Islamic fiction
Encyclopedia
Islamic fiction is written by and for Muslim
s as it expounds and illustrates an Islam
ic world view in its plot and characters. Islamic fiction excludes vulgar language and explicit depictions of sexuality; as well it aims to identify non-Islamic practices as such, portraying Muslims as striving to practice Islam. Since Islam is not practiced homogeneously, individual Islamic practices and world views vary from author to author.
’s The Year of The Elephant (Arabic version 1983, English translation 1989), the first work written by a Moroccan woman to be translated to English, has been identified as falling into the sub-categories of being both a feminist novel, and because of its depiction of the protagonist
and other characters practicing Islam, qualifying as Islamic fiction.
Amongst the first wave of Islamic fiction written in English specifically for Muslim audiences was juvenile fiction, including the series Invincible Abdullah originally published from 1993-1995 by Aziza and Uthman Hutchinson, and the Ahmad Deen Series (1996) by Yahiya Emerick
. The first two English language series of Islamic fiction novels written for teens and adults is Umm Zakiyyah’s Tamika Douglass Trilogy beginning with If I Should Speak (2001) and the Echo Series written by Jamilah Kolocotronis
beginning with Echoes (2006). Kolocotronis’ first Islamic fiction title, Innocent People was self-published in 2003. In 2004, Irving Karchmar
published the critically acclaimed Sufi novel, Master of the Jinn.
title. Najiyah Diana Helwani’s juvenile Islamic fiction title Sophia's Journey: Time Warp 1857 (2008) has been classified as both a historical fiction
novel as well as science fiction
. The seminal juvenile fiction series Invincible Abdullah and Ahmad Deen are both written in mystery
styles.
, regularly features original short works of Islamic fiction and poetry. Damazine is a quarterly online literary journal which publishes Muslim-related fiction (including Islamic fiction), creative nonfiction
and poetry.
.
(permissible) within Islam. One view is that fiction writing is a kind of story-telling based on lying, which is a sin in Islam. Although not outright considered haram
(impermissible), “abandoning busying oneself with [fiction stories] is preferable” and fiction stories are seen as a frivolous way for a Muslim to use their time. Another interpretation is that fictional stories are permissible and even encouraged for purposes of dawah
, to help people to learn about Islam, as long as the author has made clear that the story is not true. As well, the writing should be in the style of Islamic fiction.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s as it expounds and illustrates an Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic world view in its plot and characters. Islamic fiction excludes vulgar language and explicit depictions of sexuality; as well it aims to identify non-Islamic practices as such, portraying Muslims as striving to practice Islam. Since Islam is not practiced homogeneously, individual Islamic practices and world views vary from author to author.
Emergence as a literary form
Currently Islamic Fiction is not recognized as a category by the Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) coding system; however works from other mainstream fiction genres are found to meet the criteria. For example, Leila AbouzeidLeila Abouzeid
Leila Abouzeid is a Moroccan author. She writes in Arabic rather than in French and is the first Moroccan woman writer of literature to be translated into English.- Works :...
’s The Year of The Elephant (Arabic version 1983, English translation 1989), the first work written by a Moroccan woman to be translated to English, has been identified as falling into the sub-categories of being both a feminist novel, and because of its depiction of the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
and other characters practicing Islam, qualifying as Islamic fiction.
Amongst the first wave of Islamic fiction written in English specifically for Muslim audiences was juvenile fiction, including the series Invincible Abdullah originally published from 1993-1995 by Aziza and Uthman Hutchinson, and the Ahmad Deen Series (1996) by Yahiya Emerick
Yahiya Emerick
Yahiya Emerick is a former President of the Islamic Foundation of North America, vice-principal at an Islamic school, and a Muslim author. He has written several articles and works of fiction that have been published in North America and abroad.-Life:...
. The first two English language series of Islamic fiction novels written for teens and adults is Umm Zakiyyah’s Tamika Douglass Trilogy beginning with If I Should Speak (2001) and the Echo Series written by Jamilah Kolocotronis
Jamilah Kolocotronis
Linda "Jamilah" Kolocotronis is an American Muslim writer and former educator in American Islamic schools. A convert to Islam, she has published several Islamic fiction novels as well as her doctoral dissertation. Kolocotronis changed her first name to Jamilah when she became Muslim in 1980 and...
beginning with Echoes (2006). Kolocotronis’ first Islamic fiction title, Innocent People was self-published in 2003. In 2004, Irving Karchmar
Irving Karchmar
Irving Karchmar is the son of Holocaust survivors who became a darvish of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order in 1992. He has been a writer, editor, publisher and poet for many years. He has an M.A. in Philosophy from DePaul University in Chicago, and has worked on such varied magazines as Hustler and the...
published the critically acclaimed Sufi novel, Master of the Jinn.
Sub genres
Works of Islamic Fiction have been written in several fiction genres. Maryam “Umm Juwayriyah” Sullivan’s teen/adult novel The Size of a Mustard Seed (2009) is the first known Islamic urban fictionUrban fiction
Urban fiction, also known as Street lit, is a literary genre set, as the name implies, in a city landscape; however, the genre is as much defined by the race and culture of its characters as the urban setting. The tone for urban fiction is usually dark, focusing on the underside...
title. Najiyah Diana Helwani’s juvenile Islamic fiction title Sophia's Journey: Time Warp 1857 (2008) has been classified as both a historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
novel as well as science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. The seminal juvenile fiction series Invincible Abdullah and Ahmad Deen are both written in mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
styles.
Short stories
Some Islamic fiction shorts can be found amongst other works in mainstream or special-interest anthologies, such as collections of Arab or South Asian writers, but very few anthologies and venues exclusively feature Islamic fiction shorts and poetry. A Mosque Among the Stars (2008) is an anthology of exclusively Islamic science fiction short stories. Islamic science fiction coming into light The Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA) has produced two anthology titles of Islamic fiction and poetry, Many Poetic Voices, One Faith (2008) and Many Voices, One Faith II – Islamic Fiction Stories (2009). IWA also produces a quarterly online magazine, IWA Magazine (formerly known as Islamic Ink) which features Islamic fiction. Another anthology, Between Love, Hope and Fear published in 2007 by An-Najm Publishers of UK, is a collection of short stories, poetry and essays written by Muslims from around the globe. The American Muslim women’s magazine, AzizahAzizah
Azizah Timimi is an American magazine for North American Muslim women. It is run by Tayyibah Taylor and Marlina Soerakoesoemah....
, regularly features original short works of Islamic fiction and poetry. Damazine is a quarterly online literary journal which publishes Muslim-related fiction (including Islamic fiction), creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service...
and poetry.
Awards
Several Muslim organizations encourage the creation of Islamic fiction and other creative writing by hosting annual awards for Islamic literary arts. The Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA) began sponsoring poetry contests for children and adults in 2005. In 2009, IWA added an Islamic Fiction section for teens and adults to its contest. Since 2006, the Muslim Writers Awards hosts an annual Muslim Writers contest which accepts submissions for poetry, fiction, screenplay and other literary forms, including young Muslims categories. Select winners of the Muslim Writers Awards have their work published at IslamOnlineIslamOnline
Islamonline is a global Islamic website on the Internet providing services to Muslims and non-Muslims in several languages. Its motto is "credibility and distinction." Sunni Muslim scholar....
.
Controversy
There are conflicting views amongst Muslims as to whether reading and writing fictional stories is or is not halalHalal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
(permissible) within Islam. One view is that fiction writing is a kind of story-telling based on lying, which is a sin in Islam. Although not outright considered haram
Haraam
Haraam is an Arabic term meaning "forbidden", or "sacred". In Islam it is used to refer to anything that is prohibited by the word of Allah in the Qur'an or the Hadith Qudsi. Haraam is the highest status of prohibition given to anything that would result in sin when a Muslim commits it...
(impermissible), “abandoning busying oneself with [fiction stories] is preferable” and fiction stories are seen as a frivolous way for a Muslim to use their time. Another interpretation is that fictional stories are permissible and even encouraged for purposes of dawah
Dawah
Da‘wah or Dawah usually denotes the preaching of Islam. Da‘wah literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation", being the active participle of a verb meaning variously "to summon" or "to invite"...
, to help people to learn about Islam, as long as the author has made clear that the story is not true. As well, the writing should be in the style of Islamic fiction.