Tag Archives: Khadijah

Jul27

Huda F Would Love You? by Huda Fahmy

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Huda F Would Love You? by Huda Fahmy

The fourth book in the beloved Huda F graphic novel series once again expertly weaves humor, life lessons, relatability, and unapologetic Islamic rep. Add in that the book is framed around a “Life and Work of Jane Austen” class, goes meta blurring tropes and plot points, and features strong real and fictional Muslim women, and I think this might be my favorite Huda F book yet, yes I’m hoping it isn’t the last. SuhanAllah truly, the author and her books are such a blessing to us all.  At 256 pages this book is a solid YA, but I think older and younger audiences, boys and girls alike, will enjoy and benefit.  The surface is a bit of a rom com, coming of age, Huda finding herself in the summer after high school with friends and family away on their own adventures, and her wanting to get married. Alhumdulillah, the author’s style and the graphic novel format keeps the story from being didactic but the character’s growth is articulated clearly to ensure the messaging does not miss.  The book dives into marriage readiness, expectations, self awareness, and as I’ve always said since her very first books, they are great conversation starters with the young people in your life.  Whether discussing mental health, family dynamics, hijab, and in this one, love, the author really has a knack for conveying powerful and important themes in Islamic ways that are hilarious, consumable, and lingering.  I highly recommend mamas (aka aunties) also read it as a reminder (haha) for how we should help our kids at this stage in their lives.

SYNOPSIS:
From the publisher
It’s the summer after Huda’s high school graduation, and love is in the air! Or it’s about to be, anyway. Because Huda has the ingredients for a perfect love story: a butt-kicking girl power squad of new friends, and a plan to woo all the aunties into setting her up with their eligible sons. But when she finds herself caught between her friends and her heart, gender roles and ambitions, and her fears and dreams, Huda begins to realize that finding her own “happily ever after” might require changing herself—or her expectations.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the Jane Austen references and the tropes of enemies to lovers, slow burn, and friends to lovers pages with the period inspired drawings, seriously had me squealing and feeling seen. I also love that no one is forcing her to marry, it is completely on her, and that everyone is supporting her to find her self, not compromise who she is, and not rush anything.  I know the disclaimer says it is all fictionalized, but the references to earlier books, and the layers of the character Huda, really make her feel very very real.  I also love how Khadijah RA and Fatima Al-Fihriyyah are brought in and mentioned, that there is a niqabi biker, and that even with Huda having sisters, she also needs her sisters in Islam.


FLAGS:

Relationships, gossip, misleading presentation

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

This should seriously be required high school Islamic school, college/university MSA, masjid older youth group required reading. We need to be having these conversations with our youth that are wanting to get married, and humor is such a great vehicle to address the topic.  To see what awareness about our own expectations is and how it might need to be adjusted, and how to assess the potential spouse and their motives, along with building a community that truly will support you in your own growth whether marriage is the goal or not, is so needed.  Truly a great book, with a lot of entry points and utilization.

Sep14

All the Ways to be Pretty by Shamaila Khan illustrated by Reyhana Ismail

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All the Ways to be Pretty by Shamaila Khan illustrated by Reyhana Ismail

The premise of this book is fabulous, an Islamic approach to internal beauty to counter the societal emphasis on external appearance, by drawing on the examples of Ai’shah (RA), Khadija (RA), Sumayyah (RA), Maryam (RA), Hajar (RA), and Rufaidah (RA), may Allah swt be pleased with them all.  The illustrations are decent, focusing on the girl understanding what her mother is saying and her imaging herself with those qualities.  The part that I struggled with, is I flipped through it before I started reading it, and the pages are often walls of text.  Additionally, I didn’t realize it is rhyming text over 34 pages.  SubhanAllah though, somehow, it works.  I can see this book being shared at preteen gatherings in masajids, homes, and schools everywhere.  The rhyme at times is forced and lacking, but the flow makes the walls of text zoom by and the information shared is not overwhelming and Alhumdulillah, it doesn’t stray too far from the central messaging. You could share it with younger readers, but I think it works best if the audience knows some of the women and facts highlighted, and the information shared is a mix of reminder and new tidbits urging further exploration. The publisher lists the reading age at 7-10 which is probably a good fit based on the amount of text, but the rhyme, mirrors at the end, and starting point of battling beauty standards on the screen and “Princess” messaging is a bit of a target audience disconnect, which is why I point it out so consumers are aware.

The book starts with a lengthy author’s note before the rhyming scene of a mother and daughter walking to school and discussing what the daughter would like to be.  The girl doesn’t answer a profession, but rather responds that she wants to be pretty, and gives some justifications.  The mother gently then encourages her not to just want to be pretty, but rather pretty smart, pretty wise, pretty brave, pretty pious, pretty resilient, and pretty kind, before concluding with the girl throughout the day thinking of how to be like them, and her mother, to earn Allah’s pleasure.  Each attribute is a two page spread with one of the historical women featured.  The book ends with a hadith and six mirrors with the characteristics beneath them.

I like that the book does not try to give an entire biography about the women featured.  I also like that Islamic references are also brought in, some explained some not. It is “Islamic fictionalized non fiction” it is meant for Muslims with Islamic framing, not just Muslim characters, and it has substance.  Lately so many self published or even Islamic published books seem to not feature Islamic foundational themes, and I realize how much I have missed reading books that do.  Yes, I normally would have a solution to offer as to how to make the pages less text filled and I know I should say that maybe it shouldn’t rhyme, because it makes for some awkward phrasing, over explaining, and useless lines, but alas, I have no suggestions.  We need books that present our Sahabas and Prophets in a manner that allow our kids to know them and think of them and emulate them. Alhumdulillah, I can see this book being read and shared and discussed, and that to me is a “pretty “good thing.

Dec12

Khadijah: Mother of History’s Greatest Nation by Fatima Barkatulla

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I depart from the Islamic Fiction that I enthusiastically seek out and read, to share and review a work of non-fiction that swept me off my feet.  Perfect for children eight and up, and particularly ideal for girls, this book is absolutely physically beautiful and the content is as well.  This 176 page book flows like a story not a history book, and at times a love story between Khadijah (RA) and our beloved Prophet (SAW).  The font and spacing invites young readers to absorb each word without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.  

SYNOPSIS:

The book is a biography of our mother, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.  It starts just before she is made aware of Muhammad and ends with her death, followed by a few reflections of RasulAllah missing her.  For the most part the story keeps her at the focus and for the age group the slips into seerah are no problem.  But I wanted more about her.  I learned that she was married twice before she wed Prophet Muhammed, but I wanted to know more of her children with these other men.  I wanted to know if they ever accepted Islam.  I wanted to know of Khadijah’s childhood and her parents, and her tribe.  I wanted to know more about her sister who sounded like her, and if she had any other siblings.  It scratched the surface, and even my 10-year-old daughter wanted more, in a good way.

It covers their marriage, and it reads like a sweet fairy tale that is absolutely full of noor and love.  It shares how she supported the Prophet at every turn and the hardships of the boycott.  It drops names and places, but not in an over burdening way. In many places I actually wanted more detail as to how they all fit together in time and place. As she has children and grows ill and time passes, the story comes to an end.  Almost too quickly, as her day-to-day life as a mother and wife are missing, and I was hoping there would be more.  Yes the  growth of Islam and the plots of the Quraysh are so important, but I wanted more Khadijah, in a book claiming to teach us about our “legendary mother.”

WHY I LIKE IT:

Obviously the story is great, and really the way it is presented is how our kids need to know our history: with love and compassion and enthusiasm.  You feel the love between Khadijah (RA) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) you see how patient and devoted she is in a very emotional way.  Truly the author has given life to a story many of us know, and filled us with a connection and relationship that is very personal and inspiring in nature.  When you finish the book, you feel like Khadijah is a friend, an amazing friend, but someone you know intimately and proudly, not just as a historical figure.

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FLAGS:

None

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would absolutely do this for like a 4th -6th grade book club.  I think it should be mandatory reading.  I would probably invite someone well versed in the seerah and Khadijah to answer the children’s questions.  How wonderous it would be to hear the kids discussing her life and offering parallels, lessons, and inspiration to one another from their new found knowledge of Khadijah (RA).