Stories of 20 more Mighty Muslim Heroes

Muslims have been an inspiration, whichever part of the world they belonged to. They have been making their mark from Australia to America, Russia to Antarctica. Be it medicine, astronomy, education, wars, or even philanthropy, they have inspired generations.

The second book by Bangladeshi-Australian author Tamara Haque titled Stories of 20 more Mighty Muslim Heroes gives you a clear view regarding Muslims over the last century and a half, with their immense contribution in their respective fields.

The second book in the series, like its predecessor, carries short profiles of 20 great Muslims. We have sketches of the heroes and illustrations linked to their work. Out of the 20, eleven are females, which clearly indicates that Islam gives importance to both men and women.

In the book, we get to know about ‘Al Shifa Bint Abdullah’, the first woman in Islam, who was a teacher, inspirational figure and inspector. Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to seek advice from her. We can read about Umm ad-Darda as-Sughra, an orphan who rose to the rank of a scholar in the days of the Holy Prophet. We have Maryam al- Asturlabi, an astrolabe maker with an asteroid named due to her scientific contribution.

The female guerrilla warrior from Indonesia, Cut Nyak Dhien also gets a mention here, with Dr Hawa Abdi, a doctor and a lawyer who stood up against Somalian militants not far behind. There is the first Muslim female judge, Mukhlisa Bubi, who hailed from Russia, followed by polio-stricken Kariveppil Rabiya, who made an entire village in India literate, despite being confined to her wheelchair.

Moving over to men, you would be surprised to see Abdul Sattar Edhi, our very own ‘Edhi baba’, not only on the cover, but also as a ‘hero’. There is Najashi, the famous Abyssinian King who allowed Muslims to stay in his country during the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). We also read about Omar ibn Said, a slave, who stuck to his religion despite the horrifying life he was living. Although he died a year before slavery was abolished in the USA, Omar rebelled in his own way and became a symbol of strength and hope.

Reading about the genius from Bosnia MatrakCi Nasuh is as enjoyable as knowing about Ibn-al-Haytham, the first Muslim scientist. For sports lovers, Egyptian footballer Mo Salah is also among the heroes, alongside the father of modern-day skyscrapers. The list goes on and by the end of the book, you would be a ‘prouder’ Muslim.

The author, who spent her childhood in Saudi Arabia, was mesmerised by the work of Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton and her work is clear proof of that. If you enjoyed reading the first book, this one too will inspire and empower you more, this Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 25th, 2023