Books to Read

I often get asked about what books to read on various topics like productivity, motivation, parenting, goal setting and so on… So this page is dedicated to books lists! Here you will find my current interests and those that I have just finished and also book reviews. I hope you enjoy it. Do bookmark it to visit frequently.

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Books I am currently reading:

If youlike a mix of Islamic, self-help and productivity books to read, you are like me. This month, I am currently reading ….

#1: Dare to Lead (Brene Brown) . A book about courageous leadership. As the title says ‘Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts’ – it is about how vulnerability is a quality of good leaders and so on. You know all the hidden fears in our hearts – shame, pain, trust issues, fear of losing our values… the hidden limited beliefs that hold us back, this book is about how to overcome it all based on research.

I am still ready it so I’ll let you know when I finish.

#2: Aisha – the wife, the companion the scholar by Resit Haylamaz. My sister gave me this book to read. It is by a Turkish author and my sister had rave reviews about it…. This book is not available in Saudi Arabia…

I am still reading it. Too early to review. I keep picking this book up and putting it back… I don’t know … going back and forth trying to relate it with other sources…

#3: I can Fix This (Kristina Kuzmic). A book by the famous influencer and TV personality Kristina. (You may know her from her facebook page) The forewordto the book is by Shefali Tsabary. I boughtthis last week when I heard she had just launched her book.

It is about… wait for it… teen-age and mental health issues. And about what goes on in a mother’s mind – her fears, the constant battle in our heart and mind, the pain we feel when we see our children in pain and the role of how social media and “popular parenting advice” that destroys whatever limited sanity we had left. It is a book I relate with. Too powerful… too painful.

I keep picking it up, crying and putting back. I have a 16 year old and Alhamdulillah for healthy children. May Allah protect our sons and daughters from the fitnah of this world, bad friends and the pressure of society and studies. Ameen.

#4: Great Women of Islam (who were given the good news of Paradise) by Mahmoud Ahmad Ghadanfar, revised by Shikh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri (Darrussalam Publication. Started this recently. One of the best books about women in Islam out there! I can’t put it down.

Books read

This is the list of books that I have recently bought and are waiting on my ‘to be read’ list.

1. Shaytan and The Nafs (Overcoming our strongest enemies) by Umm Muhammad Abizer.

Winning strategies to overcome our strongest enemy – the Shaytan and the Nafs and how to achieve the ultimate goal – the pleasure of Allah.

Bought this book for my children to be honest… I needed something on this topic in my home library and saw that the author was on my friends list! I am (once again) in aww of her writing. (Can’t wait to get started!)

2. When the Two Seas Meet Navigating a mother-in-law’s internal struggles) by Mumtaz Raffi and Umm Muhammad Abizer

Being a good mother in law is challenging. This book is a guide for mother in laws and it offers Quran and Sunnah based reminders on how to communicate effectively to strengthen your ties, look at things from the Islamic perspective and bring you closer to Allah.

What a topic!!! Tell me you aren’t like: “Whoa there is a book for mother in laws???!!!” I cannot wait to get started on this.

Books I have recently finished reading…

These are books I have just finished reading and haven’t had a chance to review on the blog or social media.

#1: The Honorable Wives of the Prophet Peace Be Upon Him . It is a small book (just 137 pages) and contains a compilation of the lives of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH). It is not very detail… if you want to read up about who the wives were, what families they belonged too and what their lives were before they married the Prophet (PBUH), this is a good start. The book also contains a little bit about significant incidences during their lives and gives us a good picture of what their personalities may have been like.

#2: The Muslim Parent’s / Teacher’s Manual For the Beginning Years 1-5 by Maulvi Abdul Aziz . (Couldn’t find the book link so linking to the author page)

I bought this book because of who the author is. :) It is good… small book (just 93 pages) but covers all the basics for new moms and new teachers to get started. And I must say I loved it for all the practical information and guidance. It is really nice. I liked it.

My daughter said, he may have read Jeddah Mom before writing this book because too many of the same philosophies about raising kids! Haha! Not possible… but honestly, I try hard to follow the Quran and Sunnah and I was happy to see this book re-assure me. The tone of the book is good too.

For those of you who are not aware of Maulvi Abdul Aziz, he is the author of the popular children’s Islamic Studies curriculum and books. I grew up reading his books at school and my kids (and all of Saudi Arabia!) read his books form Grade 1-12! He has written some school books on Islamic History too. His books are a trusted source for Islamic education.

#3: Better than Before (Gretchen Rubin): She is the founder of the Happiness Project and a former blogger colleague! I love her work. This book is about how to break habits and build new ones…. all based on research. Now you know my interests in habits and routines… so well… you know why I read it. If you are a researcher too… this book is for you. (Btw, this book was $3.44 on Kindle and that is why I instantly hit buy!)

All time favorite books to read

I have some books on my bedside or on my office desk that I read over and over again. Although a personal preference, I am listing them here for your interest.

#1: The Rainbow Quran. Who doesn’t want a pink colored personal Quran! I was gifted this pink Quran about 10 years ago… and it is my favorite bedside Quran. It reminds me to read even on the most laziest of days!

#2: The Holy Quran – Muhsin Khan and Taqiuddin Hilali. This is the concise summarized version of the translation of the Holy Quran in English with commentary and notes from Sahih Bukhari. This Quran is what I pick the most whenever I want to read just one ayah. It has translation and a little bit of commentary.

#3: The Magic of Thinking Big. This is my favorite motivation book. I have it in my office in physical form and on all my devices in Kindle form. It is just that good!! I may have highlighted and bookmarked almost every page of this book!

#3: The Miracle Morning. Another favorite book that reminds me to get up at 4am. I tried the 30 day challenge twice and it forever changed my life. I have always been a Fajr waker but had trouble getting up earlier to do personal work. This book helped me form the early bird habit. I have this on my bedside table to remind me the 6 steps.

#4: The Juice Lady (Cherie and John Calbom). I first discovered this book during Corona. It saved my life … twice. I juice diet regularly now and so, this book has become my go to for all ailments. Inflammation, gall stones, liver trouble… UTI or kidney trouble… there is a juice for that! There is even a juice called ‘Mood Mender!’ :D

Book Lists for Moms

Here you will find book lists separated by category. Please note that these lists link to individual blog posts. Click the image to visit the post.

I am in the process of creating more lists. If you have a recommendation for me, please feel free to leave a comment or reach out to me via email or social media. <3