Top 10 Tuesday – Series I’d Like to Start/Catch up on/Finish

There is so many books and never enough time to read them all especially when I also want to reread my favourite books so here are some that I really need to finish or start reading!

The Wolf of Oren Yaro trilogy – I loved the first book but I still haven’t gotten round to reading the rest

There Will Come a Darkness trilogy – I only need to read the last book but I just haven’t gotten round to it

A Curse So Dark And Lonely trilogy – Again, I just need to read the last book but I just haven’t picked it up

Jade City trilogy – Once again another book I adore but haven’t finished. Why am I like this?

A Magic Steeped in Poison – I was so excited to read this but I still haven’t even though I preordered it…oops

Redemptor – I loved Raybearer and even reread it to then read the sequel…but then I never did

Chain of Iron – In my head I’m telling myself I will read it closer the last book release date…I am a liar

The House With the Golden Door – I even met Elodie when the book released and I was so excited to read it but I still haven’t…I’m realising I have a problem

Mistborn trilogy – I read the first book a few years ago and absolutely loved it and then the size of the books intimidated me until I never picked them up

Heart of Iron – I love all of Ashley Poston’s books so I don’t even know why I haven’t picked this up yet even though I own the duology…I am a mess

Anyways this prompt has made me realise just how many sequels I need to read so I guess I should pick some of them up soon…I said like a liar

My Favourite Duas

Ramadan is only a few days away and I wanted to share some of my favourite duas to read in my prayers. These supplications have helped me in my most difficult times and I hope they are of benefit to you too.

Dua to read on laylatul qadr:

Allahumma innaka afuw-wun tuhibul afwa fa-fu-annee

O Allah you are the forgiving you love to forgive so forgive me

Ibn Majah

Dua for when something is difficult:

Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altu sahlan wa anta taj-alul hazna iza shi’ta sahlan

O Allah! There is nothing made easy except what you make easy and you make difficult easy if it be your will.

Ibn Hibban

Dua for beneficial knowledge:

Allahumma innee asaluka ilman naa-fi-an

O Allah! I ask you for knowledge that is of benefit

Ibn Majah

Dua for anxiety:

Allahumma inne a’uzu bika minal-hammi wal-hazani wal-ajzi wal-kasali wal-bukhli wal-jubni wa zala id’daini wa ghalabatir-rijaali

O Allah! I take refuge in you from anxiety and sorrow, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men

Al Bukhari

Dua for steadfastness in faith:

Ya muqallibal-qulub thabbit qalbi ‘ala deenak

O Controller of hearts make firm my heart in your religion

Tirmmidhi

Dua for when in difficulty:

La ilaha illah anta subhaanaka innee kuntu minazzalimeen

There is no deity except you, glory be to you, indeed I have been of the wrongdoers

Quran (21:87)

Dua for good in this world and the next:

Rabbana aatina fi’d-dunya hasana wa fil aakhirati hasana wa qia azaban-naar

Our lord grant us good in this world and in the hereafter and protect us from the torment of hell

Quran (2:201)

Dua to ask Allah to accept our worship:

Rabbana taqqabbal minnaa innaka antas-samee’ul aleem

Our Lord accept (this) from us indeed you are the hearing the knowing

Quran (2:127)

Dua for a house in paradise:

Rabbibnee lee a’indaka baytan fil jannati

My Lord build for me near you a house in paradise

Quran (66:11)

Dua for confidence:

Rabbish rahli sadri wa yassirli amri wahlul ‘uqdatum-mil-lisani yaf-qa-hu qawli

My Lord expand my breast for me and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech

Quran (20:25-28)

Dua for repentance:

Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa il-lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lana ku-nanna minal-khasireen

Our Lord we have wronged ourselves and if you don’t forgive us and have mercy upon us we will surely be among the losers

Quran (7:23)

Dua to be steadfast in prayer:

Rabbij’alni muqeemas-salaati wa min dhurriyaati rabbana wa taqabbal dua

My Lord make me an establisher of prayer and (many) from my descendants our Lord accept my supplication.

Quran (14:40)

There are so many more incredible duas and I recommend using the Fortress of a Muslim and also the app myduaa for more duas.

Eid Gift Guide

Ramadan is almost here and then it will be Eid! I always try to make it special for my little cousins so that they grow up loving Eid and not think, as I did when I was a kid, that it is boring. So I wanted to put together a gift guide which will hopefully help you in finding Eid gifts and inspiration for a wonderful fun Eid!

I always like to get my Eid shopping done before Ramadan so I can focus on my ibadah and being my perfectionist self I just cannot leave it too late to buy Eid gifts!

Okay so before I share some of the wonderful small businesses that have some great gifts and even Ramadan décor I just want to share my own shop which has a set of Islamic quotes bookmarks and lots of others. I also sell painted books which are perfect gifts for the bookworm in your life!

My etsy shop is The Tsundoku Chronicles

So here are some of the wonderful shops that I have found!

Ibraheem Toy House – They have such great toys and gadgets for kids!

Anafiya – They also sell really great toys, books and even decorations!

Salam Occasions – I love the home items and cute clothes in their shop!

Noorah Gifts – They have some great gifts for both kids and adults. I love their frames and mugs!

Sahih Gifts – They have wonderful gifts for everyone in your family!

Every Cloud Silver Lining – I love their beautiful range of home décor and kids items

Start With Bismillah– They have such beautiful prints to decorate your house with and make wonderful gifts

Oh Panda Eyes – Beautiful bookish jewellery for the booknerd in your life

Your Muslim Gift – I love their décor items both for Eid and Ramadan!

Habibi Arabic Shop – I love their items so much! Some really great and unique items!

Kube Publishing – My one stop shop for all of my Islamic books both for adults and kids!

So here are a few of the wonderful shops that have some wonderful unique items that will make great gifts for all your family and friends. I hope you can find some great gifts!

PS. Don’t forget to treat yourself!

If you know any other great small businesses, then do share!

What Made Me A Reader – World Book Day 2020

Was there a book you remember reading that made you the bookworm that you are now? I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. But I remember that reading The Magic Faraway Tree was what cemented my love for reading. I read that book so many times that I can still remember parts of the book and the illustrations even though I haven’t looked at the book in years.

I remember my parents taking all 5 of us sisters to the library every Saturday morning and me basically just spending hours there reading and finding new books to fall in love with. I found so many of my favourite childhood books in the library. From The Secret Seven, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, Cirque Du Freak and so much more. All 5 of us sisters are readers now because of how much time we spent around books.

Our parents are also readers so that I also helped us to become readers as books were always part of our life. Our parents books filled our house and my parents house has bookcases upon bookcases in every room and we still moved our parents older books in the attic as they don’t read as much now as they used to so we could make space for our books.

As all 5 of us were readers and have similar tastes in books we would discuss books together and especially us 3 older ones as teens would all fight over who would get to read the single copy our dad bought us first. I won because I am the oldest (it’s one of the few privileges the eldest has and I took full advantage). We fangirled about Harry Potter in our teens and discussed theories and had heated debates about our favourite characters.

Even now as we all read similar books we will still stay up late discussing and arguing about books and have all the bookish discussions. It’s like having our own book club. We also recommend (read: force) each other to read our favourite books so we can discuss it with them and we go to book events together and YALC too.

I know that for me being surrounded by books and growing up having my sisters to discuss books with has made me the reader that I am.

Bookish Pet Peeves

I know all booknerds have pet peeves when it comes to books so I thought I would share mine because sometimes I just want to scream when I see them!

1 Cover changes mid series – This makes my perfectionist heart so unhappy. I just want my covers to match is that too much to ask?! I hate how they look when the covers don’t match!

2 When books in the same series aren’t the same height – Look if you’re going to change the covers at least keep the books the same height! Why must the height of the book be changed?! I need them all level on my shelves or I am perpetually irritated every time I look at them sitting there uneven on my sheves!

3 The first book is released in hardback and the rest in paperback – Please stop doing. My heart can’t cope with the distress it causes me

4 ‘Stickers’ on books – You know the kind, the one that looks like a sticker but is actually permanently on the book. Those fake stickers are the worst. In fact all stickers should be banned from books because the stress of trying to take one off a book without running it is real

5 When someone (my husband) decides to talk to you as soon as you start reading – It’s worse when I’ve been chilling with them and they don’t say anything and then as soon as I start reading they (he) HAS to have some lengthy discussion

6 Spoilers – Look I know if the book is several years old there will inevitably be spoilers but for the love of god stop posting spoilers of books that have literally been out for a day

Anyways these are my bookish pet peeves! Writing this post was more cathartic than I thought it would be. Tell me some of your bookish pet peeves!