal everything they CAN do and the incredible, stereotype-shattering ways they are doing it. Featuring 40 full-color illustrations by illustrator Fahmida Azim throughout, Muslim Women Are Everything is a celebration of the ways in which past and present Muslim women from around the world are singing, dancing, reading, writing, laughing, experimenting, driving, and rocking their way into the history books.

Once Upon an Eid by S. K. Ali

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.

Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon

Ever since she was little, Leah Vernon was told what to believe and how to act. There wasn’t any room for imperfection. Good Muslim girls listened more than they spoke. They didn’t have a missing father or a mother with mental illness. They didn’t have fat bodies or grow up wishing they could be like the white characters they saw on TV. They didn’t have husbands who abused and cheated on them. They certainly didn’t have secret abortions. In Unashamed, Vernon takes to task the myth of the perfect Muslim woman with frank dispatches on her love-hate relationship with her hijab and her faith, race, weight, mental illness, domestic violence, sexuality, the millennial world of dating, and the process of finding her voice.

Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names

Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan

In this moving picture book, author Hena Khan shares her wishes for her children: "Inshallah you find wonder in birds as they fly. Inshallah you are loved, like the moon loves the sky." With vibrant illustrations and prose inspired by the Quran, this charming picture book is a heartfelt and universal celebration of a parent's unconditional love.

Yasmin the Gardener by Saadia Faruqi 

It's spring! Yasmin and her baba are excited to plant their garden, and Yasmin chooses a flower seedling. She gives it plenty of sun, water, and good soil . . . so why is it wilting? Watching Nani sit in the sun gives Yasmin a bright idea and she knows just what her little plant needs.

Her Justice Too by Nasheed JaXson

Forgiving someone you love for betraying your trust is a lot easier said than done. No one understands this more than Justice, Naimah, and Gabriel. What starts out as a beautiful marriage turns into heartache, rage, pain, and betrayal. One moment Justice and Naimah were deeply in love, planning their future together. The next moment, tragedy hits and their lives are forever changed. Naimah is now confined to a wheelchair, contemplating letting another man into her sacred space, and it’s her husband’s fault - or is it? Rejection, lust, and abandonment entangles these three souls forcing them to each learn forgiveness according to their intentions and actions. Everyone feels betrayed, but who’s going to forgive first? Follow Justice, Naimah, and Gabriel as they each try to learn how to love unconditionally, practice forgiveness and forget they were hurt in the first place.

Taking Momma Home on the Train by Debra Nasser 

Everyone who passes by you has a story to tell. Each transient passenger holds steadfast and unrelenting onto a story-stable or unsettled, acknowledged, or not- there is a story lying deep and dormant within.This collection holds a handful of short stories- some true, some truth-inspired, and others truly inspiring- all taking place on a long train ride. As you follow along on the ride, you will realize that the protagonists are unsuspecting and oblivious to one another, yet they are connected by their commute. Their stories will intrigue you as you ride along with them.In the end, you’ll conclude that everyone has a story to tell.

Samirah's First Day Of School by Nour Abdullah

Samirah is excited about starting school. She's even more excited about meeting new friends and learning new things. Let's follow along and see what happens on Samirah's first day of school.

Queen of the Castle by Lyndell Williams

Tarika is happy living single. She loves her home—her castle—and is not looking for some man to try and take over everything she has built. When her best friend, Hafsah throws Aqil her way, Tarika makes it clear that she is not interested in the shy man, who barely speaks to her. When she needs his help after an accident, she allows Aqil and his daughter into her life, making it difficult to resist his sexy gray eyes and sultry smile. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to keep her distance. Aqil planned to stay focused on rebuilding his life with his daughter after a messy divorce until he saw Tarika. He tries to maintain a respectful amount of space, but her confidence and beauty draw him in. He knows he has everything Tarika needs and gets closer to her, bringing them into a passionate abandon that can break down the walls of her inhibitions but may also shatter their lives. 

The Most Beautiful Nation! by NOIWC Online Archives, Sanaa Nasira 

“History is above all our studies. The most attractive and best qualified to reward our research. As it develops the springs and motives of human actions, and displays the consequence of circumstances, which operates most powerfully on the destinies of the human being.” – Honorable Elijah Muhammad. This book is comprised of historic women's articles from the Muhammad Speaks newspaper archives.

A Stroke at Midnight by Lyndell Williams

He will have her before the year is out. Mateo spent too many years craving the taste and touch of Deja’s body. He restrained himself from taking his brother’s widow to bed. Now the sinner in him is winning the battle. He is through imagining all the naughty things he can do to her. It was time for him to put all his kinky plans into action. He assembles his toys, determined to stroke Deja by the time the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve. Deja knows it is wrong to lust after her dead husband’s brother. She tells herself that Mateo only wants to help raise her son, but she can’t keep ignoring the way he looks at her and how it makes her tingle with desire. She can’t resist the call of his hot body, and she does not want to. Tied down by guilt and separated by quarantine, Mateo and Deja decide to free themselves with a New Year’s Eve night of passion. But will it destroy their family and friendship?

NbA Muslims-Black Muslim Reads by Layla Abdullah-Poulos, Fatimah Abdulmalik, Umm Juwayriyah

Black Muslim authors tell hybrid stories. They fuse Islamic and American literary traditions. Like other African American writers, they use fiction to articulate their experiences, raise consciousness and effect social change. American literature is rich and variegated. So is Black Muslim literature. The Black Muslim Reads anthology includes a spectrum of fiction and non-fiction genres. Here, you'll find poetry and prose; memoir; children's stories; mysteries; and contemporary, romance, and urban fiction. All reflect their authors' intersecting identities. All subvert the tenacious stereotype that associates being Muslim with being foreign. Native-born American Muslim writers take ownership of their faith and their citizenship and interweave them dynamically. In doing so, they reveal their layered, complex social and emotional experiences of being Black and Muslim in America.

Let It Goby Na'ima B. Robert, Mufti Menk 

'Life isn’t always easy Even when you’re small, You may feel angry, or hurt or sad, We’re only human, after all.' We all have days when things seem to go from bad to worse. Follow one little boy whose frustrating day is making him angrier and angrier and see where it takes him... A charming way to introduce children to one of the core character traits in Islam: forgiveness. Inspired by the motivational words of the popular/ well-loved Mufti Menk and crafted by award-winning author Na'ima B. Robert, this story invites children to identify and talk about their feelings and learn how to cope with them.

A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi

Mimi is not thrilled to be spending her summer in Karachi, Pakistan, with grandparents she’s never met. Secretly, she wishes to find her long-absent father, and plans to write to him in her beautiful new journal. The cook’s daughter, Sakina, still hasn’t told her parents that she’ll be accepted to school only if she can improve her English test score—but then, how could her family possibly afford to lose the money she earns working with her Abba in a rich family’s kitchen? Although the girls seem totally incompatible at first, as the summer goes on, Sakina and Mimi realize that they have plenty in common—and that they each need the other to get what they want most.

Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift by Siman Nuurali

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

Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin

Tameika is a girl who belongs on the stage. She loves to act, sing, and dance—and she’s pretty good at it, too. So when her school announces their Snow White musical, Tameika auditions for the lead princess role. But the other kids think she’s “not quite” right to play the role. They whisper, they snicker, and they glare. Will Tameika let their harsh words be her final curtain call?

Red Tulip by Rasheed Hafeez

Nadeera is passionate about basketball and her talent is undeniable. But after a tragic accident, her father insists that she focuses more on her Islamic faith and less on the sport that she loves. Can she convinces her father that she can live out her passion for basketball, endure prejudices, and honor her family's legacy without sacrificing her devotion to her religion?

Eid Breakfast at Abuela's by Mariam Saad 

Join Sofia and her mom and dad who spend Eid - the Islamic holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan - with her Mexican grandmother, who is not Muslim but chooses to throw them a festive breakfast which includes traditional Mexican food, decorations, and activities. The book includes many Spanish words and a glossary as well to introduce the reader to simple words in Spanish and even Arabic.

The Gatekeeper's Notebook by Sahar Abdulaziz

Life looked promising for Kalila Rahim when she and her husband decided to move from New York City to the Pocono Mountains. Despite a fabulous home, a lucrative career, and the birth of a healthy baby boy, the couple’s marriage remained fraught with problems: the most notable, Bashir’s complicated love affair. Angry and hurt, Kalila kicks him out, only to become distraught when she receives a call notifying her of Bashir’s untimely death. Widowed, facing mounting debt, and left to raise their son alone, Kalila decides to move far away and start a new life. However, she soon discovers that burying a husband is a lot simpler than concealing his secrets, especially after her own dark dalliances resurface, threatening to destroy her life.

Even in the Breaks by Hend Hegazi

Ayda is an uncompromising, salacious woman who focuses solely on her work. She gets close to no one, and no one gets close to her. Didi, on the other hand, is fun loving and family oriented. She looks forward to the day when she and her husband will become parents. When tragedy strikes unexpectedly, Didi disappears and Ayda becomes the guardian of a young girl named Shams—a young girl who, in all societal respects, she should resent. As Shams’s presence in Ayda’s life induces transformative consequences, the truth behind the two women’s relationship is revealed. Even in the Breaks is the story of the strength born when women refuse to let adversity defeat them.

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah 

A uniquely American story told in powerful, evocative prose, The Beauty of Your Face navigates a country growing ever more divided. Afaf Rahman, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, is the principal of Nurrideen School for Girls, a Muslim school in the Chicago suburbs. One morning, a shooter―radicalized by the online alt-right―attacks the school. As Afaf listens to his terrifying progress, we are swept back through her memories: the bigotry she faced as a child, her mother’s dreams of returning to Palestine, and the devastating disappearance of her older sister that tore her family apart. Still, there is the sweetness of the music from her father’s oud, and the hope and community Afaf finally finds in Islam.

Devoted Friends by Sahar Abdulaziz

Grouchy former librarian Irwin Abernathy, presently the co-owner of Abernathy & Crane, is busy preparing the bookshop for the holidays. Meanwhile, his neighbor and nemesis, Alastair Brooke, lays dying next door. It’s no secret that Irwin and most of the town dislike the irritating antique dealer, but Irwin can’t imagine what nasty deed the vile little man did to deserve being murdered! Then again–– Within moments of their arrival, the police suspect Irwin’s friend, ex-convict Darren Crane. His arrest launches everyone and everything at Abernathy & Crane into utter chaos. While poor, innocent Darren wallows away inside a jail cell, Irwin and his incorrigible friends are busy doing whatever it takes to prove his innocence––which frankly terrifies Darren almost as much as being hauled back to prison!

Amir Armadillo And a World With No Girls by Rashid Mahdi 

After another argument with his sister, Amir has had enough.  He doesn’t see the value in girls and thinks the world would be a better place without them.  His father helps him understand that a world with no girls would be totally different than what he is used to. 

Tara Turtle and Her Beautiful Shell by Rashid Mahdi 

It's Tara Turtle's 1st day of school in the meadow and it unfortunately doesn't go as planned.  Her shell becomes the reason for laughter from a couple of her classmates.  As a result, Tara begins to struggle with her appearance and wants to remove her shell.  Her Mother encourages her to wear it by trying to help Tara realize that her shell is a part of her identity and has many benefits.  It is only after an unfortunate incident at the school that Tara and her classmates realize just how special her shell really is.

Every Kinda Lady and Her Sisters' Pages by Nzima Hutchings 

The Every Kinda Lady and Her Sisters’ Pages, anthology is a compilation of poetry, prose, and perspectives written by ladies of color, with engaging writing prompts and journal space. The Ladies, of the pages shared their poetic internal monologues, Black Lady fatigue and unpopular thoughts unapologetically. Creative brilliance graced the pages brazenly, yet daintily; reveling stories of resiliency, scathed observations, love, injustices, sexual violence and other traumatic disturbances. Along with sisterhood poetical intricacies, tributes, and selflove declarations. Eclecticism best describes this anthology. The contributors represented Every Kinda Lady... The audacious lady, sensual lady, spiritual lady, angry, faithful lady, straight uninhabited lady, overcame that lady, beautiful lady, abused lady, conscious lady, broken lady, healed lady, political lady, phoenix lady, philosophical lady, tired lady, surviving lady and prolific lady. Warning: Real truths are shared, so If you are judgmental, one dimensional, wanting people to use an unauthentic voice...or skittish about curse words, sensual expressions, dark spaces, diverse religious tones and boldness, then this book is not for you. This book is not a watered down Ladyhood poetry book. When unedited truths are shared, it gives permission for other people to share their truths.

I Bear Witness by Amani-Nzinga Jabbar 

Set in the city of New Orleans, I Bear Witness offers the reader a rare glimpse into the private journey and internal conflict of a young Muslim woman at a crossroads in her life. Anaya was taught from a young age that if she followed rules and tenets of Islam, she would be successful. So just as she adhered to her mother's strict recipes cooking and baking in the mosque's kitchen, Anaya obeys the edicts of her religion. Yet, despite her best efforts, things don't turn out exactly as planned. While pregnant with her first child, Anaya discovers a secret about her husband that makes her question her marriage, her upbringing, and even her beliefs. With the life she had so carefully put together collapsing around her, Anaya must learn the true meaning of faith. Described as “a beautifully written and honest book,” I Bear Witness is a story of one woman’s struggle and triumph that many can relate to.

The Arabic Quilt by Aya Khalil 

Kanzi's family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants more than anything is to fit in. Maybe that's why she forgets to take the kofta sandwich her mother has made for her lunch, but that backfires when Mama shows up at school with the sandwich. Mama wears a hijab and calls her daughter Habibti (dear one). When she leaves, the teasing starts.