The past may be another country for some, but for Muslim kids growing up, the stories their parents and grandparents told them seemed to be from a parallel universe. How could the first nurse be a Muslim or the father of modern algebra belong to the Islamic faith, they are bound to ask.

Don’t look further as Tamara Haque’s book Stories of 20 Muslim Mighty Heroes not only validates those stories, but inspires the readers to become better Muslims so that they can make a name for themselves.

The Bangladeshi-Australian author of this book happened to spend her childhood in Saudi Arabia. Growing up reading books by Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton like hundreds of kids the world over, she wanted to write a book which not only brought the ‘unsung’ Muslims heroes to the fore, but also inspired children. The result was an award-winning book that cleared all misconceptions about Muslim heroes and highlighted their achievements and stories.

The book carries short profiles of 20 great Muslims along with illustrations to give the readers an idea of how they looked, dressed and carried themselves. Beginning from the early days of Islam, the book has information about the first muezzin, Bilal Ibn Rabah, as well as the first Muslim female warrior Nusaybah Bint Kaab, who had fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in wars.

The first female Muslim nurse and surgeon Rufaida Al-Aslamia is there with the Queen Zubeida of Baghdad, wife of Caliph Harun Rashid, who had a big heart as she spent her money to make life easier for pilgrims. Reading about Fatima al-Fihri of Tunisia, the female founder of the oldest running university was as surprising as reading about great minds like al-Khwarzimi, Ibn-e-Khaldun, and Ibn-e-Sina, without whom technological advancements of today wouldn’t have been possible.

Mansa Musa, who became the symbol of enormous wealth, was a Muslim from the African nation Mali, while the person who founded a mosque in Britain was a white British Muslim. The only female leader who ruled the Delhi Sultanate, a female poet from Nigeria and the Library Queen from Cordoba, also get a place in the book and you will have to read it to know their names and feats.

This book also puts the spotlight on the Chinese Muslim explorer Zheng He, who explored the world in the 14th century and impressed all those he came in contact with. Conquerors like Saladin and Mehmet also get a mention along with Malahayati of Aceh, the female admiral, who defeated the Dutch twice in the 15th century.

With the help of maps and a colourful timeline to highlight the era, this much-needed children’s book empowers them with stories of 20 famous and little-known Muslim heroes who were trailblazers. Let them inspire you with their tales of bravery, determination and curiosity, and guide you towards a knowledgeable future.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 10th, 2022