between the pages
I had the opportunity to attend this talk by AlMaghrib Institute as delivered by Shaykh Omar Suleiman a week ago in KL, Alhamdulillah, and I will share my notes here ad verbum and highlight the timeless life lessons which I have taken away from it. Please forgive me if there are any inaccuracies - I've … Continue reading The Journey of Salman The Persian by Shaykh Omar Suleiman
This book was my vade mecum when I went for my umrah, or minor pilgrimage, last year. Anyway, I love this book tremendously. I don't think I've ever been so engrossed in reading a biography as I was with this one. Tariq's concise commentary unfurling the history and virtues in concise chapters makes it a joy to read. Was … Continue reading The Messenger by Tariq Ramadan
Reef is a gorgeous, slow-moving story that centers around the life of protagonist, Triston, a migrant worker working as a chef to a marine biologist. The delight in this story lies in the Sri Lankan gastronomy so elegantly described and the recurring metaphor of the water, the sea. Simple, compelling and transported me to Ceylon in … Continue reading Reef by Romesh Gunesekera
The Migration Story of My Late Grandfather, Omar Bin Shariff The edges of the sepia-toned photograph are yellowed and torn. Yet, the muted image endures over the years, resilient through different hands and changing weather - reminiscent of the subject within its tired frame. The man's left arm half-rested on the bonnet; perhaps an afterthought seconds before the click of … Continue reading Tracing My Roots: From Java to Singapura
The Book Jacket 