THE DIAMOND IN THE SAND

(The Sequel to The Sandhills of Arabia)

IT'S PUBLISHED, AL-HAMDULILLAH!

Paperback, February 2023

by Laila Hasib

The Diamond in the Sand pursues the story of the friendship of two young ladies, Shaheedah and Mary, focusing on Mary and capturing truth, justice and love as it reveals US espionage against Black American Muslims and upholders of peace throughout the world. Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing is proud to offer this sequel to The Sandhills of Arabia.

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.

READING PREVIEW

“Don’t be afraid,” a young man said, in a hushed, slow American drawl. “I won’t hurt you.”

Mary hid her head in her hands and shook so violently his words did not even register. She was totally petrified and stuck to the spot.

A strong warm hand held her under her chin and softly lifted up her head. Mary was afraid to open her eyes and look at the man.

“Please, I swear I won’t hurt you,” he said. “Open your eyes.”

Slowly, Mary opened her eyes. She hesitated and then looked up at the stranger. He was an American, she realized right away, although she had never seen him around the mission. His skin was the colour of bronze and his tightly-curled Afro had begun to grow out of its closely-cropped haircut. He wore a torn, tattered and dusty US air force uniform and looked almost too young to be in the service.

“My name is Carl Owens,” he said. “What’s yours?”

“I’m, I’m lost,” Mary stammered.

“I know,” he said, gently. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

“I belong at the Christian mission near here,” Mary explained, wiping the tears from her eyes. “But I lost my way back.” Her voice trembled.

“Why were you out in the desert by yourself?” Carl asked, cautiously squatting on the sand beside her.

So begins the continuing story of Shaheedah and Mary that has touched hearts around the world. After Laila Hasib’s The Sandhills of Arabia was first published in 1992, the lovers of Shaheedah, Jafar and Mary patiently awaited its sequel and were rewarded three years later with The Diamond in the Sand. It has been sold throughout the world, including in Africa, Britain, Canada and the US. It, in a double novel combination with its first book, The Sandhills of Arabia, was translated into Indonesian by Elka Ferani, renamed The Sandhills of Arabia: Fate Robbed, and published by Zahra Novel in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2005. In 2017 Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing began and its first title was The Sandhills of Arabia. This 2023 edition of its never-out-of-date waited for sequel is being graciously offered after 28 years.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Paperback: 146 pages

Publisher: Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing

Language: English

ISBN: 978-1-7750112-6-2

Product Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.5"

Shipping Weight: 7 oz

REVIEWS

I was especially enthralled by Laila Hasib’s exposure of US espionage against Black American Muslims throughout the twentieth century which still continues into the twenty-first century. (Anonymous, USA)

You left us with a tremendous cliffhanger! Finally, we get to find out what happens to Shaheedah, Jafar and Mary in The Diamond in the Sand! It's been a long time coming! Thanks Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing! (A Devoted Reader, Ontario)

The novel, The Sandhills of Arabia, written by Laila Hasib is the story of life’s reality. Translated by Elka Ferani into Indonesian as The Sandhills of Arabia: Fate Robbed, the “new title” captures the story line and represents the feelings of the writer. The "new title" includes both The Sandhills of Arabia and its sequel, The Diamond in the Sand. The first book is about a young Kuwaiti lady [Shaheedah] who lives in a very devout Muslim family and begins to feel the reality of life and the religious doctrine taught by her parents. She encounters and befriends an American young lady [Mary] in the Arabian Peninsula. Then in the second book, The Diamond in the Sand, the story is about Mary who becomes aware of the truth of life, especially after returning to the United States.

The story of love, friendship and struggle is summed up nicely into intriguing lives by the author. The friendship between the two young ladies of different religions develops at the beginning and gives birth to consciousness of thought that was warped by various US media outlets. The author uncovers the reality of life experienced during war and the contradictions in the news media about the truth. Depictions of events and settings are easily imagined. Laila Hasib uses many beautiful figures of speech, drawing in those who want to study English literature.

While these novels tell a love story or romance, it is just floating on the surface. As the story is based on Islamic culture, direct encounters between the opposite sex are limited. Thus, the novel teaches the reader how an actual Islamic relationship unfolds. Basically, the novels are easy to read and understand. Readers who want to learn about Islamic culture will be impressed by the novels. They teach how to establish good relations and brother/sisterhood among people of different religions. They also instruct us not to take on propaganda that keeps us from knowing the truth. (Taken from Post by Hanz el-Jafarye, Warisan Sang Ulama website in Indonesia, Dec. 4, 2015)

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, 1995)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laila Hasib, an American Muslim convert, was honoured to have The Sandhills of Arabia and its sequel The Diamond in the Sand published without royalties. When subsequent manuscripts were declined, she began her own publishing company for her work and to provide a space for Muslims to get their ideas recognized. Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing specializes in young adult and new adult fiction books and other compositions. Through it, she hopes to encourage Muslim youth, strengthen their faith, hope and identity and provide worthwhile, enlightening and enjoyable fiction. A retired teacher of 25 years, mother of five and grandmother, Laila Hasib is married and lives in Ontario, Canada.