Reviews

I was blessed with the gift of coming across Turning The Tide. I was a new Muslim of 5 years and had given birth to my first child. Reading through this deep ocean of spiritual literary brilliance, I found beauty, comfort and most importantly an invitation to a renewed relationship between my soul and her Lord. My soul had embarked upon a journey in choosing Islam. My body had endured a physical journey in becoming a mother. Turning The Tide was then, and still very much is today, a soothing balm, a celebration of womanhood and a special invitation to worship Allah with excellence. The call to spirituality flows throughout the book as elegantly as the author has used the metaphor of water. This, coupled with the way the author sanctifies each stage of a woman's life, makes it relatable and applicable to all - regardless of age, race or life's circumstances. The myriad of voices in each section is gentle, vulnerable and authentic. Through these poetic reflections, the female reader feels understood; her circumstances mirrored through words that depict an honest experience of being a believer and a woman. Turning The Tide doesn't stop there. The authentic experience of the believing woman is honoured and the author then compassionately encourages us to aim for The Most High, Allah, through dua, words from our Lord and advice from His Messenger (saaw). We are provided with a celebration of our unique experience and at the same time we are encouraged to become better, stronger and most importantly closer to Allah. This makes Turning The Tide the deep ocean of spiritual beauty that it is. Reading it 16 years later, there's so much more I've taken from it. I'm older, my children are older. I'm no longer a new Muslim. But I'm still a believing woman. Alhamdulillah. It's a book to read at the different stages of your life. I invite all to dive in and be ready to be delighted.

Aliyah Quadri (Umm Raiyaan) Founder and CEO of Solace UK Co-Host of Honest Tea Talk

‘Through the water metaphor, Suma Din takes us through cycles and scenes of life, confidently moving along like the steady trickling stream of clear and soothing water, from the beginning of life in the womb, through childhood to old age. The book aspires, as says the subtitle, to “reawaken the woman’s heart and soul”, but I expect that in here sisters and brothers alike will be able to quench some of their thirst for comfort and guidance towards a deeper understanding of the simple and infinite wisdom of God’s words. Each of the book’s ten chapters offer poetic reflections on the eternal problems of life, short streams of thought that we all can relate to, thoughts that are familiar yet fresh in the way the author shares them with her readers. Each of these Myriad Voices introduces one or two of God’s magnificent names, leading on to a careful selection of Qur’anic verses and ahadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him), before the message is exemplified in a brief, yet accurate and rich rendition of the essential examples of great Muslim women, from the Pharaon’s wife Asiya to the Prophet’s wives, Khadija and Aisha, his daughter Fatima (peace be upon them), and several other notable women. I expect young and old readers, female and male, will turn to this book and find themselves wishing to not come ashore again.’
Dr. Kristin Kanzari, Researcher in Gender Studies

This is a beautiful, valuable and inspiring book, and once I started to read it I could not put it down. Women who have been brought up with dull rote-learning of the faith, a preoccupation with rules and regulations that do not begin to touch the heart, and a struggle to cope with a foreign language and numerous technical terms, will find this book a real 'turning of the tide.' The journey from the innocence of a newly-created soul to the anticipation of the soul preparing to return to its Maker, is a journey of hope, love, encouragement and faith. An excellent book.
Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood

‘The book is structured according to the ages of woman, and accompanies each age with beautiful and appropriate imagery linked to water, ‘reflecting facets of our selves as well as reminding us of God’s miracles surrounding us’. The English is clear, simple and readable, even in the translations of Qur’an and Hadith. The author shows remarkable understanding of all the stages of woman’s life, including those she herself has not yet reached. For me one of the best was her treatment of ‘The Heart’ but the chapters on marriage, childbearing, health, and ‘The Age of Wisdom’ (over sixty according to one ‘voice’), are equally good and useful in providing a clear framework of values for women in today’s confused world, where they are expected to be all things to all people. … by the time I had finished I felt that perhaps an inner eye really had been opened and that I could look at the world with a new sense of life and wonder.’
Harfiyah Ball Haleem, Author and Researcher.

‘Islam from the woman’s point of view; presents the real meaning and purpose of life according to Qur’an and Sunnah; recommended highly for all truth – seekers in general and women in particular. Wishing the book every success.’
Maryam Jameelah, Author, Essayist, Journalist.

‘Turning the Tide is akin to a handbook for the development of Muslim women, reminding them of their rights and responsibilities. It is a fresh perspective on the lives of Muslim women through the passage of time. The lessons are enhanced through the use of water, the source of all life, as a metaphor. Through reading and absorbing the messages in the book, Muslim women are exposed to lessons which assist them develop the courage and confidence to embrace their role with humility, dignity and contentment.’
B. Aisha Lemu. Former National President of the Federation of Muslim Women's Associations of Nigeria