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Reading this with the author, Dr Yakoob - one of my fav teachers from my time studying in Istanbul.

Amazing book, everyone needs to read this!

My second attempt to read Shadows of Strangers again stalled - it’s just so so heartbreaking to read about the brutal persecution of Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition - so I picked this up as a counterbalance loll. It’s cute, a bit boring and preachy at times but full marks for the bookish vibe.

انتهى رمضان، جعلنا الله ممن طهر فيها من الآثام، ولا أخلانا من فضل القبول، وختم الله لنا ولجميع أهل الملة الحنفية بالوفاة على الإسلام، وأوزعنا حمدا يحق هذه النعمة وشكرا، وجعلها للمعاد لنا ذخرا، إنه الحنان المنان

Honestly blown away by how the last 10 nights of Ramadan used to be observed in Makkah - khatm of the Qur’an by a different memoriser during every odd night, TAWAF between every 2 raka’at of tarawih, the outpouring of love & emotion, the collective du’as! 🥹 I wishhhhhh…

One thing I LOVE is the du’as that Ibn Jubayr makes - so constantly & soo beautifully!

عرّفنا الله عادته الجميلة من التيسير وحسن المعونة بمنّه
🥹

والحمد لله الذي أرانا عظيم قدرته، ثم تلافى بجميل رحمته ولطيف رأفته، حمدًا يكون كفاءً لمنّته ونعمته
^ after getting through a storm at sea

Ibn Jubayr completed his hifdh during this journey!!! How incredible is that, such dedication! And now I feel even more connected to him - can totally imagine him revising and reciting the Qur’an throughout his travels subhanAllah 🥹

My Ramadan read this year is this incredible Rihla from the 6thC AH, written by the Andalusi scholar, poet & geographer Ibn Jubayr on his way to Hajj.

I’ve just finished reading the 1st stage of his journey - from Granada to Alexandria by sea, & then south through Egypt (which was ruled at the time by none other than Salah Al-Din!! RA), coming to the port city of ‘Aydhab & then across Bahr Fir’awn to Jiddah.

beautiful

What a shame. This was going so well, until -

“the slothful Asiatics”

“and taught her to aspire to higher powers of intellect, and an independence of spirit, forbidden to the female followers of Mahomet.”

Vile.

Guillermo del Toro made me pick this up

One of the most beautiful openings to a book I’ve ever read. Absolutely enchanting!

Ramy >>>>>>

i can already feel this has the potential to become my fav book ever

Getting through this SO slowly because every sentence sends me off into further reading and research. Just got to Ibn Al-Qasim reaching my ends in Southern Punjab!!

Currently going though the painful dilemma of wanting to know what happens next whilst also wanting the book never to end 🙃🙃🙃