A Bouquet of Muslim Blossoms:

Fictional Stories for Refreshment & Resistance

Paperback, July 2021

Edited by Laila Hasib

US$25.00

The Original Muslim Fiction Collection

A Bouquet of Muslim Blossoms: Fictional Stories for Refreshment & Resistance is an anthology of 22 Muslim writers. They have put forth stories of what they are living and, in their living, their humanness reveals clearly that it is the determining factor uniting us in our fitrah journeys back to where we came from. Our fiction, our imagining, is a must for bonds to form and barriers to demolish. When our imagination is controlled by our intellect, justice is the result. Take a breath of the blossoms within and refresh your life with the universal Truths and shield it from the blows, inshallah.

“The heart relies on writing.”

Recordings of our imaginations, emotions

and intellects so you can activate yours.

Reading Preview

A tiny sampling…

Flash Fiction

FEAR OF STORY

by Valerie Behiery

Canada

As I sat drinking my expresso under the stars and enjoying the night air and calm, I saw her climbing down from the skies to haunt me as she did regularly. Oddly enough, tonight I felt a sea of tranquility rather than the spikes of fear. Maybe I am just too tired to worry! I told myself.

MY CINDERELLA STORY

by Safiyyah Abdullah

United States

Everyone has a Cinderella story, so I thought I would share mine. There I was, being granted the opportunity of a lifetime by my fairy Godmother and having way too much fun to notice the time. I looked up at the clock expecting to hear the chimes of midnight ring forth from the bell tower only to hear it drowned out by the sound of bull horns ordering us to evacuate the premises before we are arrested for trespassing.

Short Stories

TWO SIDES OF A COIN

by Umm Marwan Ibrahim

India/United Arab Emirates

Rejected.

The words typed in block stood out for Adam. Sitting at his work desk in his studio apartment, he stared at the word – no, it wasn’t the word anymore; it was the shape of it. He’s learnt to identify that word from a mile away just by its shape. Very few words looked like it, he felt. Very few words made him feel like a loser.

THE SLEEPING HIJABI BEAUTY

by Hibaysh

Qatar

They say that if you desire something strongly enough, it will come to you. With prolonged prayers and hope did the Princess desire the Prince.

He was no ordinary prince. He was the Ruqyah master. Ruqyah masters defeated evil spirits and spells by the will of Allah.

REAWAKENING

by Atiyya Dawood Karbelkar

South Africa

Zunairah and Zuhairah were identical twins and sometimes she too couldn’t tell them apart. She was constantly salvaged by the markings that she routinely made on Zunairah’s right foot. Two tiny little babies just over a month, squealing at the top of their lungs demanding to be attended to immediately. Amina encompassed herself in her role of being their mother, but inwardly she knew she was burning out.

ALLAH’S HELP IS NEAR

by Umm Habeebah

Nigeria

Mariam was thoughtfully quiet for a moment as she was taken aback with a sudden realization. Since the incident of her loss, all she ever did was pour out her pain. She never did ask Allah to help her out of it. Mariam knew the truth about why it never occurred to her to pray. It was because she didn’t welcome in her reality in the first place. She had refused to accept this was part of her fate. That it was the Decree of the Most Merciful. What a profound error, she thought.

LOVE~LUST

by Leeya Bootha

South Africa

I stare at him.

His head rests on the fluffy white pillow, which sinks with the weight of it. I smile to myself. With an IQ, EQ and Ego as well-balanced as his, even the pillow willingly submits, knowing that he’s more than worth his weight.

Do I sound crazy in love?

AFTER THE VIRUS

by Makki Makki

England

Fatima places her arms around her husband.

“What could you do? Think of the people on board.”

“But it’s embarrassing. One minute we’re talking about high science and how cool our gear is and then we left a poor family in need by the roadside. I feel ashamed.”

“Stop it. I don’t know what to say. You thought of your family. There has been a virus outbreak. A pandemic.”

“But what if Vincent and Teuton have it? Their GAVI-Chips checked out okay, but, you know, we’re lucky. We’re not social distancing!”

THE LOST CATERPILLAR

by Muhammed Abbas Panju

Canada

Muhammad fell silent. His definition of success? So far in life, nobody asked him what it meant to be successful, as he thought it implied that everyone else knew except for him.

The Old Man followed up with, “To help you think through this, I will ask the following questions, which you can use to answer my original question. Is there one main goal in life, one way to live it? Is there an ideal ending, and if there is, should it be easy to get to?”

MY BEST FRIEND

by Zeneefa Zaneer

Sri Lanka

I aimlessly stare out the window. The rain that began with a drizzle when I left home began to pour as if it had no control over it. For the past ten years I returned to “Coco Rest,” waiting for long hours expecting that she would walk through those huge glass doors with her significant smile. But every year I came back home without fulfilling my wishes. A shiver ran through my spine causing goosebumps to rise under my long robe.

I DO

by Azra Rahman

India

Sumaiyya opened her eyes about half an inch. The sharp ray of light almost split her head in half. Instinctively, she squeezed them shut. The intensity of the pain she felt brought tears to her eyes. Forcing herself to focus her attention elsewhere, she tried to think. Where was she? What had happened? Because surely something had happened! She could feel it the same way she had been able to feel the roughness of the bandage around her head. She felt sick. And weak. And nauseous. What had actually happened? And more importantly, where was Salim?

THE FINAL MEETING

by Chinar

Kashmir

Adil was a mujahid who had taken up arms with the Kashmiri Islamic movement to fight the Indian army that was illegally occupying their country. Safiya would never understand how a young man like him would fight an armed to the teeth army of millions. He was a simple village boy with nothing but his convictions. She loved him for his honesty, his innocuous smile and clean heart. She knew she would never find someone as selfless and loving as him, but the only snag to their union was his unwavering commitment to the cause of freeing their country and for him that was the only way to live.

From SIX STORIES

by Laila Hasib

United States

Five

How long do these nobodies want to be our leaders, he writes

These nobodies will lie dormant in the cold morgues tomorrow

Whisper inshallah

He says, how long do these robbers want to guard these nobodies

O Awaited One, rise and surround the faithful tomorrow

Whisper inshallah

How long do we have to stand English injustices, Imam asks

The great shaitan’s unstable island stands firmly tomorrow

Whisper inshallah

They are unique in their cruelty and barbarian plans

Allah with Generous Mercy plans a great day tomorrow

Whisper inshallah

Novel Excerpts

Disjointed Excerpts from

RAINLIGHT: JOURNEY THROUGH

THE SOULSPACES

by Sara Ansari

Canada

“There is no such thing as silence, not speaking nor a quiet mind. The voice that soothingly drips into the rivers of our heart, to meet with our true essence, is that of knowledge. It is this essence that is the body of our being, and a foreign organ or substance is hit with antibodies from the essence at its truest level. Unease in the heart is the fever of the Soulspace, the resistance to evil human weaknesses and the devil’s insinuation. It is in the hearts, in sinking into these rivers that with revelation they are refined, and find themselves guided to seas of devotion, that we may have true solace.

Personalized Poetry

I AM BLACK

by Sakinah Hasib

Canada/United States

I AM BLACK

Like a deep song sung from the lungs

Lamentations, anthems, and chants

Remember how to some Bilal’s voice stung?

Either we appreciate each other’s gifts or we’ll lose the

blessings from He who grants

Constantly sacrificing my egotistical nature

I am the prodigy of Summayah and Yasir who offered

their lives

For the sake of elevating their stature

Time and time again praying our soul survives

Black is bold

Black is beautiful

Black is beyond your limitations

From the Introduction

Emotion [is] “what makes you forget you’ve ‘fallen into the world of fiction.’” (Richardson, 2017) Since fiction impacts us through our emotions, the experience can be striking and powerful. Sometimes the story can affect our whole identity. (Oatley, 2002) Indeed as Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini (1980) says, “It is possible that the reading of books might have a deeper impact on the minds of the readers than the other sources of acquiring knowledge…Sometimes, reading brings about a revolutionary change in the outlook of a person.”

Fiction is saturated with purpose. Because we are social beings, fiction teaches us “the art of being human.” (Oatley, 2005) Rather than being passive participants, we are actively engaged emotionally and even physically, eliciting sounds, tears, facial expressions, sweating, laughter…We join “the story world,” we see and think from the characters’ points of view, we feel what they feel. And “because these feelings are familiar to us,” we identify with them and demonstrate emotional understanding and empathy for them. (Oatley) It is not a solitary activity, but a learning activity, shaping our relationships, and allowing us to reach out to others in the world. The emotions of joy, pain, sadness, hurt, worry, love, fear, suffering are ours and they are real. (Oatley)

…Fiction strengthens our emotional intelligence (EQ) by developing “empathy, theory of mind and critical thinking.” Social acuity and the “ability to comprehend other people’s motivations” are sharpened since when readers are presented with “characters with competing and often equally valid viewpoints” we are better able to use our “expanded ability to understand and respond to multiple competing viewpoints” in real life. Fiction readers are “more willing to tackle tough questions,” such as “how we sometimes fail to see others’ viewpoints, and how we might listen to each other with more care.” (Seifert, 2020)

…The stories within these pages “move the human heart.” (Jericha, 2012) And know for sure that “the heart relies upon writing,” as Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, is reported to have said. (Rizvi, 2009, p. 19) We have drawn the writers’ “beautifully-crafted stories” together and emphasize to you that these Muslim stories are varied in voice and topic but hold true to Islam, providing refreshment and resistance. (Jericha) This bouquet of Muslim blossoms, gathered between these two covers, is unique for the mere fact that they could never have been picked, arranged and presented to you by anyone but Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing. Al-Hamdulillah!

Product Details

Paperback: 410 pages

Publisher: Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing (July 2021)

Language: English

ISBN: 978-1-7750112-4-8

Product Dimensions: 8.5” X 5.5”

Shipping Weight: 1.1 lb

Product Description

Reviews

A moment to remember, and so many great conversations around my new release!

*whispers* so.. did you get yours yet?

Oh there are so many talented writers in here.

You gotta, real soon, I say. Now, I say!

That's my wholehearted share of the day.

Hibernating now. – Sara Ansari

My first ever fictional short story has been published, along with stories and poetry by 21 other Muslim writers from around the world! You can purchase a copy on the Publisher's website: inkedresistanceislamicpublishing.com – Hanaa Walzer

Masya Allah. Alhamdulillah, I am so happy and proud to be a part of this amazing works with amazing writers from around the Globe. Thank you again sister Laila Hasib for making this dream come true. Tabarakallahu. – Asqarini Hasbi

Big thanks to Laila Hasib for publishing my muslim themed sci-fi short story 'After The Virus' as a part of this anthology. Authored under the usual 'Makki' author pseudonym. You know the drilly. - Aston Walker

Sending so much love and duas, sis. You’ve been sacrificing a lot to bring this out. No words of appreciation is enough - Zeneefa Zaneer

A wonderful edition to any home - Shaheen Cdnqtpie

MashaAllah so happy to see it - Sarah Muzaffar

This email is one from among the last few ones of my interaction with our late HOD, Dr. R. N. Sinha. Prior to this, I had informed him of the selection of two of short stories and one poetry for an anthology. Today, I received two author's copy of the said anthology. Without meaning to, I was reminded of this particular email of his. Alhumdulillah...by the Mercy of Allah subhanwatala, as an aspiring author, seeing my name in print is a unique feeling. This last year has been difficult for me on a personal level. And today, when I held this book in my hand, I couldn't but thank my Creator for the immense Mercy He has showered on me. The continuous blessings He has chosen to bestow upon me. The innumerable times He has given me hope while I struggled from within. Alhumdulillah... Alhumdulillah... Alhumdulillah... His Ihsan are many...my Shukr is far less... To most, it might look like a small step. For us, [my husband and I], it is one step closer to the realization of what we have dreamt of together...In Sha Allah. The encouraging and visionary person Laila Hasib, the founder and editor of Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing, has played an irreplaceable role for this book to come into being. Despite various challenges on her end (personal and professional), she got through. May Allah subhanwatala grant her and her endeavors immense success...Ameen. Keep us in your Dua... - Azra Rahman

Mabruck dear sister. When I order mine, I want yur autograph too. Please. - Asiila Imani

Mashallah. Congratulations sr. I’m very happy you have achieved your dreams. May Allah swt keep blessing you with all is best - Priscilla Machado

I love seeing you shine - some things never change - Safiyyah Fatimah Abdullah

Salaam alikom sister Laila, thanks for give a little review of the book. It sounds like a really interesting & good read. - Lisa Arshadi

ماشاء الله لا قوة إلا بالله May Allah bless you in your endeavours, and reward you for your patience and perseverance. Beautiful - Fathima Zohara

MASHALLAH! - Nadine Cheaib

Laila Hasib Jazakillah for all your work and for the opportunity! – Hanaa Walzer

Alhamdulillah! - Zuhra A Kanji

Wonderful – Valerie Behiery

Masha Allah. Many congratulations - Tayyaba Amir

Laila Hasib...I am so grateful to have had you as my editor. You are a true gem. – Sara Ansari

Salaam, please let me know how can I order this book. Thank you. - Esmat Watson

Big thanks and شكرانto my publisher Laila Hasib. Always wanted to get into sci fi short story writing. 50 seems like a good age to start. Check out the publisher here. - Aston Walker

Alhamdulillah - Zeneefa Zaneer

MashahAllah - Rukhsana Syed

Mabrook!!! - Zaina Rahem

Wonderful! Congratulations! - Mahdiyah Asiya

Mashallah mashallah mashallah - Sakinah Shaheedah

Looking forward to this, in sha' Allah! - Priscilla Martinez

Masya Allah. This is amazing, awesome sister Laila Hasib. Congrats! - Asqarini Hasbi

From one Ramadan to another many of my dreams have been realized. Thank you for accomplishing this with me. Alhamdulillah. I am thrilled and so, so grateful. – Sara Ansari

MashaAllah - Mizan Rehman

Masha’Allah!!!!! - Faria Jafri

Proud of you Sister Laila, miss you - Shifa Zehra

Dopeness - Youssef Kromah

MashaAllah Laila. - Sajida Habib

Can’t wait to hold this beauty, InshaAllah. Privileged to be part of the project, alhamdulillah Cover looks awesome! - Zeneefa Zaneer

MashaAllah!!! Amazing. - Aston Walker

Laila Hasib Masya Allah. Beautiful works sister, love the cover and the color. My fav. Thanks for sharing my short story. My shoutout to Valerie Behiery: what is the title of your work? Can’t wait to buy and read this book. Masya Allah - Asqarini Hasbi

اللهم بارك! – Fathima Zohara

About the Editor

Laila Hasib is the author of several young adult novels. She launched her own unique publishing company, Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing. She has generously offered young adults and new adults the opportunity to have their voices heard through her company. Through it she hopes to encourage Muslim young and new adults, strengthen their faith, hope and identity and provide worthwhile, enlightening and enjoyable fiction. An American Muslim convert, retired teacher, writer, mother of five and grandmother, Laila Hasib is married and lives in Ontario, Canada.