PRESS RELEASE: HIJRI — A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES
Bismillah.
Assalamu aleikum!
DALLAS, TX — September 29th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the anthology HIJRI: A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES Written by Rumki Chowdhury, Papatia Feauxzar, Sana Khan, Shoohada Khanom, and Umm Afraz Muhammed.
Summary: Hijri is the cornerstone of the Islamic way of life. Without it, Muslims would not be able to observe and perform their religious rituals. Hijri is also a time marker that helps us locate significant events in time, space, history, and in our daily lives. While it may seem elusive to many, we believe it’s a flexible calendar. It easily adjusts to each user’s schedule. For instance, all Muslims will consistently celebrate and observe holy or auspicious days within three days of each other and their ibadahs are still valid.
In this anthology titled HIJRI, acclaimed Muslim authors come together to tell their stories centered and surrounding the Islamic calendar. In their poignant accounts and tales, they share their hopes, their losses and most importantly their wins because the believer is always grateful for every situation.
Above all, HIJRI shows how Muslimah writers have mindfully reclaimed their rightful time frame for the only One that truly matters.
Some of the authors shared their reasons for writing their pieces. Check them out below.
“I wrote a poem focusing on Hajj beginning with the first time I did hajj with my parents and my brother, reminding myself of a cherished memory. I also wrote it for you, the reader, as motivation and a reminder of sorts. All journeys are meant to be taken together, whether physically or spiritually; I hope in reading my work that you are able to take that journey with me. May Allah make it easy for you, Ameen.”— Rumki Chowdhury
"Sister Papatia contacted me at the beginning of the year if I would like to be part of the Hijri Anthology and I was so thrilled. There was only one issue, only one topic remains to be covered: the month of Muharram and Ashura. I knew it was heavy and I committed myself to writing about it. It had led me to research more, both outside and inside of me. What does it mean for me as a born Muslim, a child, an adult Indian Muslim living in Belgium and married to an Algerian man? How does everything intersect and amalgamate in my life? The concoction is this essay. I definitely feel so much closer to Imam Hussein عليه السلام and the events of Karbala after writing this essay.”— Sana Khan
“When I started practicing Islam, I found out that some of my family’s cultural practices didn't align with it. Most were easy to drop. Others, not so much. Women coming out for Eid salah is one of those things. My story, although fictional, touches on the challenge one may find themselves in, trying to put religion first.”— Shoohada Khanom
“We all have memories that are close to our heart in relation to our religion and belief. When these memories and reflection pieces are put together in an anthology format that denotes a specific event or month of the Islamic calendar, that brings a whole new level of connection with the Hijri calendar. The Hijri Anthology is a unique concept that I am happy to have taken part in. May Allah ﷻ bless all those involved in it and forgive us for our shortcomings.”— Umm Afraz Muhammed
"I live the Hijri calendar daily and by contributing to the not so popular months, I pray that we are able to revive this sunnah and our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the same time.”— Papatia Feauxzar
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
RUMKI CHOWDHURY
Rumki’s second book “So Complicated” is a romcom that won The 2017 New York Book Festival Honorable Mention, the 2016 Red Ribbon for being an enjoyable read in UK´s The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and runner-up for humor in The 2015 Pacific Writer’s Awards. Her first book, “Her Feet Chime” is the first and only Bangladeshi YA version of a Cinderella story, written in English. Her third book is an anthology of poems which revolve around the misconceptions of the hijab/headscarf. it is poetry with a purpose, rather than profit as all proceeds go to a charity called, Restless Beings, http://www.restlessbeings.org/about
Rumki has a Masters in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelors in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She is now a licensed English teacher in Stockholm, Sweden.
Visit her at www.rumki.com .
PAPATIA FEAUXZAR
Papatia is the Founder of Djarabi Kitabs Publishing and Fofky’s Bookclub. An American author, barista, and publisher of African descent, she lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, DFW Child and Voyage Dallas.
She blogs at:
- www.aducktrinormom.wordpress.com
SANA KHAN
Sana is a Motivational Speaker, Writer, Host and a Confidence and Breakthrough Coach. With an Engineering background and a Masters in International Business, she has more than 15 years of experience working in Corporates. Loves to inspire and empower people through her writing, videos and coaching. She has been writing for more than 5 years on her blog: fromadaydreamersdiary.wordpress.com. She likes to write spiritual poetry as well. She is currently working on her first fantasy fiction YA novel which she hopes to finish by December 2021. Dreamcatcher Framework is her Debut non-Fiction work. Sana lives in Belgium with her husband and their son.
For more information about Sana and her work, visit www.talkwithsana.com
SHOOHADA KHANOM
Shoohada Khanom is a Children’s author, writer and home educator. She has published several Muslim faith picture books and a couple of journals. She has written for Amaliah and Hayati magazines, and has a short story and poem published in an anthology. Shoohada was born and raised in London, UK, and lives a busy life, splitting her days between home-educating a few of her children and other responsibilities. When she’s not writing, she likes to spend time with her family, read and sip tea. Shoohada believes representation is important, and by sharing her lived experiences and the layers of her British, Bangladeshi and Muslim identity, she can inspire empathy and connection amongst people.
In her rare free moments, she likes to read, write and sip tea. Connect with her on www.shoohadakhanom.com
UMM AFRAZ MUHAMMED
Umm Afraz Muhammed is an Indian settled in the Emirates with her husband and three children. She is a Psychology-graduate, an Islamic Studies post-graduate, and a Certified Life Coach following the principles of Islam and the International Coaching Federation. She has authored her debut fiction, Here With You, and her debut children’s picture book, Zaynab bint Jahsh: The One with the Longest Hand.
She blogs at https://ummafraz.wordpress.com and is available in Instagram and Facebook at:
- @redefinedmuslimahcoaching.
She can also be contacted at:
- ummafraz@gmail.com or
- redefinedmuslimahcoaching@gmail.com
HIJRI is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.
CONTACTS
Djarabi Kitabs Publishing
PO BOX 703733
Dallas, TX 75370
USA
Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com