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249 Supporters

Created by Pamela Taylor on July 21, 2006, 3:20 am

Islamic Fiction in the English language – in all genres, but especially contemporary fiction – is needed and wanted by Muslim parents/teachers and readers, however Muslim publishers have rarely printed works of fiction. The vast majority of Muslim retailers, distributors, and wholesalers do not consider these published books for purchase and/or listing. We believe that this reflects ignorance about the importance and benefits of fiction in general, and Islamic fiction in particular. Muslim fiction is vital to our community for a variety of reasons:

• Muslim children, youth, and adults want to read fiction. Fiction touches people's hearts and emotions in a way that non-fiction and even true-life stories cannot. It moves us, it captures our imaginations, and affirms our understanding of the world and of ourselves. It allows us to work through issues in our lives without actually having to experience the ramifications ourselves. It allows us to explore other cultures from the safety of our homes. It makes us laugh, cry, quake in our shoes, or soar on the heights of joy, providing an emotional outlet and relieving tension and stress. This is why story-telling is a part of every culture. Currently Muslims in the West have no choice but to read books written by non-Muslims, books that often have morals and content incompatible with Islamic teachings. Even the books that are being published by Muslims in the mainstream press are at best questionable, and at worst downright haram (forbidden Islamically). We need a Muslim, Islamic alternative to this. Unfortunately, the mainstream presses are not interested in providing the kinds of books we want and need; it will have to come from within our community.

• Every state requires that children read fiction as a part of their school curriculum. Most of the books Muslim children and teachers have to choose for this required reading are filled with questionable characters, children acting and believing in ways contrary to Islam, emphasizing Christian holidays and romantic relationships. Often the main characters commit acts which are haram in Islam. Very few of these books have Muslim characters, but when they do, they are usually "the bad guys" – backwards, dirty, scary, and certainly not spiritual. Children are impacted greatly by the things they read; they want to be like the "cool" characters, dress they way they dress, act the way they act, and think the way they think. This effect is magnified when nearly every book presents the same picture of normalcy. We need Islamically sound books that show Muslim kids living in today's world trying to be good Muslims. And we need lots of them. We need books appropriate for kindergarteners and first graders, but also for fifth and sixth graders, for junior and senior high students.

• Study after study has shown that young people and adults who read fiction do better in life. Reading, and writing fiction, improves grammar skills that are vital in the workplace and increases the vocabulary. It also strengthens creativity and self-expression, helping to develop persuasive speaking skills. Not only that, important tests like the SATs and GREs require students to read, ****yze and write about fiction selections. If we want our children to be competitive in the business world, we should be encouraging our children to read fiction, and providing them with quality books.

• Fiction can be a powerful tool for dawah (outreach). As mentioned above, fiction has a unique capability to touch people's emotions and bend their hearts. Even though the stories are not "real," fiction deals with real issues, real emotions, and the reader relates to the characters like friends or family members. As such, it can have a much greater impact on a person's feelings, thoughts, and beliefs than non-fiction. It can inspire them to question their values and their habits, leading to positive change, both for Muslims and non-Muslims. The immense and ever growing Christian fiction industry should serve as an example to the Muslim book industry. Fiction has the potential to alter lives.

For these reasons, the Islamic Writers Alliance and the undersigned individuals call on Muslim publishers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to publish, stock, and sell English-language Islamic fiction.
      


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Petition Signatures


249 17 Jul 2008 - 6:04    Talibudeen Peeples : I support this petition.
248 1 Jul 2008 - 21:37    Sam : I support this petition.
247 12 May 2008 - 9:26    Afiqah :
246 16 Apr 2008 - 2:21    Halimah :
245 19 Mar 2008 - 14:35    Naseema Paruk : Our youth need to have at their disposal good fiction books that subscribe to Islamic values and not be compelled to read books that promote all that is unislamic.
244 11 Dec 2007 - 19:59    Maimoonah Gori : Being a muslim writer for children's islamic boks. i have a problem whereby some bokstores will not even acknowledge my books, or take a sample.I am based in South Africa.
243 10 Dec 2007 - 19:00    Sara Osama Ahmed :
242 6 Oct 2007 - 15:04    Ahmed Hassan :
241 18 Sep 2007 - 3:37    Marwa Sabry :
240 15 Sep 2007 - 18:11    Asim : As a Muslim writer, I can't acclaim and endorse this effort enough. Stories can be the most powerful vehicle for our cause.
239 11 Aug 2007 - 21:42    jameela : great books, too bad i didnt read them while you stil lived in WI
238 11 Aug 2007 - 18:25    Obaid Muhammad : That is a great Idea.Insha Allah that will help Muslims and non-muslims around the world to learn more about Islam in a good way.
237 7 Aug 2007 - 21:04    Haleemah :
236 2 Aug 2007 - 21:57    Safiyyah Qureshi-Khan : needed - without a shadow of a doubt!
235 2 Aug 2007 - 1:58    L.A. Van Veghel (Larry) : I would liike to see more Islamic mysteries having an Islamic protagonist.
234 27 Jul 2007 - 11:38    Mai-muna : AGREED!
233 20 Jul 2007 - 19:31    april :
232 4 Jul 2007 - 22:50    Brooke Benoit :
231 13 Jun 2007 - 21:44    Faith Barrow-Waheed : There should definitely be more Muslim fiction. Insha'Allah, both Muslims and non-Muslims will realize this!
230 8 Jun 2007 - 12:22    Ayesha :
229 7 Jun 2007 - 15:55    Arif vp : best wishes
228 1 May 2007 - 7:23    ummzainab :
227 30 Apr 2007 - 15:11    Arlene Diaz :
226 30 Apr 2007 - 15:06    Jameelah Medina : nshaAllah
225 4 Apr 2007 - 9:33    Samad :
224 27 Mar 2007 - 0:29    Dave Reader : .
223 27 Mar 2007 - 0:18    Nasir :
222 25 Mar 2007 - 16:18    ibrahim : if it can be used for daa'wah... then..
221 25 Mar 2007 - 6:24    aaishah nathani : there should be islamic fiction stories, because they are very touching and emotional.
220 24 Mar 2007 - 6:10    Noor :
219 20 Mar 2007 - 21:50    Shams :
218 20 Mar 2007 - 18:30    ilyas :
217 20 Mar 2007 - 21:10    Dinu Ahmed :
216 20 Mar 2007 - 16:38    K. Arsalaan Ahmed :
215 20 Mar 2007 - 10:39    Su and Mikael :
214 20 Mar 2007 - 10:31    omair Ali : lets get some stories where the Muslims are not cutting off hands or burning flags. Have a story of some Muslims baking cookies. YAY!
213 20 Mar 2007 - 9:44    Naazia :
212 20 Mar 2007 - 9:10    Amir Sahib :
211 20 Mar 2007 - 8:29    Ebadur Rahman : I remember the first time I came in contact with Muslim fiction thru one of Yahya Emerick's Ahmad Deen books...It was powerful just to find a character in a real book who had to stop to pray...
210 11 Mar 2007 - 8:24    Asmaa' Valencia :
209 18 Feb 2007 - 22:21    Shanna Riley :
208 16 Feb 2007 - 14:56    Mariam : I have taught English in Saudi Arabia for many years and am interested in writing fiction books that help teach English language for Moslem children ...
207 18 Jan 2007 - 17:37    Celeste Sahar Swaim : My boys do have to read as a requirement for school. I would so love to give them books that help support an active, Muslim youth culture.
206 8 Jan 2007 - 11:55    lori : Please work on this, let me know if i can participate in some way. Im in Illinois.
205 7 Jan 2007 - 10:12    Becky Kirby : Yes, we need Islamic fiction!
204 5 Jan 2007 - 10:27    Amy Khan : This is something that is definitely needed.
203 5 Jan 2007 - 7:32    rabia : please let me know pamela what we can do as a group to also support this mission.
202 4 Jan 2007 - 11:15    Iman Kouvalis : I definitely support this petition.
201 3 Jan 2007 - 18:51    Heather : I strongly support this. Every child and adult needs Islamic books, fiction and non-fiction. With all the non Islamic books circulating about that actually encourages bad things such as eating pork, calibrating un allowed holidays and so forth, we need books for our children to read and a verity at that so they don't get tired of reading the same books over and over. It is crucial for the youth of the Ummah.
200 2 Jan 2007 - 20:34    Aisha :
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