8 books to bring your heart closer to Allah ﷻ
1
Big Little Steps
Self-help
Faith
Mathilde Loujayne · 238 pages
Born from Loujayne's desire to explain her conversion to Islam to her mother, this book walks through grief, high school, work, marriage, and motherhood — addressing the concerns many women face as they take big, small steps toward a balanced life and a glowing heart in Islam.
"Take one step towards me, I will take ten steps towards you." — Hadith Qudsi
"Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty." — Muslim
2
The Power of Du'a
Faith
Aliyah Umm Raiyaan · 272 pages
A deeply moving guide to personal supplication, drawing on the Qur'an and Sunnah. Real-life stories of transformation sit alongside practical tools to prepare your heart with sincerity — and to trust in His perfect plan.
"He cares for you through the days and nights when you are not calling out to Him. So imagine, then, the way Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem deals with you when you do."
3
A Beautiful Homecoming
Self-help
Women
LaYinka Sanni · 175 pages
For the Muslim woman who has become buried beneath her labels — mother, wife, daughter, employee — and wants to reconnect with who she truly is. Drawing on her work as a transformation coach, Sanni offers a powerful love letter from one striving woman to another.
"Your worth isn't based on what you have or what you do. Your value is intrinsic. It lies within you, not outside you."
"You are one of the signs of the Most High. Yes, you. All parts of you."
4
The Heart of the Qur'an
Faith
Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam · 118 pages
A well-researched commentary on Surah Yasin, written in clear English and complete with diagrams. Profound and accessible, it highlights the nuances of the Qur'an's language and points readers toward practical changes they can make in their lives.
"Just like leaves are made to tremble by water droplets, so too does the Qur'an make the hearts of believers tremble in reverence."
5
Builders of a Nation
Women
Faith
Haifaa Younis · 112 pages
A glimpse into the lives of thirty-seven remarkable women in Islamic history — from the household of the Prophet ﷺ to female scholars and companions. Their stories remind us how deeply women have shaped our deen, and how much we owe them.
"The best of the world's women is Maryam (in her lifetime) and the best of the world's women is Khadijah (in her lifetime)."
6
Prosperity with Purpose
Finance
Women
Nausheena Hussain · ~204 pages
Muslim women received just 0.2% of capital funds in a single year — Hussain's answer isn't to seek more of those funds, but to become the ones distributing them. A practical, spiritually-grounded guide to building an abundance mindset and a halal financial life.
7
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
Fiction
Zoulfa Katouh · 464 pages
A love letter to Syria and its people. Set amid the Syrian Revolution, this novel follows Salama — a pharmacy student turned hospital volunteer — as she navigates loyalty, survival, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. For fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea.
"We fight while we're still here, Salama, because this is our country. No country in the world will love you as yours does."
"It's not a war, Salama. It's a revolution."
8
Jannah, Home at Last
Faith
Omar Suleiman · 254 pages
A reminder that this world was never meant to be our paradise — and that knowing what awaits makes every difficulty more bearable. Suleiman paints Jannah with warmth and longing, inviting us to build it through our deeds and decorate it through our du'as.
Have you read any of these? Tell us which one you're picking up first in the comments below.
— or join the Once Upon a Chai book club (second edition is open!)
