How Not to Write Muslim Characters Part 3

Muslims, like Christians, have formed various denominations and splits. This post will give you a lightspeed understanding of what they mean and how that may relate to your character. One Ummah Muslims have a lot of similarities to each other, and there is this over-riding concept of One Ummah (roughly translates to nation). The Ummah […]

The Art of Juggling Projects

That’s a little misleading. It should be, the Art of Not Juggling Too Many Projects Introduction I, like any other writer, dream of seeing my work in print (or e-ink). I have half-a-dozen ideas that I want to get down on paper or onscreen, but with too many things on the go, I’m going to […]

How Not to Write Muslim Characters Part 2

In the last post, we explored the different stereotypical characterizations of Muslims. In this post, we will look at how to write a Muslim better. Muslims are like any other human being. They have needs and wants, they have family and friends, they have aspirations and goals. Therefore, ground your character in these qualities. The […]

How Not to Write Muslim Characters Part 1

I was recently asked to beta read a book for a writer friend that featured Muslim characters. It is always a difficult task writing about a diaspora that you are not from or intimately familiar with. So, the aim of this article is to provide you with a foundation to avoid the common mistakes. All […]

The Ink that made me

Every hero (and writer) has an origin story, here is mine… I tell people that my aspirations for becoming a writer began when I heard my teacher read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis to the class. That story got me into reading and wanting to write. It makes for […]

Tarnished Heart

Last year I ended Ramadan with a reflection. This year, I want to up the ante and finish with a reflective poem. Three hundred and thirty days a year, Has blackened my tarnished heart, For the thirty days of Ramadan, Immersed myself in fasting, Supplications and recitation, Remembrance of His Names Salutations on His Beloved, […]

Tolkien Reading Day

The original lyrics of Misty Mountains, from The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien Far over the misty mountains coldTo dungeons deep and caverns oldWe must away ere break of dayTo seek the pale enchanted gold. The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,While hammers fell like ringing bellsIn places deep, where dark things sleep,In hollow […]

Monday

A poem that I wasn’t looking for, but I found it as I stepped out for work on Monday morning. Warning: it may be awful. What if Monday never came?And the weekend just continued? What if all our hours and minutes were for family?And we put down our phones? What if we stopped stressing the […]

Why Am I On A Spiritual retreat?

Last year it was FOMO, this year it’s something else If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I am currently sitting in itikaf. The word itikaf comes from the root of akafa, which means to stick, cling to or devote oneself to something. It is a religious practice that the Prophet Muhammad (peace […]

World Poetry Day 2025

It’s the UNESCO World Poetry Day today. This year’s theme is Peace and Unity. It’s also the 21st day of Ramadan, and I have secluded myself for the next 10 days in a masjid to seek peace within myself and oneness with the Almighty. In keeping with the day and theme, I will try and […]