As we greet another Ramadan, it’s also time to add more books by Muslim authors to your to-read pile. Whether you’re after informative non-fiction, fantasy worlds, or cooking inspiration, here’s our list of essential reads for this Ramadan.
Muslim Europe by Tharik Hussain
Current discourse would have you thinking that Muslims have no place in Europe, and never have, but Tharik Hussain’s history demonstrates how, for 1,400 years, Muslims have been an integral part of the continent’s story.
From tracing the footsteps of the first Muslims who arrived on European soil – in 647 AD – Hussain takes us around Europe, telling the stories of forgotten Muslim pioneers like Abbas Ibn Firnas, who gave us flight, and Ibn Rushd, who gifted us modern philosophy. Muslim Europe is an essential read for anyone wanting to ensure they have the full story of the continent.
Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
A sweeping fantasy novel, Sarah Mughal Rana’s Dawn of the Firebird is infused with Islamic culture. At the centre of the story is Khamilla Zahr-zad, who is raised by her mother’s nomadic tribe after being discarded by her emperor father.
When the heavenly magic of nur awakens within her, she goes from outsider to weapon, and after a tragic event, infiltrates the enemy’s army academy and vows revenge on those who have wronged her.
Along the way, she begins to question her father’s teachings of war and rule, and realises that she must choose between revenge and freedom.
I’ll Tell You When I’m Home by Hala Alyan
Hala Alyan is one of our most prominent contemporary Palestinian writers, and in her powerful memoir she explores the impact that loss has on identity.
I’ll Tell You When I’m Home is shaped around Alyan awaiting the birth of her baby – via surrogate, after Alyan herself suffered a number of losses – while she also watches Palestine and Lebanon, her estranged homelands, come under fire.
Intertwined within the narrative are reflections on her family’s stories and the struggles she has faced with addiction and other destructive behaviours, and an examination of what a legacy of loss means for an individual.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
Laila Lalami’s The Dream Hotel is an unflinching imagining of what could happen to us all if we continue to let technological developments go unchecked.
As the novel begins, Sara, travelling home from work, is arrested because an algorithm has determined – by looking at her dreams – that she is a threat to her husband.
Sara is supposed to be kept at a retention centre for 21 days, but as small infractions against the facility’s strict rules pile up, she finds her chances of escape dwindling.
With The Dream Hotel, Lalami has created a novel that looks at power, individual action, and what working as a collective can do for us all.
The Hour of the Wolf by Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto was just a teenager when her father, politician Murtaza Bhutto, was shot dead by political opponents.
Longing for a happy family life, Bhutto later leapt into a relationship with a charismatic man, whose manipulative charm trapped her.
The Hour of the Wolf is the story of how Bhutto freed herself, a look at her own yearning for motherhood, and an exploration of myth, literature, art and more.
And it’s also the story of how her ferociously loyal Jack Russell terrier Coco was by her side the whole time, helping save her life and showing the power of humanity’s connection to nature.
An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib
An Unlasting Home follows Sara, who has been back in Kuwait for 11 years, teaching philosophy at Kuwait University.
Her relationship with her country is complicated, but when she is accused of blasphemy – a crime that carries with it the threat of execution as a punishment – she realises she needs to reconcile her feelings for her homeland.
Awaiting trial, Sara examines the lives of the women who have made her, looking at three generations of Arab women. This is both a personal and political tale of family and nation.
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad’s One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This is still urgent reading, even a year after its first release.
The book, which was recently shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize (the latest in a long line of accolades), sees El Akkad reckoning with what it means to realise that much of what the West promises – freedom, fairness, hope – is a lie.
As the war in Gaza continues, this is an important reminder this Ramadan that our fight for its freedom – and the freedom of others who are oppressed – must also continue.
Blood and Tea duology by Hafsah Faizal
This fantasy duology presents a new take on vampires, as Faizal tells the story of criminal mastermind Arthie Casimir, whose prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society.
In A Tempest of Tea and A Steeping of Blood, Arthie and her allies must work to save her world. Filled with action, a little romance and a protagonist you’ll save, the Blood and Tea duology is a sweeping read.
Nadiya’s Quick Comforts by Nadiya Hussain
There always comes a point in Ramadan where you’re out of inspiration as to what to make for dinner, or just too tired to come up with something new. That’s where Nadiya Hussain can help, with her new cookbook of 80 recipes, all of which are quick and easy to cook.
The book is organised into eight chapters, including recipes for the air fryer and dishes that can be cooked in one tray, meaning the hardest thing you’ll have to do is decide which recipe you want to try first.
Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity
This slow-burn gothic romance – the first in a trilogy – follows Leena, who can see the dead, as she tries to save her brother by making a deal with the Saint of Silence.
When Leena’s secret turns out to be more valuable than she imagined, she agrees to help the Saint find the ghost he’s been searching for, a journey that leads them to Weavingshaw, a cursed estate on the moors.
Al-Wasity’s novel, which she wrote in between shifts as a doctor during the pandemic, is captivating, and a great addition to the world of gothic fiction.
Sarah Shaffi is a freelance literary journalist and editor. She writes about books for Stylist Magazine online and is the Books Editor at Phoenix Magazine
Follow her here: @sarahshaffi