Co-editors Ayesha Mattu and Nura Maznavi. Courtesy of Love, InshAllah.

Muslimahs oppressed? And mute?

Co-editors Ayesha Mattu and Nura Maznavi dispel those stereotypes with their book Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women.

A collection of 25 essays by American Muslimahs, Love, InshAllah touches on sex, love, relationships, sexuality, identity, homophobia and racism.

In the words of award-winning author of Madras on Rainy Days, Samina Ali: ’Love, InshAllah [goes] to a place where few, if any, books have gone before. Lesbians, co-wives, converts to Islam, Shia, Sunni, black, brown and white: every voice is unique. Collectively, they sing of strength, passion and love. One can’t help but to sit back and listen, captivated.’

What is interesting about this book is that in most stories, Allah is an ally to the authors as they search for love

Released in January this year, Love, InshAllah is the latest to join the half dozen books in the last two years that have been written by American Muslimahs.

The authors took a bold step in coming forward with their stories, discussing topics considered taboo in their families and communities, and perhaps at the same time risk fuelling the general view on Muslims as un-American.

What is interesting about this book is that in most stories, Allah is an ally to the authors as they search for love. And He proves to be their most loyal confidante.

For example, the story ‘The Birds, the Bees, and My Hole’ by Zahra Noorbakhsh.

She was 14 when her Iranian immigrant mother said to her: ’Zahra, you have a hole. For the rest of your life, men will want to put their penis in your hole. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, who is your ”friend”.’

I laughed really hard when I read it—until I suddenly remembered my own mother saying something similar to me.

You will be captivated by these moving, funny, provocative and surprising stories, each as individual as the writers themselves.

Love, InshAllah is available on Amazon.