Muslim women have long told stories of faith, family, belonging and everyday life. Today, those stories can be found across a wide range of books, from literary fiction and contemporary young adult novels to personal memoirs and guided Qur'an journals. These five authors illustrate that range, from an award-winning literary novelist to bestselling writers of Islamic reflections and contemporary fiction.

Each entry includes one recommended starting title, making it easier to discover an author whose work speaks to your interests.

1. Leila Aboulela

Leila Aboulela was born in Cairo to an Egyptian mother and Sudanese father, and grew up in Khartoum. She won the inaugural Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000 for her short story The Museum. Her fiction is often recognised for its exploration of faith, identity, migration and the inner lives of Muslim characters.

Her first novel, The Translator, was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. It follows Sammar, a Sudanese widow living in Aberdeen, who works as a translator for a Scottish academic. As their relationship develops, the novel explores love, religious conviction and the tensions between secular Scotland and Muslim Sudan.

Start with: The Translator

2. Na'ima B. Robert

With a writing career that spans memoirs, children's picture books and young adult fiction, one of her defining contributions has been bringing Muslim women's voices and experiences to the page. Na'ima B. Robert embraced Islam in 1998 and later documented her journey in her memoir From My Sisters' Lips, which also features the experiences of other Muslim women and their journeys towards Islam.

She is the founding editor of SISTERS magazine, a publication for Muslim women, and has written across several genres. Her titles include Boy vs. Girl. In Show Up, published in 2021, she reflects on her personal experiences and draws on the Qur'an, hadith and contemporary thinkers to explore faith, purpose and personal growth.

Start with: From My Sisters' Lips

3. Aliyah Umm Raiyaan

With more than two decades of experience in UK dawah and supporting women on their journeys in Islam, Aliyah Umm Raiyaan has combined her passion for faith with a commitment to helping others. After reverting to Islam in 1999, she founded Solace UK in 2010, a charity that supports women who have reverted to Islam and are experiencing difficulties.

Her writing career took a significant step forward in 2022 when Penguin approached her to write Ramadan Reflections, a 30-day guided journal that went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller. She followed this with The Power of Du'a and Living with the Qur'an, published in 2025, which encourages readers to develop a closer relationship with the Qur'an, one verse at a time. Her forthcoming book, Du'a A Day, features 365 supplications and reflections for different seasons and experiences in life.

Start with: Ramadan Reflections

4. Umm Zakiyyah

Umm Zakiyyah is an American author and the daughter of parents who converted to Islam. Her writing explores faith, identity, relationships and the experiences of Muslims navigating life and spirituality. She has also studied Arabic, the Qur'an and Islamic sciences for more than fifteen years in the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Her first novel, If I Should Speak, was published in 2001 and follows Tamika, a young American woman navigating her spiritual journey towards Islam. The story continues in A Voice and Footsteps, completing the trilogy. Her other novels include Realities of Submission and Muslim Girl, which further explore the complexities of Muslim identity and personal conviction.

Start with: If I Should Speak

5. S.K. Ali

Beyond her work as a novelist, S.K. Ali has played an active role in championing Muslim representation in literature. In January 2017, she created the hashtag #MuslimShelfSpace to spotlight books by Muslim authors and encourage greater diversity in publishing. A Canadian author based in Toronto, she made her debut with Saints and Misfits, which was shortlisted for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award.

The novel follows Janna Yusuf, a Muslim teenager who wears hijab and navigates faith, friendships, family expectations and difficult experiences within her community. Tackling the sensitive subject of attempted sexual assault, it explores finding one's voice, trust and belonging. Booklist praised how Janna's faith remains central to her character without defining every aspect of her identity.

Ali also co-wrote the picture book The Proudest Blue with Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, celebrating faith, identity and the experience of wearing hijab.

Start with: Saints and Misfits