Auntie Sophia is making her special samosas for the mosque iftar. But what this samosa pro doesn't know is that her cat has some sneaky plans to alter her recipe! What will happen when she accidentally swallows a far too spicy pastry WHOLE?
This story is modelled after There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, a silly story about a lady who accidentally swallows a fly and then intentionally swallows a spider to catch the fly (followed by a series of larger and larger creatures!).
In this story, Auntie Sophia eats an extremely spicy samosa and then has to swallow huge quantities of food to put out the fire in her belly. What will become of her? And what will become of the masjid iftar?
Get your copy of this hilarious story today!
]]>
Rayan’s grandfather isn’t Muslim, but he’ll be spending Ramadan with his grandson’s family. He’s even been invited to a potluck iftar!
But Rayan worries that Papa won’t fit in and might even embarrass him. When Papa suggests using his favourite Christmas recipe to bake cookies for the iftar, Rayan panics.
How will he handle having his Christian grandfather at his Ramadan gathering? Can he and Papa find common ground and respect each other’s traditions?
Made from the Same Dough is a story about many things. It’s about the spirit of Ramadan, a time for generosity, community, and family. It’s about the layers of complexity within family dynamics. And it’s about the love and respect that Islam teaches.
]]>Saleem has just moved to a new city, and he misses his friends. On the first night of Ramadan, he finds a scruffy kitten clinging to his backyard fence.
He’s thrilled to have found a friend, and he names him Rami because they found each other in Ramadan.
But Rami is wearing a collar, so he must have an owner who’s looking for him! Saleem and his family hang “lost cat” posters around the neighbourhood, but Saleem secretly hopes they never find the cat’s owner. Ramadan wouldn’t be so purr-fect without him!
This book was inspired by a true story: a lost kitten came to stay with the author’s family on the first day of Ramadan several years ago.
Get your copy of this heartwarming story today!
]]>
Umama is the imam’s daughter, and she loves helping out at the masjid. Unfortunately, although she has the best of intentions, things always go wrong!
When Ramadan comes around, Umama is super excited because she’s learned all about Laylatul Qadr. She knows it’s a very special night, and she has a special duaa she’s planning to make.
But when her pet frog stows away in her bag that night, trouble is sure to follow! Will she be able to make her duaa on the night that’s better than a thousand months?
Get your copy of this beautiful and funny story today!]]>In this post, we take a closer look at Asmaa Hussein’s Who Will Help Me Make Iftar?
In this story set in Turkiye, Mustafa Amca (pronounced Am-ja) and his wife have a yearly tradition: they cook iftar for their friends and neighbours on the first day of Ramadan.
But this year, Mustafa Amca’s wife is sick and can’t help him cook! He tries to get others to pitch in, but they all make excuses. How will he manage to cook for so many people without help?
This story is modelled on The Little Red Hen, about a hen who asks fellow farm animals to help her make bread from a grain of wheat. In that tale, the animals keep refusing to help, so when the bread is ready to eat, the hen eats it all herself.
However, in Who Will Help Me Make Iftar?, the spirit of Ramadan shines through in the end, in scenes of generosity, forgiveness, and community.
]]>“Falasteen as a whole is a cause close to my heart,” Sarah says. “It’s part of who I am; it’s in my blood.”
As for Gaza, she’s long wanted to write a story about the place. “Specifically Gaza became part of my passion just from watching all of these attacks over the past 15-20 years just keep repeating and repeating and repeating. It breaks my heart every single time, and it just keeps happening.”
Published in 2022, My Garden over Gaza has become essential reading during the ongoing genocide, and it has been translated into multiple languages in read-aloud form.
Sarah is so grateful she had the opportunity to write this book. “It was meant to be part of the narrative that helped the children of the world learn about Gaza.”
Before writing the story, Sarah struggled to find the right angle. She wanted to inform children about the suffering of the people of Gaza in an age-appropriate way. Finally, the idea of telling the story through a rooftop garden came to her.
This idea merged Sarah’s love for gardening—she used to live on a farm in New Mexico and grows mint in her rooftop garden—with her knowledge that crops in Palestine are sprayed with herbicide to limit resources.
In the story, Noura takes care of her father’s rooftop garden—a source of fresh food for her family and a reminder of the land they left behind. When a drone sprays herbicide on her plants, she has to come to terms with this loss and find the resilience she needs to plant again.
Get your copy of My Garden over Gaza today!
]]>Sarah always wanted to be a writer. As a child, she devoured library books at all hours—sometimes until the books were confiscated! She began writing her first novel at age 13, and then gave up on the project when her brother stole her notebook and read the story.
For years, Sarah submitted stories to mainstream publishers, but she always felt like she was hitting “a brick wall.” She’d often stop writing for long stretches of time out of frustration.
Her breakthrough came when her sister told her about Ruqaya’s Bookshelf. Finally, a publisher looking for the stories she wanted to tell! She was so excited to write for Muslim children that Ahmed and the Very Stuck Teapot was soon born.
“To be given the freedom in such a way that I could write about stuff I really cared about, stuff I was passionate about, stuff I believed, it was so freeing that it just kind of poured out of me. I wrote it in a weekend…and so it began.”
Sarah is now a firm believer in supporting Muslim publishers rather than “chasing” mainstream publishers. “I do not like that we have to ask permission to be ourselves…We are always asking permission, and we need to stop doing that.”
Here are Sarah’s published works so far:
Sarah hopes to continue to tell the stories that matter to her. She also loves supporting other Muslim writers, to help them believe in themselves and their stories. “We need to give ourselves permission. Allah gave us permission. He gave us tongues. He gave us the ability. He gave us the talent. Why are we asking permission?”
]]>Three new books have been added to our collection at Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, and they are now available to pre-order!
Here the newest additions to the Ruqaya’s Bookshelf family:
Check out these books and add them to your collection today! Pre-orders will be shipped out by February 15 inshaAllah.
]]>As a child, I was painfully shy, so writing was my way of expressing myself and letting my personality roam free. As I grew older, I expressed myself in various ways: funny journal entries in elementary school, dramatic poems in high school, and letters to the editor calling out biased coverage of Islam.
In high school, a workshop on feature writing helped me write an article on hijab that was published in the Toronto Star. People I’d never met read it, and its impact sparked my interest in journalism and cemented in my mind the potentially far reach of the written word.
After completing an English major, I studied journalism, and it was magazine writing that piqued my interest the most. Writing creatively about real people seemed to me a great way of bringing together the best of both worlds.
However, practicality steered me away from journalism and into teaching. Then, marriage, motherhood, and moving to another country pulled me farther away from writing. It would still burst out of me at times, but my writing never really had a place to grow.
Then, in 2015, my sister started her own publishing company, Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, and that inspired me to find a home for my writing in penning stories for children.
These are the books I’ve had published so far and what inspired them:
I hope I will see many more of my stories make their way into the world! May Allah bless us all with the ability to tell the stories we carry within us.
]]>Mariam’s picture book—about a girl named Alana who refuses to eat anything but bananas—was originally a project she did in teacher’s college. The story “sat in storage for years” before her sister Asmaa remembered it and asked her to dig it out.
After some revision and professional illustrations—“I had hand-drawn hideous illustrations for it,” Mariam jokes—it was published by Ruqaya’s Bookshelf in 2017.
The main character in the story, Alana, was named after a close friend of Mariam’s, and the fact that it rhymed with “banana” didn’t hurt either. But where did the idea for the story come from?
Mariam says she was “trying to perpetuate the idea that eating healthy is very important for kids”; the idea also came from her “passion for eating healthy food and making recipes.”
Growing up, she remembers trying out different recipes with her siblings during summer break, “basically out of boredom.” She remembers a particular thick red cookbook of her mother’s that was filled with recipes both sweet and savoury—and there were always splotches on the pages with the best recipes!
Alana’s Bananas is a funny book that carries an important message. “In the story, Alana was obsessed with only one food, and even though bananas are healthy, you still need to have a balanced diet. And it’s also kind of silly, so I felt it would appeal to kids.”
Grab your copy of Alana’s Bananas today!
]]>Seeing the amount of talent in these young writers was very rewarding, and peeking into their minds to see what they care about and what they are grappling with was eye-opening.
And the variety was phenomenal. Some stories were silly and funny; others were filled with action and adventure; still others touched on difficult topics.
Here are some of the most common themes kids wrote about:
Stories poured in from countries around the world, including Kenya, Oman, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Saudia Arabia.
Asmaa Hussein, founder and chief editor at Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, found this diversity and “immense creativity” very encouraging: “I personally have no doubt that we’ll be seeing bright future authors come out of this group, Insha’Allah.”
Have you read the winning stories? Check them out here!
]]>She was born and raised in the US and lived for several years in Qatar and then the UAE. She has taught English to adults and kindergarteners (not at the same time, of course!) and written for online magazines and blogs. She even started her own blog called “Dear Little Auntie,” which was dedicated to providing big-sister advice to young Muslim women seeking guidance on their practice of Islam.
Nowadays, she runs a Facebook page called Qisa (Arabic for “story”), on which she shares free illustrated stories she writes for children, like If You Stand Up to Pray, A Prince for Mama, and a kid-friendly seerah of Prophet Muhammad. She currently lives in Makkah with her husband and two children.
So, what’s the story behind The Green Dinosaur Umbrella? (In the story, an umbrella exchanges hands in Makkah, helping pilgrims along their hajj journey.) Amina has performed the hajj a few times, and for a long time she wanted to write a children’s story about it.
“I kept thinking that I wanted to share the beautiful experience of Hajj with children, and I knew I wanted something to be passed from one person to the other. One of the most touching aspects to me in Hajj is seeing people passing out things, saying, ‘Fee Sabeelillah,’ for the sake of Allah.”
One time, she was walking to Mina with her husband, and a taxi driver jumped out of his car and pulled cold drinks and snacks out of his trunk to share with them.
Amina has seen many such instances of generosity during hajj. “Each one touched me tremendously, and I wanted to share this message of giving entirely for the sake of Allah—of our beautiful sisterhood and brotherhood in Islam.”
However, she couldn’t figure out what item she should use in her story. Then on her latest hajj trip, she saw umbrellas being handed out, and that was the idea that clicked. And of course, “it became a dinosaur umbrella because of my son's obsession with dinosaurs.”
Amina is very passionate about storytelling for Muslim children. “I sincerely believe kids are the future of this ummah. If we can inspire one child, we can change the world. I pray that somehow I can inspire some children and leave some legacy behind.”
Get your copy of The Green Dinosaur Umbrella today!
]]>According to the Cambridge Dictionary, gatekeeping is “the activity of trying to control who gets particular resources, power, or opportunities, and who does not.”
In the area of book publishing, Muslim authors often struggle to break through the mainstream publishing industry. They may end up self-censoring, playing into stereotypes, or doubting the value of their work unless their stories are deemed worthy by publishers.
Perhaps now is the time to question this way of thinking.
As Muslim creatives, perhaps it is time to join our hands and pool our talents to produce the high-quality content that we are capable of, and that we know our kids need.
Supporting independent Muslim publishers is a key part of taking control of our own stories. At Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, we’ve set our focus on telling stories about Muslim kids—and for Muslim kids—from day one.
One of our authors echoed this sentiment exactly. Sarah Musa, author of Ahmed and the Very Stuck Teapot, Amir’s Blue Jacket, and My Garden over Gaza, submitted stories to mainstream publishers for years and felt like she was hitting “a brick wall.” When she heard about Ruqaya’s Bookshelf and started submitting stories with Muslim protagonists, the experience was freeing, and for Sarah, there’s no turning back.
“We as an ummah should not be chasing…the mainstream… I do not like that we have to ask permission to be ourselves… We need to give ourselves permission. Allah gave us permission. He gave us tongues; He gave us the ability; He gave us the talent. Why are we asking permission?”
Let’s say no to gatekeeping and support Muslim publishers. Browse our bookshelf today!
]]>But our religion teaches us not to underestimate any good deed. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face” (Muslim).
We also learn this from the Qur’an: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it” (99:7-8).
This is an important lesson to teach our children—to inspire hope and optimism in them, and to empower them to always look for ways to make a difference.
Here are some stories from our bookshelf that showcase how an individual effort can have a big impact:
Let’s teach our kids to look at every new challenge as an opportunity to make a difference, accumulate good deeds, and learn something new!
]]>“Ali! Wake up, we are going shopping with Nani! Yelled Ali's mom from downstairs. Ali pulled the covers over his head only to realize he was going shopping with Nani! Everytime Ali went shopping with Nani she would always get him a treat. Ali got out of bed and changed his clothes and went downstairs. As usual his younger brother Ibrahim was running around in his diaper and his mom was running after him. “Grab a quick snack and let’s head out,” mom instructed Ali.
Ali finally got to the mall with his Nani. Once they had bought everything Nani took Ali to his favorite store: Sport Stop. It seemed to Ali that Nani had an endless supply of money, as she would always buy him whatever he wanted. For example, a few days after his soccer ball popped she bought him a new one. Whenever he wanted Tim Hortons she would get it for him.
Ali was super happy with the shopping he had done with Nani. After returning home Ali wondered that if Nani had so much money why did she still live in an old house? Why did she still drive an old car? Ali kept thinking about this until he went shopping with her again and then Ali asked “Nani how do you have so much money.”Nani responded to Ali and said " Ali I don't work and neither does your grandpa.The truth is I have a magical purse!!! Every time I put money in it, a magical creature makes my money grow.” said Nani with a smile on her face. Ali stared at her wide-eyed with amazement.
Later that day Ali told his mom excitedly about Nanis magical purse. Ali's mom asked curiously, “tell me more.” “She told me that a tiny magical creature in her purse makes her money grow!” Ali explained. Ali’s mom giggled. Nani told me the same thing when I was young. I discovered that the tiny creature in her purse is actually not a creature but Nanis good deeds. “What do you mean?” Asked Ali, now more confused than before. “The reason Nanis money grows is because of all the Sadaqa she gives and all the people she helps. Nani doesn't spend much on herself but she is very generous and kind to others. She always ensures her family is earning money in a halal way and spending wisely on halal things.” Ali listened to his mom very attentively as he learned so many new things about Nani.
“Ali, would you like a magical wallet of your own?” “Would I? I would love to have a magical creature in my wallet! But mom, how can I?” Ali wondered. “Well there are many ways you can get a magical wallet. Every Friday when you get your allowance you can give any amount you like for Sadaqa. Or you can save up and give a big amount all at once. Remember Ali you should do three things with your money: save, donate and spend. Always try to help people even if it's something small it can mean a lot to the other person.”Ali realized that he should always try to help people so he did and years later Ali was the one telling about the tiny little creature in his wallet.
__________________________
Unforgettable Memories by Nusayba Ahmed (11 years old, United Kingdom)
Omar bounded down the stairs, a football tucked under his arm. As he walked through the living room, his grandad looked up at him. “Young man, have you seen my tasbih?” Omar glanced over. “It’s just on your lap Grandpa,” he pointed. Omar went over and handed his grandad the tasbih. “Jazakallahu Khairan,” his grandad said. “What is your name?” Omar looked at his grandad, confused. “I’m your grandson Omar, remember?” he replied. “Ah, yes,” Grandad nodded.
Omar raced out the door and ran to his neighbour’s house. He and his friend Abdullahi went to the local park for their usual Saturday football practice. After 2 hours, Omar finally returned home. He felt tired and hungry, but the smell of his mother’s cooking cheered him up. He entered the kitchen to find that his mother was making his favourite meal- bariis and hilib. “Omar,” she said, “Can you get the prayer mat for your grandpa while I get the lunch ready?”
Omar went to get the prayer mat ready, so his grandad could pray Dhuhr.. “Thank you, young boy,” his grandad smiled “What’s your name?” “My name’s Omar. I only told you a while ago Grandpa,” Omar grumbled, turning to leave the room. After helping his mum set the table, he went to call his grandad to eat. “It’s time for lunch Grandpa,” he said. “I want to pray Dhuhr first,” his grandad answered. “You just prayed right now,” Omar muttered with a sigh. “Did I? I will come to the table then,” Grandad replied.
After everyone had finished eating, grandad looked at Omar. “Can you get me a drink, son?” he asked. Omar went to the kitchen and brought his grandad some water. “You’re a very kind boy,” his grandad patted him on the shoulder. “Who’s your father?” Omar felt frustrated. “Grandpa, first you don’t even remember my name, and now you don’t even know who my father is!” he stormed off to his dad, who was watching the news.
Omar threw himself on the sofa and buried his head in the cushions. “Is everything alright Omar?” Dad asked with concern. “Dad, it’s only been a year since we last saw Grandpa, but he doesn’t remember anything! He keeps asking me the same questions.” Omar moaned. Dad put an arm around Omar’s shoulder. “Your grandad doesn’t mean to forget things, Omar. He’s recently been diagnosed with dementia, and he’s losing his memory. But he still loves us, and we shouldn’t forget the memories we’ve had together.”
Omar sat up. Dad pulled out an old photo album from the drawer and showed it to him. Omar looked at the first picture and smiled. It was a photo of him, Dad and Grandpa when they had gone on a fishing trip years ago. “Grandpa used to catch the biggest fish!” Omar laughed. “And he was definitely the best at cooking it!” He closed his eyes and he could almost smell the tasty fish again that his grandpa had cooked after they had returned from the trip. “He was the best cook in our home,” Dad grinned. He and Omar went through the beautiful pictures one by one.
“Look at that painting!” Omar gasped as he grabbed the photo for a closer look. “Your grandpa painted that,” Dad said. “Grandpa?” Omar asked. “Your grandad has always been a great artist. He used to love painting every day.” Omar took the photo album from his dad and studied it. His mind began to race in thought. “Can I keep these?” he asked. “Of course you can,” his dad answered. With the album in his hand, Omar raced to his room and pulled his art box out from under his bed. He rummaged through his things and got to work. By the time he had finished, it was almost Maghrib time. He took his amazing creation and went to his grandad, leaving behind a mess of papers and craft stuff scattered all over his bedroom floor.
“Grandpa, I have a gift for you,” he smiled, as he handed his grandad the scrapbook he had made.
Omar noticed Grandad’s face light up with a smile. They sat down together and opened the scrapbook. Omar excitedly showed his grandad the first photo. “Grandpa, do you remember that time when we went on a fishing trip?” he asked, as he pointed to the funny picture of the two of them holding a huge fish. “Of course I do! And I used to catch the most fish,” Grandpa laughed. Omar giggled, and he started to feel happiness and warmth in his heart. He flipped through the album, chatting with his grandad about their fond memories.
“This painting is really nice. I wonder who did it,” Grandad asked as he pointed to another picture. “You did it, grandad. Dad told me you were an artist and you loved painting,” Omar reminded him. Grandad looked at the photo for a few moments. “That is true,” he nodded in agreement. “I used to love painting. I won many art competitions,” he added. “You won awards?” Omar asked in amazement. “Yes, I did. I also used to enjoy painting every time I felt sad. Somehow it would brighten my mood,” Grandad smiled.
When they were done, grandad closed the book and smiled. “So what is your name, my dear son?” he asked. Omar proudly replied, “I am your grandson, Omar.”
Glossary:
bariis: The Somali word for rice
hilib: The Somali word for meat
]]>We know it too.
It’s in our nature to be drawn to stories. Perhaps this is why a third of the Qur’an consists of stories.
Allah tells us stories about prophets and believers—about their unwavering belief and beautiful character, the challenges they faced and the miracles they witnessed, and the divine assistance that descended upon them from the heavens.
He also tells us stories about the worst of mankind—about their evil traits and evil deeds, the signs they ignored and the believers they harmed, and the punishments that befell them.
In these stories is guidance, inspiration, and comfort, for our prophet Muhammad and for all of us after him. Surat Yusuf was revealed during the most difficult time of our prophet’s life—after years of being under siege and boycotted, after the Year of Sadness, and after the rejection of the people of Ta’if. That story must have brought him so much comfort—the story of a boy treated so harshly by his own brothers, separated from his father for many years, and ultimately reunited with him after becoming the king of Egypt.
We too should take heart in these stories and share them with our children, so they know that the path of truth is filled with challenges but ends with success.
We should also strive to convey the stories—real-life and fictional—of Muslims around the world. So many stories are waiting to be told about faith, sacrifice, and steadfastness in the face of evil.
Help us tell these stories by supporting our work and by submitting your own story ideas.
]]>We all know this hadith: “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
Many of us feel immobilized and unable to act in these times. But we should remember that even when we cannot physically stop evil, we still have our words.
Our words are important and weighty. They can impact change, and they can increase our scale of good deeds.
Here are some ways we can use our words for good:
Let’s dust ourselves off and use our words—whether spoken or written—for good. Your words matter. Make them count.
]]>In the Qur’anic story, the Pharaoh—one of the evilest men who ever walked the earth—claimed that Prophet Musa was spreading corruption in the land. He made this claim while he was the one enslaving Bani Isra’eel and killing their children.
Sound familiar?
We are witnessing a deluge of false information, malicious spin, and dehumanizing erasure in mainstream media. All of this has taught us some hard lessons:
Now more than ever, we must step up and take charge of the narrative. We cannot leave our stories to be told by those who do not wish good for us and who will spin tales in ways that suit their own interests.
So let’s stand up, raise our voices, and speak the truth. Let’s tell our stories—stories that are true to our beliefs, our struggles, and our dreams.
]]>Maintaining our connection with Allah is so important, and du’aa is our number one tool in maintaining that connection. Unfortunately, we often don’t realize how important du’aa is—or how powerful. We often recite supplications out of habit, without concentration or presence of mind, our minds wandering to our to-do lists.
Sometimes it takes a calamity to jolt us out of our distraction. This is a time for all of us to renew our connection with Allah and call out to Him, in public and in private. Whisper to Him in your sujood and during your daily activities, in whatever language is closest to your heart.
Encourage your children to do the same. Foster in them the conviction that Allah is in control of everything, and that He is closer to us than our jugular veins. Narrate to them stories from the Qur’an of prophets who called out to Allah and were victorious against insurmountable odds.
Read them stories about Muslim characters who make du’aa. For example, the main characters in Ahmed and the Very Stuck Teapot, Rami the Ramadan Cat, and Trouble at Taraweeh all make du’aa for things that are important to them.
We must remember—both us and our children—that it is in our connection with Allah that our power lies.
]]>At Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, we try to achieve this balance by producing quality books that address serious topics in a child-friendly way. These books can be great resources for parents to start discussions with their children on difficult topics.
Here are some examples from our bookshelf:
Check out our store page for these titles and more. May Allah guide us to what’s best for our children.
]]>
Ruqaya’s Bookshelf is excited to announce a month-long story competition for Muslim kids worldwide between the ages of 7 and 12. Come on, kids—this is the perfect time to brush up your writing skills and get those creative juices flowing!
At Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, our mission is to publish bright, fun, and engaging children’s books featuring Muslim characters. And if you’re interested in becoming a writer, it’s never too early to start!
Submit your short story about a Muslim character for a chance to win a prize! There will be two winners, one in the 7-9 age group (story should be 700 words or less), and another in the 10-12 age group (story should be 1000 words or less).
You have until the end of the month to submit your story, so don’t delay. Start writing your story today!
]]>When children worry about fitting in, they often come up with inappropriate solutions to these worries, and that’s exactly what happens in this story.
What is most striking about Made from the Same Dough is that it portrays the family dynamics experienced by an underrepresented group of Muslims: those who have converted to Islam.
Here are some highlights from an author interview with Laura El Alam about her story:
This book is sure to foster lots of great discussions with our children about faith and family. Add this title to your collection today!
]]>So while we did enjoy the stories—the mystery, the adventure, the excitement—we didn’t always connect to them on a deep level. In fact, sometimes it felt like we had to turn off a part of our brain to enjoy the story, since there were things in it that we didn’t agree with.
That’s why it’s so important that we as Muslims tell our own stories—stories where spirituality is a natural part of who we are. Fortunately for our children, the pool of quality books being produced for Muslim kids is growing. At Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, we aim to produce books that are engaging and fun—and that centre around Muslim protagonists that our kids can relate to on a deep level.
One of our newest releases, Trouble at Taraweeh, is a great example of that. In the story, a little girl named Umama has a special duaa prepared for Laylatul Qadr, but trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes. Her pet frog stows away in her bag on one of the final nights of Ramadan, and as expected, chaos ensues at the masjid! Will she be able to make her special duaa after all?
Check out this story about the power of duaa, and take a look at our other titles.
]]>So many of the stories we’ve published at Ruqaya’s Bookshelf take place at school because, let’s face it, where there are lots of kids, there is lots of drama!
But in addition to creating engaging stories that kids can relate to, we also aim to make all of our stories carry important lessons – like believing in yourself, standing up to bullies, and trying to make a positive change in the world around you.
Here are some great back-to-school titles to add to your collection!
Happy reading!
]]>I don’t want to name names, but a certain auntie has done a good job of illustrating how NOT to have iftar.
Here are some tips we can practice to avoid her unfortunate experience:
And don’t forget to read There was an old Auntie who Swallowed a Samosa, for a full and complete guide of what not to do during iftar.
Ramadan Mubarak!
]]>Lots of kids are starting to fast this year, and here's a fun craft idea to keep them motivated!
It’s a good deed jar! (This is a craft to remind you to do lots and lots of good deeds!)
Now you’re ready.
Try your best to do lots of good deeds. Fast. Help with iftar. Babysit little brothers or sisters. Help your parents with cleaning. Smile! Read or even memorize Quran! Give charity. Serve water at Iftar time. Share. Forgive. Be kind. Pray on time. Pray sunnah. Pray taraweeh.
There are all kinds of good deeds!
Every time you do a good deed, write it down on a colourful paper square. Then fold it up and save it in your Good deeds jar. You will see your jar quickly fill up with good deeds!
Do you want to read books about good deeds too? Check out our collection at Ruqaya’s Bookshelf. They are great gifts for Ramadan and Eid. Get your’s before your favourite titles are sold out.
]]>As Muslim writers we have an opportunity give that experience to the next generation. But we can go a step further and inspire ideas that elevate readers, enlighten them, and show them the truth.
Mainstream stories often contain content that is at odds with Muslim values. The stories may encourage acts that are disliked by God, and yet they still fill our children's bookshelves when we find we have no other entertaining, well-written options.
On the bright side though, Muslim publishers are working hard to produce clean alternatives for our youth. They work hard to provide alternative stories about families who look like theirs, and upholding beliefs and values that are in line with our ultimate purpose on this earth: to worship God.
Support us and other Muslim publishers by purchasing our books, donating them to libraries and schools, leaving good reviews on our website and social media when you love them. And getting the word out to others. Every Muslim family deserves to know that Muslim Children’s Literature is accessible wherever they live.
]]>Today we would love to share Sarah Musa’s ka’ak recipe. (She’s author of Amir’s Blue Jacket!) It’s just the thing for a chilly winter day.
This recipe makes lots! So you can even share some with guests and neighbors, just like Amir’s Grandpa loved to do!
Ka’ak for Eid (or any other day)
Ingredients:
3 cups of all purpose flour
3/4 cup of fine semolina
3/4 cup warm milk (or more if needed)
1 teaspoon of instant dry yeast
1/2 cup of sugar
1/8 cup toasted sesame seeds (optional)
1/8 cup nigella seeds (optional)
3/4 cup of olive oil
3/4 cup of ghee or softened butter
Spices:
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1 tbsp anise seeds
1/2 teaspoon mahlab
1/2 teaspoon mistikah
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon cardamon pods
1 lb or 0.5 kg date paste or pitted soft dates, kneaded or mixed up in a food processor
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
2 tbsp. olive oil, butter, or ghee
Instructions:
Would you like to enjoy a good book to read while eating these ka’ak? Check out Amir’s Blue Jacket!
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As a child, she spent time visiting family in Pakistan. When got older she traveled throughout the Middle East and the United States. She got married and moved to Syria to study religion.
When her oldest son was just one-year-old, English books were scarce. The books they owned disintegrated from use because they were so well-loved! Farheen started to draw and write personalized books just for him.
She had two more children, and decided to homeschool them. She also had her hands full with running her crafting business.
As her children grew books became part of her home classroom. She would reward her children with books and punish them by taking their books away. She read everything her children read. As her children got older and the books they were reading became more advanced, negative ideas like toxic sibling rivalry and disrespect to parents, came up more and more. She found this concerning and wished for cleaner reading fun for her children.
When she bought her children Islamic books, they would read books once and never pick them up again. Yet they read popular mainstream books again and again.
“Why don’t you read the books with Islamic characters again?” she would ask.
“Because they’re boring,” was the answer.
Farheen had also read those books and she knew this was true.
She decided to try and make her own books and wrote her first two (the Ibrahim Khan Series). She hoped these books were interesting and engaging for young readers like her children.
After the Ibrahim Khan books, Farheen arrived at a crossroads in her life, either she would continue as an author or put her energy and time on her craft business. She decided to put her writing on hold and focus on her business.
About 10 years passed before Farheen started writing again. She wanted to write a book with characters with strong morals like loyalty, assuming good about others, and bravery. She researched popular book series and applied her observations to her writing. She wanted stories that were fun and relatable for children. She produced a five book series based on a well-meaning, trouble-magnet called Ali and his extraordinary adventures.
Her books have little bits of her childhood as a second-generation Pakistani girl growing up in Canada. The books are inspired by her children’s innovation, energy, and empathy, and spiced up with Ali’s out-of-this-world adventures.
Give your child reading entertainment you can trust to be clean. Ali’s adventures are sure to keep young readers coming back for more.
Click here to get your hands on the Ali Series!
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