Book Reviews – July 2011

Title: “Gems and Jewels”
Author: Abdul Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Darussalam Publishers and Distributors
Available at: Darussalam outlets
Do you want to peruse an interesting book that is dotted with captivating incidents in the form of short stories? Are you tired of books written in heavy language? If that is the case, “Gems and Jewels” is the book for you. It contains loads of stories that are short, to the point and extremely light to read. Reflecting the life of the Prophet (sa), his companions and their noble predecessors, these incidents will hold your interest from the first to the last page. This is an ideal book to read while travelling or before bedtime. An audio DVD is available for the younger readers as well. If you want to opt for the Urdu version, the title is “Sunehray Awraaq”.

Title: “Women Around the Messenger”
Author: Muhammad Ali Qutb
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
Available at: Dawah Books, DHA, Karachi
This book details the life and times of the various female family members of the Prophet (sa) as well as the female companions around him. The different sections in this book include the mothers, the wives and the daughters. It is significant to note that the author has beautifully presented all the personality traits as well as the incidents. This book is a delight to read, because it not only provides knowledge about our history, but also presents some inspiring female role models for us to emulate.

Title: “The Youth in Islam”
Author: Dr. Wahba Zahaili
Publisher: Darul-Ishaat
Available at: Darul-Ishaat, Urdu Bazaar, Karachi
It is quite unfortunate that very few books are written to address the youth. This book is one of the very few, which sheds light on the importance and role of the youth in the betterment of society. The first section deals with how parents need to set the right stage for youth through proper upbringing from childhood. The second section deals with the youth itself. The second segment deals with the importance of youth and specific Islamic commands for the youth. This is a brief, yet very enlightening read.

By Hafsa Ahsan