Stories are powerful. They transport us to new worlds, put us in the shoes of people in different places and times, and they make us hear voices that broaden our perspectives and bring us closer.
This has struck me particularly acutely over recent months as a parent, author and as someone who lives in a Muslim-minority country. The tropes and stories available in the UK about Muslims are limited and offer inadequate cultural insight. This means that it is easy to revive stereotypes about Muslims that trigger misunderstanding and hostility. I started writing precisely to harness the power of stories to build better societies.
There is a power in being able be able to assert your own narrative. Over recent months, Muslims in Muslim-minority countries have attempted to tackle the negativity, such as what the Muslim community had to deal with in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. Similar dark clouds, perhaps even more ominous, seem to loom overhead.
Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Muslims need to think much more creatively and for the long term about how to make a difference and change perceptions. Cultural power is key to this. Making a difference won’t happen overnight, but it is a longer-term project that might take generations.
One of the biggest gaps, and where a big impact can be made, is ensuring more books are written with diverse Muslim stories and these are available to children. This is where the future lies. Yes, it’s a long-term investment, but getting books to a wide a range of children is an important way to change attitudes within society.
Today, the number of UK authors who are Muslim, or from minority ethnic backgrounds, or that feature positive and nuanced characters from these backgrounds are still sadly rare. And in the UK, for example, many local community libraries are closing, and school libraries too often have budget and time pressures to ensure that there are more diverse stories available.
As a pilot to change that, I have been working with a large group of Muslim parents at my children’s school, and in collaboration with the school, on a “Muslim books gift list” with a gift bundle, and I want to advocate for other parents in other parts of the world to take similar initiatives.
As Muslim parents in the UK, with diverse heritages, sharing the gift of stories with schools, our children, their families and communities feels personal. Many of us grew up longing to read stories like these, and longing that others would be able to read them, too, so that they could know who we really are. It is a gift to find ourselves written into a culture we live in, and on our own terms.
I know the power this can have. When I published my first book in 2009, there were barely a handful of books by contemporary Muslim authors speaking about their experiences and perspectives. Starting to put together a list of Muslim authors by mainstream publishers for children today, 15 years later, is an emotional experience because there has been so much progress. There’s more to be done, but giving books to schools, libraries, festivals, furthers an important goal – of changing culture, narratives, stereotypes and advocating for oneself and others.
But there is something even bigger that Muslims, Muslim parents and educators can achieve – and that is improving the chances of all children, especially those from poorer and deprived backgrounds, to thrive.
When it comes to children’s life successes, there is more research coming to light about the transformative role of reading for pleasure.
Reading for enjoyment has a bigger effect on educational success than a family’s socio-economic status. Reading for pleasure also has positive emotional and social consequences. Children themselves recognise this because they choose to read because of how it makes them feel.
By having access to a wider choice of books and seeing themselves represented in the stories and in the authors, we parents hope that this will build children’s positive feelings about themselves and encourage them to read.
The best ever definition I’ve come across of a book is that it is an idea in a story. The idea of a “Muslim books gift list” is for stories to be a catalyst for change in society and for each child to build their own life story.
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
