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Arabian Dreams
Two tales that have have been told and retold for over 1200 years.
Alauddin, a youth from the streets of al-Dhahabiyyah. Badr al-Badour, a princess desperate to protect the legacy of her family. A magic lamp that contains an ancient evil. Will Alauddin and the Princess be able to save the city they love from the darkness that resides at its heart?
Ali Baba and his rich brother have been feuding for years. When Ali Baba discovers the hideout of the Forty Thieves, he thinks he has found a way of outdoing his brother. When his theft comes back to haunt him, will Ali Baba choose family or the gold?
Experience these two stories as they were intended, steeped in the culture of the medieval Middle-East and moral complexity.
Alauddin, a youth from the streets of al-Dhahabiyyah. Badr al-Badour, a princess desperate to protect the legacy of her family. A magic lamp that contains an ancient evil. Will Alauddin and the Princess be able to save the city they love from the darkness that resides at its heart?
Ali Baba and his rich brother have been feuding for years. When Ali Baba discovers the hideout of the Forty Thieves, he thinks he has found a way of outdoing his brother. When his theft comes back to haunt him, will Ali Baba choose family or the gold?
Experience these two stories as they were intended, steeped in the culture of the medieval Middle-East and moral complexity.
360 pages, Hardcover
Published October 9, 2026
About the author
Noor A. Jahangir
7 books25 followersNoor A Jahangir was born and raised in Lancashire, England. He recently completed his Doctorate in Education and holds a whole bunch of splendid qualifications. The Changeling King was his first book. He finished the first draft aged 14 and the final draft aged 30. He is currently working on an Arabian Nights themed trilogy.
Follow me on: @noorajahangir.bsky.social
Subscribe to my podcast Fantasy & Faith on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Follow me on: @noorajahangir.bsky.social
Subscribe to my podcast Fantasy & Faith on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
(Thank you so much for the advanced copy!)
This is a beautiful read. 'Arabian Dreams' consists of two popular fairy tales retold in an authentic Islamic context: 'Alauddin' and 'Ali Baba'. Having grown up watching Disney movies, I only knew the former as represented in the 1992 film 'Aladdin', with the protagonist as a common thief who seeks the appearance of wealth in order to marry the princess he has fallen in love with. Jahangir fleshes him out differently. Alauddin is instead a pious young man living with his old mother, studying the religion of Allah by attending a local madrasah, and carrying the ambitious, beautiful dream of liberating all the slaves of his city. The princess—named Badr al-Bodour in this edition—is a young woman who won't settle for just any man her father chooses; she wants someone of good character. Pious, intelligent, empathetic—she possesses a strength that eventually has her leading a revolution in her city. She is not the shallow kind of princess Disney has often fed us with. She is fierce and loving and clever and courageous all at once, demonstrating the depth and beauty of her femininity as a practicing Muslim woman. I thoroughly enjoyed both POVs.
Now I confess that, although I grew up hearing references to 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', I never read or listened to the full tale before picking up Jahangir's book. I therefore have nothing to compare it to—and all the better! I like that this version is the first I've come upon. Jahangir placed it as a kind of sequel to 'Alauddin', which I thought was clever; seeing Alauddin in action once again after the close of his tale was delightful.
In both stories, the elements of faith are stark and recurring. Characters often invoke the name of Allah, interrupt their journey or task to perform prayer, quote the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), embody kindness and modesty as required by the religion (unless it's a villain we're talking about), and seek forgiveness after sinning or erring. But at the same time, Jahangir does not present all the characters as possessive of the same level of faith. Some are more faithful than others; some find their way to Allah early on, others find it late, and some never do. I thought this was necessary, because the point of Muslim fiction is not to depict us all as one and the same; it is to depict us accurately, and faith is one of those aspects of a person's identity that can fluctuate and change over circumstances, culture, and time.
I thought the stories were very well paced. The fantastical elements were beautifully described and utilized. The villains' motives did not feel forced or exaggerated. There is a good balance between action and emotional depth and character development.
They are religiously authentic, incredibly entertaining stories that maintain the fairy tale charm. A highly recommended read for Muslim and non-Muslim audiences alike!
(Thank you so much for the advanced copy!)
This is a beautiful read. 'Arabian Dreams' consists of two popular fairy tales retold in an authentic Islamic context: 'Alauddin' and 'Ali Baba'. Having grown up watching Disney movies, I only knew the former as represented in the 1992 film 'Aladdin', with the protagonist as a common thief who seeks the appearance of wealth in order to marry the princess he has fallen in love with. Jahangir fleshes him out differently. Alauddin is instead a pious young man living with his old mother, studying the religion of Allah by attending a local madrasah, and carrying the ambitious, beautiful dream of liberating all the slaves of his city. The princess—named Badr al-Bodour in this edition—is a young woman who won't settle for just any man her father chooses; she wants someone of good character. Pious, intelligent, empathetic—she possesses a strength that eventually has her leading a revolution in her city. She is not the shallow kind of princess Disney has often fed us with. She is fierce and loving and clever and courageous all at once, demonstrating the depth and beauty of her femininity as a practicing Muslim woman. I thoroughly enjoyed both POVs.
Now I confess that, although I grew up hearing references to 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', I never read or listened to the full tale before picking up Jahangir's book. I therefore have nothing to compare it to—and all the better! I like that this version is the first I've come upon. Jahangir placed it as a kind of sequel to 'Alauddin', which I thought was clever; seeing Alauddin in action once again after the close of his tale was delightful.
In both stories, the elements of faith are stark and recurring. Characters often invoke the name of Allah, interrupt their journey or task to perform prayer, quote the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), embody kindness and modesty as required by the religion (unless it's a villain we're talking about), and seek forgiveness after sinning or erring. But at the same time, Jahangir does not present all the characters as possessive of the same level of faith. Some are more faithful than others; some find their way to Allah early on, others find it late, and some never do. I thought this was necessary, because the point of Muslim fiction is not to depict us all as one and the same; it is to depict us accurately, and faith is one of those aspects of a person's identity that can fluctuate and change over circumstances, culture, and time.
I thought the stories were very well paced. The fantastical elements were beautifully described and utilized. The villains' motives did not feel forced or exaggerated. There is a good balance between action and emotional depth and character development.
They are religiously authentic, incredibly entertaining stories that maintain the fairy tale charm. A highly recommended read for Muslim and non-Muslim audiences alike!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review