ramadan readings: returning to the Beloved
this list is my way of answering the offering and call of ramadan — to always return to al-Wadūd, the Most Loving and Affectionate, no matter where we are in our spiritual journey. it brings together non-fiction that’s meant to aid us in that consistent return (al-inābah), and features quranic reflections, duas, examples of good character, and remembrance rooted in the qalb (heart) and divine love, while also serving as a reminder of our duty to resist indifference in the face of human suffering
created by selmuhmm
last updated April, 2026
Comments
I love this list—its name, the selection of books, and the description—so, so much. Jazakallah khair for sharing! 🫶🏽 Have you read all of these books? Do you have any that you especially recommend?
The Martin Lings seerah was one of the first books recommended to me when I became interested in Islam. I return to it nearly every year, but honestly don’t think I’ve read it cover to cover yet. It gives me a lot to contemplate and, in the past, I haven’t always had the greatest focus. Maybe this will be the year! I also have Beyond Bilal sitting waiting for me on my bookshelf. I think this might be a great year for it, since Ramadan is coinciding with Black History Month here in the US this year.
selmuhmmOP
sorry for never replying🥹 i haven't been much on pagebound lately. in addition to having my first official reading slump, i also had to drastically reduce my screen time, so now im back trying to practice self control heh
but thank uuu so much, that means a lot for me!!💗 i haven't read any of the books yet, not even this particular Qur'an translation, but i spent quite some time researching it, so this list is also kind of my "personal curriculum". my plan was to read some of them for Ramadan, but my old notorious reading perfectionist came out when faced with nonfiction books that have topics that are personally important to me, so i hit my slump, and didn't read much of anything😔 but i will give it another shot!!
i have seen the Lings seerah recommended everywhere, so I included it because it seems like it's the most accessible one, so I'm happy to hear that u keep returning to it!! did u read Beyond Bilal any other books for Ramadan?? how was ur month?💗
there’s no need to apologize 🫶🏽 i’m always happy to hear from you! i’m sorry about your slump 😔 i hope you can find many things that are enjoyable again, whether it’s reading or not, and whatever the subject! i did pick up Beyond Bilal early on in the month, but i didn’t really enjoy it. 😕 while i can see where the desire to do so would come from, arguing that Adam (peace be upon him) and other early prophets were Black feels like it makes race into something biological and eternal—true (rather than socially constructed) in a way that feels counterproductive more than anything. i didn’t like engaging with this kind of text so critically and negatively during ramadan, though, so i didn’t finish it. (lol, this is maybe very silly i realize now that i’m writing it out.) i have been really enjoying the other book i picked up that verges on this topic—The Walking Qur’an is super compelling and interesting, i think. he uses an exploration of the history of Qur’an schools in Senegambia to argue that African Islamic practices should be more centrally incorporated into both Islamic and African studies (marginalized in both fields for essentially racist/colonialist reasons). his writing is excellent (even sometimes funny) for an academic text. i want to post a lot more about it now that i have more energy to do so, because i think it would be really interesting to discuss! i haven’t finished it yet, though, and most of my reading this month was more casual (fiction) and not directly related to Islam! the month was, as always, super beautiful (alhamdulilah) in so many ways (the little one learned the word “namaz” and was so excited to participate every time) but we were also sick for so much of it, and energy for anything was difficult. besides the slump, how was your month? 🫶🏽🫶🏽 sending love! (and eid mubarak, though i’m not sure for how long after it’s appropriate to say that. not for very long at all for the other eid, since muharram starts then, but longer for this one?)
selmuhmmOP
aww likewise!!💗
i am definitely getting there inshaAllah!! i started reading goddess of the river today from the spring read-along which i’m very excited about. are u doing the read-along?
also for next ramadan im taking w me that if im not in a mental or physical headspace to properly engage w religious nonfiction that require a lot of cognitive and emotional involvement, i should just accept that during Ramadan instead of beating myself up about it and feeling bad and not reading anything else bc of that!!
also, i definitely understand what u mean by that!! u want to consume things that enhances spirituality and knowledge, not things that lowkey make u type out a critical review in ur head and go into a negative headspace😭 and i can’t believe i didn’t put the the walking quran on my list initially!! it sounds super interesting and ive heard it mentioned so many times, even at uni. also love a witty scholar!!
aww thats so cute mashaAllah🥹🥹 i hope that if i ever get kids they will participate excitedly like that!! i feel like its one of the greatest gifts u can give ur children, happy memories associated w namaz. it will make it sm easier for them to pray as they grow up. my month had beautiful ups, but also a couple of downs, bc i too got sick for much of the month and could only eat dry toast and crackers type of food😭
ooo, how are you liking goddess of the river? i would like to participate in the read-along, especially the cherry blossom one (i wanted to read the murder mystery, i think!), but i’m not sure whether i’ll have the time/energy. i’ve been realizing that the time pressure aspect isn’t very fun for me. sometimes being in super busy forums is fun (especially since most of the books i read have empty forums 🤭) but those will still be there after the read-along. so unless it’s a badge i really really want, i try not to feel too much pressure to read those books at that specific time. very much echoing your intentions for reading during ramadan! i’m trying to remember that it’s also doing the books a disservice to fight through them instead of just waiting to be in the right headspace for them. i’m sorry that you got sick too 😔 it’s going to be rough for us living so far north these next few years that ramadan’ll be during flu/cold season, but alhamdulilah if we’re able to experience them
