Turning the Tide

16 years ago, I was blessed with the gift of coming across Turning The Tide. I was a new Muslim of 5 years and had given birth to my first child. Reading through this deep ocean of spiritual literary brilliance, I found beauty, comfort and most importantly an invitation to a renewed relationship between my soul and her Lord. My soul had embarked upon a journey in choosing Islam. My body had endured a physical journey in becoming a mother. Turning The Tide was then, and still very much is today, a soothing balm, a celebration of womanhood and a special invitation to worship Allah with excellence.

The call to spirituality flows throughout the book as elegantly as the author has used the metaphor of water. This, coupled with the way the author sanctifies each stage of a woman's life, makes it relatable and applicable to all - regardless of age, race or life's circumstances.

The myriad of voices in each section is gentle, vulnerable and authentic. Through these poetic reflections, the female reader feels understood; her circumstances mirrored through words that depict an honest experience of being a believer and a woman. Turning The Tide doesn't stop there. The authentic experience of the believing woman is honoured and the author then compassionately encourages us to aim for The Most High, Allah, through dua, words from our Lord and advice from His Messenger (saaw).

We are provided with a celebration of our unique experience and at the same time we are encouraged to become better, stronger and most importantly closer to Allah. This makes Turning The Tide the deep ocean of spiritual beauty that it is.

Reading it 16 years later, there's so much more I've taken from it. I'm older, my children are older. I'm no longer a new Muslim. But I'm still a believing woman. Alhamdulillah. It's a book to read at the different stages of your life. I invite all to dive in and be ready to be delighted.

Aliyah Quadri (Umm Raiyaan) Founder and CEO of Solace UK Co-Host of Honest Tea Talk