In Islam we have a concept called sadaqa jaariya, which is a type of charity that continues giving exponentially even after you die.

It can be in the form of donating to a masjid where people will remember the name of God and praise Him, long after you’ve passed away.

It can be in the form of donating to a school or educational institution where people learn and benefit long after you are gone.

And it can be in the form of knowledge you create that also benefits people far and wide even after you are gone.

When I first began writing stories, I decided to veer away from anything that is too plot oriented/fantasy/magic oriented works that might be entertaining to read but don’t really explore any deeper elements. I gravitated to producing more literary works that I still hope are entertaining, but also try to delve deeper into insights into human nature. Literature that would prove to be a sadaqa jaariya for me. It’s why all my books seem to have some sort of message or moral to them. I just can’t help it.

Those were the types of stories I gravitated to when I was young.

And when my children all decided flat out to not be writers, and my husband declared he was glad because ‘one writer in the family is enough!’ I thought to myself, okay, I need to find other people to nurture and mentor because one Muslim author trying to humanize Muslims by telling good stories isn’t enough.

We need a movement!

And so I began to mentor.

There were two young ladies in particular very close to me, that I thought had especial potential. Both were voracious readers! And both were practicing Muslims!

Last year was momentous! In that one of these ladies did indeed release her book out into the world and all the pain and frustration and rewrites and revisions that I’d been privy to, finally bore fruit and her book and herself landed in the world with a huge SPLASH!!!

Masha Allah!

And then about eight months ago, I went to lunch with the second lady and she told me she had good news!

And now today her book is being released to a world that is suddenly discovering the power of Muslim stories! SPLASH!!!

There’s a goofy smile on my face even as I type this!

I am SO very proud of my friends!

And I hope and pray with all my heart that both these books become sadaqa jaariyas for them and for as much as I may have helped in the process, for me too, because God is Most Gracious, Most Merciful and Al – Kareem, the Generous, and He multiplies good deeds many times over without diminishing the reward for anyone along the way!

In an hour and a half I go to attend the launch of AYESHA AT LAST, I go to support my friends (and buy 5 copies insha Allah!).

Yup, Ayesha at Last is here at last!

Subhan Allah, Alhamdu lillah, Allahu Akbar!