Diversity Books: Muslims

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I’m adding a taglist to start, but this post is open to absolutely everyone! <3

Editing to add:

Please include books written by people of this diversity group as well! <3

@jesusredeemedme2425

I would recommend The Book: "Stories of the Prophets" and "The Companions"

Written by: Ibn Kathir

This book has everything. Prophets. Good Muslims. Real human moments. Let me share some of the stories:

"Read! In the name of your Lord who has created: Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Read! Your Lord is Most Bountiful: He Who taught (the use of) the pen,

Taught man that which he knew not..."

Qur'an Surat al-Alaq 96:1-5

Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) and His Father:

Yusuf's brothers threw him in a well when he was just a little boy. They told their father Yaqub that a wolf ate him. They brought his shirt with fake blood.

Yaqub looked at the shirt and said "This wolf was very gentle. It ate my son but didn't tear the shirt?"

He knew they were lying. But he couldn't do anything. So he cried. For years. He cried so much he lost his eyesight.

But he never stopped hoping. He always said "I smell Yusuf. I know he's alive."

Everyone thought he was crazy. An old man losing his mind.

Then one day, after decades, a shirt came. Yusuf sent his shirt with his brothers. Yaqub put it on his face and his eyesight came back.

He said "Didn't I tell you? I know what I know."

Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Good Man:

There was a man who did bad things his whole life. Like really bad. On his deathbed, he told his son "When I die, burn my body. Throw my ashes in the sea. Because if Allah finds me, He will punish me so badly."

The son did what his father asked. He burned the body. Threw the ashes in the sea.

But Allah gathered those ashes. Every tiny piece. And brought the man back to life.

Allah asked him "Why did you do that?"

The man said "Because I was scared of you."

And Allah said "Because you were scared of me, I forgive you."

The Companion Who Cried Reading Quran:

There was a man named Abu Bakr. He was the Prophet's best friend. Soft heart. Would cry easily.

One day he was praying and reading Quran. He reached a verse that says:

"Whoever does good, even the weight of a tiny ant, will see it. Whoever does bad, even the weight of a tiny ant, will see it."

He stopped. He read it again. He started crying. He couldn't stop.

He thought about every tiny thing he ever did. Every small good. Every small bad. And he knew Allah saw it all.

The Prophet saw him crying and said "If that verse makes you cry, then your heart is alive."

The Woman Who Shared Her Food:

A woman lived alone. Poor. Very poor. She had one piece of bread for the whole day. That's all. Just one.

Someone knocked on her door. A traveler. He said "I'm hungry. I haven't eaten in days."

She looked at her one piece of bread. Her only food. She looked at him.

She gave it to him.

He ate it. Thanked her. Left.

That night, someone else knocked. Neighbors. They brought her a whole basket of food. They said "Someone left this at our door for you. We don't know who."

She never found out who sent it. But she knew Who saw her.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Old Woman Who Threw Trash on Him:

In Mecca, there was an old woman who hated the Prophet. Like really hated him. Every day when he walked by her house, she would throw trash on him from her window.

Dirt. Ashes. Trash. Every single day.

He would just brush it off and keep walking. Never got mad. Never said anything.

One day he walked by and nothing fell. No trash. He looked up. No old woman.

He got worried. He asked about her. Someone said she's sick.

So he went to her house. He knocked. She said "Who's there?" She was too sick to get up.

He said "It's Muhammad. Can I come in?"

She was shocked. This man? The one she threw trash on every day? Coming to see HER?

He came in. Sat down. Asked how she was. Asked if she needed anything.

She started crying. She said "You're the best human I ever met. I'm so sorry. I believe in you now."

He just smiled.

The Man Who Loved the Prophet So Much:

There was a man named Bilal. He was a slave. When he became Muslim, his owner tortured him. Put heavy rocks on his chest in the hot sun. Told him to say bad things about the Prophet.

Bilal just kept saying "Ahad, Ahad." One God. One God.

His owner said "Say what I tell you or die there."

Bilal said "Ahad, Ahad."

Another man saw this. Abu Bakr. He went to the owner and said "Sell him to me." He paid a lot of money and freed Bilal.

Years later, Bilal became the one who called people to prayer. His voice was beautiful. When he said "Allahu Akbar" everyone cried.

When the Prophet died, Bilal couldn't call the prayer anymore. He would try but his voice would break. He left Medina because it hurt too much.

One night, years later, he had a dream. The Prophet said "Bilal. Is this how you leave me? Come visit."

Bilal went back. When he called the prayer, everyone in Medina came out and cried. Even the children.

The Young Boy Who Died Smiling:

A little boy in Medina loved the Prophet. He would run to him every time he saw him. The Prophet would pick him up and hug him.

The boy got sick. Very sick. He was dying.

His mother was crying. His father was crying. The boy said "Where's the Prophet?"

Someone ran to get him.

The Prophet came. Sat down. Held the boy's hand.

The boy looked at him and smiled. He said "I wanted to see you one more time."

The Prophet said "You'll see me again soon."

The boy smiled bigger. Then he closed his eyes and died.

The Prophet cried. Someone said "You cry?" He said "This is mercy. Hearts feel sad. Eyes tear up. But we only say what pleases Allah."

The Man Who Planted Trees Even When Old:

An old man was planting a baby tree. So small. So fragile.

Someone walked by and laughed. He said "Old man! You'll never eat from that tree. You'll be dead before it grows."

The old man kept digging. He said "Someone planted trees for me before I was born. I ate from them. Now I plant for those who come after me."

He kept planting. Watering. Taking care.

Years later, after he died, children played under that tree. Families ate its fruit. They never knew his name. But they ate what he planted.

Prophet Isa (Jesus) and the Man Who Stole:

A man was stealing food. Prophet Isa saw him and said "Why do you steal?"

The man said "Because I'm poor. I have nothing."

Isa said "Come with me."

They walked to a garden. Isa pointed at some plants and said "Eat."

The man ate. Then Isa said "Now pray and ask Allah for barakah."

The man prayed. Suddenly the garden grew more. Like magic. Food everywhere.

Isa said "You don't need to steal. Allah provides. Just ask Him."

The man cried. He never stole again. He became known for feeding others.

The Companion Who Shared His House:

When Muslims moved to Medina, they had nothing. No homes. No money. No food.

A man named Saad took a stranger home. He said "My house is your house. My food is your food. My family is your family."

The stranger stayed for weeks. Ate their food. Slept in their beds. Never worked. Never helped.

Someone asked Saad "Why do you give him so much? He does nothing for you."

Saad said "Because the Prophet said 'Love for your brother what you love for yourself.' I would want someone to take me in if I had nothing."

The stranger heard this. He cried. He said "I never met people like you." He became a good man too.

The Prophet ﷺ and the Woman Who Was Mean to Him:

A woman in Medina never liked the Prophet. Every time she saw him, she would say mean things. Ignore him. Walk away.

One day she saw him and turned her face. But then she thought "He never says anything bad back to me. Ever."

She felt bad. She went home and cried.

Next day she saw him again. She went up to him and said "I'm sorry. I've been so mean. And you never said one bad thing about me. Why?"

The Prophet said "Because my Lord taught me to be kind. Even when people aren't kind back."

She became Muslim that day.

The Man Who Forgave His Brother's Killer:

A man's brother was killed. By someone from another tribe. Everyone expected revenge. That's how it worked back then. Blood for blood.

The killer was caught. Brought to the man. They said "Kill him. It's your right."

The man looked at the killer. Young guy. Scared. Shaking.

The man asked "Why did you kill my brother?"

The killer said "It was an accident. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I think about it every night. I can't sleep."

The man stood there. Everyone watching. Waiting.

He said "I forgive you. Go home."

Everyone gasped. Someone said "He killed your brother!"

The man said "My brother is gone. Killing this boy won't bring him back. But maybe my forgiveness will bring him peace. And maybe Allah will forgive me too."

The Boy Who Fed Cats Every Day:

A little boy loved cats. Every day he would take food from his own plate and feed the stray cats in his neighborhood. His mother would say "Eat your food! Stop giving it away!"

He would say "But they're hungry, Mama."

One day he got sick. Very sick. Fever. Couldn't move.

The cats came to his window. They meowed. They waited. No food came.

Neighbors said those cats sat outside his window for days. Just waiting. Just watching.

When the boy got better, he went outside. The cats ran to him. Rubbed against his legs. Followed him everywhere.

Someone saw this and said "Even the animals love him."

The Prophet said "If you are kind to animals, Allah is kind to you."

The Man Who Cried for 20 Years:

There was a man who did something bad. He never told anyone what. But he felt so guilty. So sorry.

He cried about it. Every night. For 20 years.

Someone asked him "Why do you cry so much? Allah forgives. Just ask."

He said "I know He forgives. But I don't forgive myself. I hurt someone. I can't take it back."

One night he fell asleep crying. He had a dream. Someone came to him and said "Allah says: You cried for 20 years because you hurt someone. That's how much you care. I forgive you. And I'll tell the person you hurt to forgive you too."

He woke up smiling. First time in 20 years.

The Prophet ﷺ and the Man Who Came Late:

A man always came late to everything. Late to prayers. Late to gatherings. Late to meetings.

One day he came late again. Everyone was annoyed. Someone whispered "Here comes the late guy again."

The Prophet heard it. He said "Don't say that. He comes when he can. Maybe he has reasons we don't know."

The man heard this. He went home crying. Not because people were mean. But because the Prophet defended him.

Next day he came early. For everything. For the rest of his life.

The Woman Who Only Knew One Dua:

An old woman came to the Prophet. She said "I'm old. I can't read much. I don't know many prayers. I only know one. Will Allah accept it?"

The Prophet said "What dua do you know?"

She said "I just say 'O Allah, I love You. Please love me back.' That's all. I say it all day."

The Prophet smiled. He said "That's enough. That's everything."

She walked away happy. She didn't need fancy words. Just love.

@jesusredeemedme2425 looking forward to see some amazing book recommendations ❤️

Proud: Living My American Dream

Bonus: Ibtihaj is Muslim AND Black! She shatters stereotypes, wins Olympic medals, and she's generally a BEAST in general! <3

From Goodreads:

@jesusredeemedme2425 The best book I would recommend is The Quran itself, It describes everything, everything you need to know about life, diversity, and afterwards, every guidance, every little matter that leaves you confused, you reach out there. All events describes, all guidance describes. Even the events of prophets and stories of people before us is even there. So, for me Quran is the best book. Most of us just recite, and don’t go in depth finding the meaning or understanding the translations of the words. Which has everything we need to know. This is what I am about to do in my outside of cups life. I am about to start a learning institution, to share and help people recite the Quran with understanding meanings. 💛 And I would be glad to share with anyone at cups as well 😊💖