When I recently renewed my ID, something strange happened. After 18 years of marriage, I’ve always kept my maiden surname—but on the new card, my surname had been changed to my husband’s. I laughed it off at first, but when I mentioned it to a couple of people, both of them asked me the same…
A while back, I was invited to chat to the lovely Jamila Parker on Radio 786. We chatted about books, teaching, and life in general. Here’s the podcast, in case you missed it.
Reading aloud is a powerful way to bring stories to life, spark imaginations, and connect with young minds. While many focus on little ones for World Read Aloud Day, I wanted to shine a light on a group that often gets overlooked – our tweens and teens! Today, I’m sharing an exclusive read-aloud from Maaf…
Hello, wonderful sisters! Today, let’s embark on a captivating exploration into the heart of Muslim fiction, where the magic lies in the authenticity of the narratives. As readers, we often seek stories that resonate with our experiences, characters we can relate to, and scenarios that mirror the tapestry of our lives. So, let’s dive into…
In my last post, I reflected on how our Adulting struggles are no different from what our parents experienced decades ago. In this post, I’m going back a generation to see what we can learn from our grandparents. As you navigate the fast-paced world of instant everything, it’s worth taking a moment to look back…
Growing up, it’s easy to put our parents on a pedestal, thinking they’ve got life all figured out. But as we step into adulthood ourselves, we start to uncover the hidden struggles our parents faced, challenges they may not have shared during our childhood. Let’s dive into some of these real-life adulting anxieties and recognise…
On the morning of Sunday, April 14, 2024, our community was shaken by the tragic news of the untimely passing of four youngsters, aged around 20, in a motor vehicle accident in Johannesburg. As I awoke to this heartbreaking news, my thoughts were consumed by empathy for the four sets of grieving parents, and their…
When I was nineteen (over two decades ago!), I entered an essay competition hosted by IPCI. I recently found the essay and thought I’d share it here with you since it is a topic that is still relevant today. The original essay was handwritten on 9 pages, and the web sources cited, although listed at…
In my last post, I talked about setting realistic goals for Muslim women. As the calendar turns its pages, ushering in a new year, it’s a natural time for reflection—a moment to pause, contemplate, and chart our course for the journey ahead. While the world often encourages resolutions centered on external achievements, a spiritual approach…
In recent years, there has been a growing movement of Muslim woman authors who are reclaiming their voices and telling their stories through literature. Muslim women authors are gaining recognition for their contributions to the literary world, but they still face challenges when it comes to getting their work published and promoted. To address these…
In this blog post, I will explore some of the hidden costs of self-publishing that authors should be aware of before publishing their work.
People are wary of the literature they choose, and rightly so. However, keeping a more open-minded spirit, it is noticeable that there is a need for clean and halaal Muslim-centric stories, which: Storylines in which decisions are guided by Haq and tribulations are surfed through with dua, sabr and perseverance. Characters who are on a…
It surprises people to know that I was quite the introvert at school. I preferred, and still prefer, my own company, although I taught myself early on to fake it till you make it. I faked it quite well – too well in fact, and was often chosen for speech contests and other public stages….
I am delighted to bring some exciting news to the fans of For My Father. (For those who are new here, For My Father was a blog novel which I sent out weekly from June 2020 to March 2021 as a way of taking myself and my readers out of the pandemic blues.) I can…
I love the message that this poem offers. Please enjoy it and create your own meaning. The King’s Ring by Theodore Tilton Once in Persia reigned a King, Who upon his signet ring Graved a maxim true and wise, Which, if held before his eyes, Gave him counsel, at a glance, Fit for every change…
