I started The Monthly Papers because I consume a lot of books. Novels, memoirs, children’s books- you name it. I’ve been doing so for a while. However, I haven’t found a way to connect the words I was consuming to who I am: a servant of the Most Merciful. In fact, I’ve foolishly worked hard to keep my Islamic identity and the works I consumed separate. It’s always been easy for me to get caught up in worlds that aren’t my own (I’m giving a little nod to the escapist in me). The problem is that for a while now I’ve been feeling lost, in a way, and fragmented. I found it a bit tricky to connect these two worlds, the world of books and the world of submission to the Creator of the heavens and the universe. If you are like me in any of these ways: a Muslim, lover of literature, servant of the Most Merciful, woman, black girl; Welcome! You have arrived at the most welcoming, right place. I pray that you and I find better understanding of ourselves through the words I’ve written. Ameen.
