Her novels based on the rare genre of Islamic fiction have sold over several thousand copies worldwide, grabbing bestseller spots in select stores, and her captivating writing style got her some rave reviews. Saudi Life interviewed Riyadh-based Umm Zakiyyah -- author of four published books: If I Should Speak (which has been translated into Indonesian), A Voice, and Footsteps (trilogy) and the latest publication Realities of Submission -- whose work continues to inspire many Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

What is the niyyah (intention) with which you write your books?

I write my books with the hope and prayer that they will touch the hearts of readers and will be a means of guidance to non-Muslims and an inspiration to hold firm to the truth for Muslims. Many times as I’m writing, I supplicate to Allah, saying, “O Allah, make it a guide to those whom You wish to guide, and a proof against those who will not be guided.”

How much is your personal life and experience reflected in the novels?

As a general rule, my personal life is not reflected in my novels. This is because I haven’t yet found my comfort in the autobiographical perspective. However, the spiritual lessons of each book are intensely personal, drawn from both my life experiences and Islamic study. Nevertheless, I think it’s inevitable that some of my personal experiences are loosely connected to the fiction stories. For example, much of the novel If I Should Speak was inspired by my experience of living on-campus as a practicing Muslim during college, and I would regularly be interviewed for students’ research papers on Islam, as the character Aminah was in the book. I’ve also known many people similar to the characters Tamika and Dee -- a Christian searching for meaning and direction in her life, and a Muslim losing her sense of direction due to the pulls of the world around her. In that sense the stories do reflect my personal experiences.

Is breaking stereotypes about Muslim women the aim of your books or is it beyond that or something else?

When I’m writing, I do hope to correct stereotypical information about Muslims, but this is not a major aim of my books. My aim is to present the authenticity of Islam through the lives of those treading the path of Truth. Naturally, in presenting the veracity of Islam, stereotypes will be corrected, but this is not my focus.

From the feedback you get, how do you think you have affected the lives of your readers? Please share with us some of the incidents of those who read your books.

By the mercy of Allah, I regularly hear of how the lives of readers have been touched by my books, which evidences that Allah has answered my prayers that the books touch the hearts and lives of readers. One Christian reader was up all night reading the book and said she was crying throughout the night and began praying to God after reading If I Should Speak. One American college professor said that he had travelled the world looking for a novel like the ones I’d written, only to return to America empty-handed. He happened upon If I Should Speak during a chance-visit to a local bookstore in the city where he lived. Another Christian reader said she began to recite theshahaadah as she read. Muslim readers have said it changed their lives and made them value their religion deeply while realizing the crucial affair of the soul.

You are a revert Masha’Allah. Please share with us what lead you to embrace Islam. This should be inspiring for many of us Insha’Allah.

Actually, I’m the child of reverts. My parents, who had been raised Christian, accepted Islam the year I was born, so alhamdulillaah, I grew up Muslim although most of my family and some of my siblings are still Christian. However, I studied Islam for myself because my parents always taught me and my siblings that we were not Muslims simply because they were; we had to personally accept the religion in our hearts to be considered Muslims. This led me to study, and, naturally, it became clear to me that Islam is the only true religion.

Who are your target readers?

My target audience is primarily avid readers of novels—Muslims and non-Muslims alike. However, I think youth and women tend to relate best to my books although the novels are now becoming popular among men.

Apart from writing books, what else do you do?

I’m a teacher by profession and currently teach English at an international school here in Riyadh. I also do workshops and speeches on various topics, including Islam.

How do you find life in Riyadh? What according to you are its plus’ and minus’? As an indigenous American, I never imagined living outside the United States, nor did I ever feel inclined to as a youth. I was like most Americans, imagining “foreign lands” as they were portrayed in movies and television. However, as an adult, I find Riyadh quite tranquil compared to the States. I love living here. What I love most is hearing the adhaan for every prayer and living around so many Muslims, not to mention living relatively close to Makkah and Madinah. This is a dream fulfilled. The only drawbacks that I can see are based more on natural human faults that exist everywhere in the world than on anything negative about Riyadh per se. I think Riyadh, like all cities in the world, can benefit from putting more effort into better intercultural relationships and in perfecting organizational and business practices so that things run more smoothly.

How would you describe the theme of all your books?

Spiritual struggle as reflected in the lives of real people experiencing confusing circumstances that we all face each day

What are the challenges, if any, you face in your endeavor as a novelist?

I think one of the greatest challenges I face as a Muslim novelist is striking a proper balance between authentic spirituality and an engaging, entertaining story.

What are your ambitions and how do you plan to achieve them? I aspire to be one of the leading pioneers in quality, best-selling Muslim fiction that compromises neither Islamic authenticity nor high literary standards. I also hope that my novels continue to inspire non-Muslims to accept Islam and Muslims to renew their faith. I plan to achieve these ambitions through two means: sincere du’aa, and settling for nothing less than the best.

What according to you are the most important issues plaguing Muslims and what do you think are their solutions?

I think the most important issues plaguing Muslims today are three: One, a personal spiritual disconnect between a person and his or her Creator. Two, lack of knowledge of authentic Islam, as well as a general disregard for seeking it. Three, giving ourselves tirelessly to worldly pursuits while doing, at most, the bare minimum for our Hereafter. In my view, the solution involves three things: renewing our relationship with Allah through thorough, persistent study of who Allah is and what He wants from us on this earth; making the five daily prayers the foundation of our day while praying to our Creator with sincerity, reverence, and deep concentration; and dedicating every waking hour, even those spent in worldly pursuits, to benefiting our Hereafter. And Allah knows best.

What are your upcoming projects?

Right now I’m working on three projects: a novel currently entitled The Hearts We Lost about a young man who lives briefly in Riyadh to study Islam and finds himself conflicted both spiritually and personally upon returning to his home in America; an anthology of my poems, articles, and short stories I’ve written throughout my life; and a memoir tentatively termed Reflections that may include a literary aspect chronicling glimpses of my life from childhood to adulthood.

Her books can be purchased online here.