In Conversation with: Mariya bint Rehan, author and illustrator of The Best Dua
Islam gives us the tools to tackle the kind of world-defining big questions, and the smaller every day considerations too. And the book kind of bridges both those notions
Hello and Salam from thesis land,
I hope you are well and still finding time to create – there can be many purposes behind our work, and our words can be a form of bearing witness.
This month’s interview is featuring Mariya bint Rehan, whose essay, ‘On Writing and Critical Thinking’, we shared back in April. Hope you leave feeling inspired to continue working at your craft and not be afraid to be delusion with your aspirations.
Bio:
Mariya bint Rehan. Mariya is a writer and illustrator from London, with a background in Policy and Research and Development in the voluntary sector. She has written and illustrated a children's book titled The Best Dua which is available internationally.
Name: Mariya bint Rehan
Book title: Various articles or The Best Dua; children’s picture book
Genre: Muslim identity/culture etc
Where do you get inspiration from?
As someone who didn’t grow up within a Muslim community, and found Islam relatively later in life, I’ve had a growing fascination with people’s relationship to their faith. Where does that connection come from, how is it cultivated or hindered by their environment and culture at large.
Having children, and finding my feet within some amazing Muslim communities in London, I felt inspired on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s something as small as a comment that sparks a kind of epiphany, other times it’s something that kind of seeps in subconsciously and creates a kind of slow burning realisation of a trend or unnoticed pattern that I want to explore or comment on.
The only common thing I’d say it’s never been – and I pray it never will be – is motivated by a sceptical attempt at clicks or pandering to popular readership. I value the fact that I have always had a very authentic relationship with writing.
Have you always known you were going to be a writer?
Yes, and I find it very strange that it’s the one thing I’ve consistently spoken about wanting to do, for as long as I can remember. There’s something very purposeful about calling yourself a writer, as everyone writes to a certain degree – whether it’s the narratives we fashion in our head, or the one we curate on social media – and so I very rarely label myself as such, and have never mentioned it without having major cringe. But that in itself is self-grandiose as, as much as it can be seen as a heroic or romantic profession, by the same token it can be perceived as rather cowardly. So, my perception of writing, and being a writer, and my own notions of self, are kind of slowly converging in a strange self-realising way.
How did the idea for The Best Dua come about?
It came from a real life moment between me and my daughter that caused a lot of self-reflection. I came to motherhood very shortly after I came to practising Islam, and although it’s entirely cliched to say, faith really shaped me as a mother. It changes the way you perceive yourself, others, and your place in the world. The Best Dua is very much about that; Islam gives us the tools to tackle the kind of world-defining big questions, and the smaller every day considerations too. And the book kind of bridges both those notions – how Islam is a connective thread in our smaller and life-changing aspirations.
What’s your favourite part about the writing process?
All of it. What I love, and what also frustrates me about writing, is that kind of natural element of it, how you’ll write something and be done with it, but you’ll be in the queue in some BDS-approved shop and a random thought will strike you, and it’s like your brain has been spinning this web of narrative that you’re kind of barely conscious of at times? I also like the fact that it forces me into other people’s shoes – like I will always be thinking of the reader and how they might relate to an idea and what’s the best way to do that.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Probably if something’s been edited and published without permission – which has happened twice, but I still remember each instance because the sting of having something out there with your name, that you don’t align with, or that you feel is compromised is very memorable!
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
To quote another cliché (sorry!) that writing from a place of authenticity produces the best results and resonates most with readers. With the massive caveat that I think as humans we find things too close to the bone of reality as uncomfortable, and so I think I’ve learned to temper this by developing a writing voice that is softer? Or at least I try to!
As someone who has taken the non-traditional route, can you tell us a bit about your path to publication?
A long time, and it is a waiting game because the publishing world is slow, and juxtaposed by the instant nature of the digital world, it feels even longer. I’ve written a lot of essays and articles for digital platforms and it’s a totally different experience.
I would say two and a half years in total between idea and publication of my book. My path was one of uncharacteristic self-determination and belief; looking back, absolute delusion. But without that it never would’ve happened
What was your biggest learning during the publishing process?
To be patient and mindful when you’re creating things that will live in people’s home and minds. And of course, always centre Allah.
If you could share one piece of advice with an aspiring writer, what would it be?
Write, write and write some more. Consume the works and ideas of people and things that interest you
Where can readers find your work?
All over the place! My essays and articles can be found on Amaliah and The New Arab to name two, and my book via my website muswellbooks.com
How can readers connect with you?
I’m on twitter and Instagram and can be contacted via my website
Can you tell us about your work at Muswell Books?
It’s kind of the (barely..) political home of my writing – where my book lives, and where I put things like some of the resources I’ve crafted for children and communities
How do you find the next project you want to work on?
Somewhere between Instagram and Twitter – I have some exciting news for 2025 which I hope to be able to share soon!
What’s on your bookshelf?
I live off of non-fiction at the moment, and am struggling to get back into fiction. My book shelves are an homage to my erstwhile appetite for fiction, literature background, and a few of my contemporary non-fiction reads…
As usual, if you found this post beneficial, please share with your family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances!
Till next Friday,
Suad x