The Roundup: 05

A reflection on the impact of literature.

This month’s reflection is a little different. I've been reading quite a bit this month and wanted to reflect on the impact of literature.

My favourite series of all time is Shatter Me. It met me when I needed it most in high school and made me feel seen and heard in many ways. It helped me untangle my emotional turmoil vicariously through the characters. And in a covert way, it made me feel represented. I remember I picking up the book and reading it when I came across a passage that mentioned Ramadan and a character named Adam. I was taken aback and reread the passage. I was shocked that Muslims could be recognized in a story without being the villains. How could this be? Confused, I researched the author to find some answers and found out Tahereh Mafi was Muslim herself! Though the characters in the book weren't explicitly Muslim, these small references connected to Muslim identity, warmed me. When the series was originally published in 2011 and even when I read it in high school (2016) there were no positive, neutral, or even covert Muslim representation in the media.

The story unfolded to be the most gratifying read of all and I reached for it as a source of comfort every time I felt down. It was a trilogy at first but I was hungry for more, and much to my delight, years later, she expanded the story with a second trilogy! When the news broke that books 4,5, and 6 were being released, I was frenzied and impatience. Not only did I get to live longer in the world of the characters I loved most, but these new books made me feel seen in a new way. This time, the series introduced characters who were explicitly and proudly Muslim like Nazeera Ibrahim who wore hijab and her brother Haider who spoke Arabic. It made me feel like being Muslim was no longer something to hide and practice cautiously. We've only ever been portrayed in the media as villains and glared at disdainfully. We were taught to make ourselves small and second guess every word and action to not to be ill interpreted. But these book were a cultural shift. It made me feel like I could be unapologetically Muslim. It made feel bolder and prouder. It made me feel like being Muslim was not a setback. Not only because of the empowering representation of Muslim characters in the book, but also because Tahereh Mafi herself was a representation of a bold and proud Muslim. She wore hijab in an industry where we don’t see hijabis. She wrote a wrote best selling novels in an industry where Muslim characters aren't heroes. She embodies the reality that we can successful while being and supporting Muslims.

Her latest series is another work of honour yet again paving a path for even better Muslim representation. This Woven Kingdom (2022) is a Persian inspired fantasy novel that highlights Muslim cultures and norms in an authentic and beautiful way. The traditions and beliefs are not overexplained as if to prove our innocence and plead with the readers to see us human. The culture shines through in subtlety. Their everyday actions, the architecture of their homes, the clothes they wear, the language they speak. The characters are named Alizeh and Kamran the familiarity of which makes me feel a profound connection to them. The human and jinn multiverse pays homage to our Islamic traditions and makes me feel nostalgic. Not only is the book beautiful in its storytelling, just look at how beautifully the book is designed!

I gasped when I saw the Persian script!

All this is to say that words have an impact. They shape our subconscious mind and the perceptions we create about ourselves and the world around us. Substack has had a profound impact on my perception of the Muslim community. I feel inspired by writers sharing stories of our culture and history like

Halima Ahad

,

Zoha | زوھا

, and

Dr Asma Fischer

. I feel proud, and determined to be a better Muslim when I gain Islamic knowledge by writers like

IqraSense

, and

Faisal Amjad

. I feel seen and heard when

nuuralshams

,

Zahra. G

,

afifa

,

Wajeeha Nadeem

,

FromOlaWithLove

,

𝕽𝖊𝖊🤍

,

Amal Shakeb

and many more share personal reflections of their experiences as Muslims. I feel enchanted to read pretty prose and poetry that alludes to Islamic traditions and artists from writers like

Malik

,

Abdulrahman

,

نائلة

,

fatima

, and many more. I want to thank

Aliena

and

Mahnoor ♡

for writing important commentaries on the nuanced experiences and challenges of the desi/Muslim experiences.

I want thank you all for leaving a mark with your writing. Your words matter. Your words have an impact. Your presence is creating a cultural shift. I want to thank

Walyullah

for being my first reader and I want to thank all 293 of you for joining, reading, commenting, and engaging with my newsletter. I hope my words have an impact on you, as yours have on mine. Media has a huge impact on shaping the narrative of religion, beliefs, and culture. I'm proud of everyone here for rewriting that narrative in a way that empowers and uplifts the Muslim community.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to live in a time where Muslims are able to create voices for ourselves. I'm the utmost grateful to Allah for allowing us to write and connect with likeminded people. I pray that Allah places barakah in our words and the efforts we make towards Him and His deen. I pray that our efforts will have a lasting impact to strengthen the ummah beyond our imagination. And I pray that Allah makes us among the Muhsineen in this world and the next.

I’ve never before been part of Muslim community who are bold and ambition yet remain grounded in faith. I feel optimistic that ummah will continue to grow stronger and liberated from colonial traumas in the coming decades Insha’Allah!

That’s all I have for this month's reflection, I hope you enjoyed it. I’m excited to read the rest of her new series, and I'd love to know, how has literature impacted you?