The Sandhills of Arabia

Paperback, October 2017

by Laila Hasib

Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing is proud to offer this never-out-of-date favourite in a new edition.

The Diamond in the Sand, the sequel to The Sandhills of Arabia, is published now. Save by purchasing The Sandhills of Arabia and The Diamond in the Sand with a Buy One Get One 25% Off (BOGO25%Off). Go to the Combination Book Page in the Shop to get them.

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Moisture trickled from under the black scarf around Shaheedah’s head. The orange ball of the sun lay low in the west signalling sunset. Only when it disappeared would she find some relief from the oppressive heat that usually reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade.

She would not shed a tear. Why should she when she knew her young uncle was happy now? He had often spoken of death. Shaheedah watched as his unshrouded blood-stained body was put into the warm earth.

Amir had been her favourite, always there to listen to her and answer her unending questions. He made her feel grown-up. Even though he was a devout Muslim, he never pressured her. She would miss him.

Her father had found Amir’s corpse outside the crumbling white wall surrounding her house. Someone, certainly the police, had thrown it there before sunrise. Both his legs had been broken at the knees and his face had been severely beaten.

It was no surprise. Since Amir had turned twelve, he had valiantly participated in the Islamic struggle to rid their country of the rulers who were suffocating the freedom of the Muslims. Only this time, Amir had been picked up, carted off and returned in such a state as if to say, “This is your fate if you insist on rebellion. Be warned!” He had not failed in Shaheedah’s mind, although she never really understood the politics behind the struggle. But she knew deep in her heart, he was right.

So begins Chapter One of the story that has touched hearts around the world. Since publication in 1992 by the Islamic Propagation Organization – International Relation Department - in the Islamic Republic of Iran, The Sandhills of Arabia has been sold throughout the world, including in Africa, Britain, Canada and the US. It, in a double novel combination with its sequel, The Diamond in the Sand, was translated into Indonesian by Elka Ferani, renamed The Sandhills of Arabia: Fate Robbed and published by Zahra Novel in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2005.

Product Details

Paperback: 114 pages

Publisher: Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing

Language: English

ISBN: 978-1-7750112-0-0

Product Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.5"

Shipping Weight: 5.5 oz

Reviews

Sister Laila Hasib unveils humanity's prowess and weakness bit by bit in this tale. Shaheedah is tested through many trials in The Sandhills of Arabia. The page-turner takes you through the character's physical, emotional, and spiritual journey as she comes into her identity as a young, brave, and resolute Muslimah. The novella provides insight and contrast into the lives of how different one community can be and by juxtaposing Muslim Shaheedah with Catholic Mary. But Sister Laila expands our thinking about the multitudes of one's identity as we witness Shaheedah's patience in a war-torn country, her softness in love, and her understanding in friendship.

The Sandhills of Arabia by American Muslim convert Laila Hasib is a Muslim young adult story of about 100 pages. A quick read, it’s intriguing and to the point. The writing is crisp and witty. Sister Laila Hasib leaves no stones un-turned when it comes to the work of shaitan; greed, propaganda, Islamophobia, corrupt Muslim leaders, white supremacy, enslaved West African Muslims, the Kuwaiti war that I remembered watching new flashes about as a youngster, espionage, and apartheid amongst other things. (Faria, January 19, 2019, Goodreads)

The Sandhills of Arabia is also a love story about a young woman and a young man. It got a bit cheesy and corny but in a good way. The fierce and rebellious protagonist Shaheedah has to have some kind of soft point. In addition, the plight of her friend Mary will remind you of what the Catholic monarchs did in Spain by stripping Muslim parents of their children or “adopting” children according to them.

Favorite quote: “Learn from our compassion,” one Muslim character said.

I recommend The Sandhills of Arabia to your youngsters so they can enjoy a quick read about bravery, adventure and the tenets of Islam. They will also catch a glimpse of what a halal romance entails to. (Papatia Feauxzar, October 26, 2018, https://papatia.wordpress.com)

A wonderful book and highly recommend everyone (especially non-Muslims) should read. Speaks of a family living in a war torn country and fleeing and then finding love in the middle of the desert. (Nada Youssef, November 22, 2017, Goodreads)

It goes without saying that literature in general, and fiction in particular, has great influence on readers, disregarding age, class and knowledge. Thus, fiction in all its forms has been an attractive means of cultural communication, through which ideas, experiences and information, good or bad, could be transplanted into the minds of readers for different purposes.

The imperialists – and before them the colonialists – who spare no means whatsoever in carrying out their aims, could not overlook such a weapon which never misses its target. Consequently, they allotted great fortunes to buy off the pens of the novelists at high prices, to pass their imperialistic ideas through those pens in order to camouflage their plans and deceive the people.

Yet, the job was not as easy as they thought it to be. There were many resisting obstacles in their way. Religion was the biggest one. So they had to remove it out of the way. Even though all original religions reject all forms of injustice, corruption, oppression, aggression, superstitions and myths – all of which are among the weapons depended upon by the istikbar (the arrogant powers) in implementing its objectives – they did succeed in some instances and emptied the divine religions of their original content and turned them into mere hollow skeletons…that religion meant nothing but to abstain from worldly affairs and completely turn to the other world, the Hereafter.

Our Prophet [Prophet Muhammad], peace be upon him, refuted this inclination by saying: “Act for your world as if you were to live forever and act for your Hereafter as if you were to die tomorrow.”

...The incidents of the story are supposed to have taken place in the state of Kuwait during the Iraqi occupation. They are intended to portray the invaders’ brutality, though not as brutal as they actually were.

We do hope that this praiseworthy attempt of Laila Hasib would be a good incitation prompting other qualified Muslim writers to follow her example, as a valuable service to Islam and the Muslims, and an effective refutation of disbelief and disbelievers!

May Allah bless the advocates of His Message! (Islamic Propagation Organization, 1992)

One of my all-time favorites. I cry every time I read it. Laila Hasib has penned a beautiful script about friendship, love, truth and identity. Pigeonholing it as a young adult book is wrong. Even adults will end up shedding at least one tear by the end.

The Sandhills of Arabia is the starting point for a fantastic library of Islamic young adult fiction books. Laila Hasib must be congratulated and honoured for her poignant writing, views of the world and her love for our youth.

This book gives us a lesson which makes us understand friendship which is so beautiful in the search for the truth about religion - the light in the dark world. (Abdus, online comment, Dec. 20, 2012)

Spoken with a very slick style,The Sandhills of Arabia presents a moving story that really has embraced the friendship of two girls in the Arabian desert...Shaheedah, a Muslim girl who lost her father and is seeking her identity, knits a sincere friendship with Mary,,,a Christian...The story of love, friendship and their struggle to survive in the midst of war and the fierce desert is really going to work on your sympathy and compassion. Shaheedah...forced to flee...finds love in the midst of chaos and the scars of war. Mary has to face...harsh realities that her destiny was stripped away. (online store, Bukabuku)

Laila Hasib’s story takes place during the Gulf war. The main character, Shaheedah, a young Kuwaiti woman, is very brave and steadfast in her Islam, Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah)...In the heat of the desert, Shaheedah develops a friendship with...Mary, the daughter of a pastor who is also a sergeant and the doctor assigned in Saudi Arabia...Please read for yourself to find out the full story. (online blogspot – Kepak Kepik Anak Elang by Si Kepik, Jakarta, Indonesia, May 28, 2008)

About the Author

Laila Hasib is the author of several young adult novels. She is making her publishing debut with her own unique publishing company, Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing. She is honoured to offer young adults and new adults the opportunity to have their voices heard through her company.