10 Books to Help You Reflect During Ramadan
These suggestions honor the importance of literature in Islam
Historically, Ramadan indicates when God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah sent an angel to tell the Prophet to “Read!” It’s also believed Shaytaan, the devil, is locked away. As Muslims, the month allows a heightened sense of awareness. We’re inclined to commit good deeds, pray more, and improve our mind and body.
Though we’re in isolation due to Covid-19, a beneficial way to honor this month is to gain more knowledge. Here are some books to serve as a gentle guide during this time.
1. The Qur’an by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
It’s a given to read the Quran in Arabic during and outside of Ramadan, even if it’s just one verse. But, it’s difficult to find an English version that effortlessly captures what the holy book says; however, this translation by Haleem is especially meditative. It simplifies what Islam asks of us without scholarly verbiage that can be difficult to grasp.
2. How to Cure a Ghost by Fariha Róisín
Róisín is a queer Australian-Canadian writer based in Brooklyn. She wrote a beautiful piece in the New York Times on Ramadan and self-care. It was an attractive introduction to her writing, which is why I was drawn to her first book of poems. Róisín showcases a vulnerability that leads you to understand the struggles of self, with ancestral trauma and in an era of White supremacy. It brings you to tears, but she, almost motherly, heals those cracks with her words. Róisín writes for Muslim women and leaves others to figure it out.
