Creating Fairy Tale Books The Islamic Way

Renowned worldwide for her work in education and storytelling, Fawzia Gilani Williams speaks to Tahira Khan and emphasises the significance of reshaping narratives and providing holistic, values-based education to children.

Inspired through the Qur'anic verse which highlights the Islamic viewpoint on the universal connection among all beings. “Oh people, I created you from a male and female. I made you into nations so you may know each other, and the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed God is all- knowing and all- aware”.

She achieves this through the crafting of diverse books that act as both windows and mirrors, allowing children to see themselves reflected and gain insight into other cultures. Her long-standing work with the Islamic fairy tale series, offers a refreshing alternative to the typical Disney stories by infusing Islamic values and traditions into imaginative tales.

A native of England, she spent her formative years in her home country before relocating to the United States upon completing her education.

Her initial path was toward a career in medicine, following in her parents' footsteps, but her passion for working with young minds led her to shift her focus to education and become an elementary school teacher. Over the years, she held various teaching positions in both the USA and England, gaining valuable international experience along the way. Additionally, she spent a few years working as a principal in Canada.

At the start of her professional journey, she noticed the absence of children belonging to minority communities in children's books. This observation ignited a passion in her to craft stories that reflect the experiences of these marginalised groups, with the aim of fostering diversity and inclusivity in literature. She aspires to close the divide by offering a range of inclusive content that speaks to the hearts of every child, promoting cultural understanding, emotional awareness, and social growth.

She has found joy in creating the Islamic fairy tale series, which includes well-known classic tales. She also writes books on Ramadan. At the moment she is working in the UAE where she has written a number of mirror books for her students and librarians like Come And See the UAE. One particular story that resonates with her is Yaffa and Fatima: Shalom Salaam, which highlights themes of moral strength, kindness, and cultural diversity. Her latest book, The Promise, co-written with Bridget Hodder, beautifully explores themes of hope and perseverance, reflecting the universal values that unite us all.

Mirror books serve as a tool to reflect one's identity. They play a crucial role in the personal growth of individuals, particularly young children. In addition to enhancing language skills, mirror books play a significant role in boosting self-confidence and affirming a child's sense of belonging. These books essentially mirror the child's experiences and identity, covering familiar topics such as family, food, faith, culture, animals, plants, and buildings. By reflecting the child's everyday life, mirror books contribute positively to their development and self-esteem.

Books that act as windows are equally significant as books that act as mirrors. Window books help in cultivating respect and empathy towards various cultures, locations, individuals, beliefs, and languages from around the globe. These books have the ability to make the unfamiliar seem more relatable and understandable. They play a crucial role in educating children about the importance of embracing diversity and acknowledging differences. As children become familiar with the unknown, they are more likely to make positive and inclusive choices, leading to a sense of global interconnectedness. 

Tell us about ‘The Treasury of Eid Tales'?

The Treasury of Eid Tales attempts to, inshallah, address a gap in children's Islamic holiday fiction. It's available as a hardback book and also available as an eBook. It contained fourteen stories some of which have been published before like The Jilbab Maker's Eid Gifts and Kareem and Haleem's Eid Gifts. But most of the stories are new like Sweet Nena Welcomes Eid-ul-Adha, The Sheikh and the Qari, Michael Adam and the Grandfather Carpet, and Rumaysah's Eid Dress. Some of the stories I adapted from well-known tales; for example, The Drummer of Dushang is inspired by The Pied Piper. For The Jinn Who Stole Eid, I drew on  The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The stories promote kindness, social and emotional flourishing as well as moral intelligence. Each one includes a verse from the Quran that aligns with its theme. I include a glossary of terms to help children who are not familiar with the Arabic terms and I also include an explanation of the two Eids.  

What inspired you write this book?

As child, I was an avid reader, yet I never encountered any stories about Eid. Eid is the second largest celebration in the world, yet, there were no books available on Eid. The first Eid story I ever read was one that I wrote myself, called Ama Fatima Celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr. I wrote it early one Eid morning in Ohio as a gift for my young child. This story served as a springboard to write many others, which included, Aminah and Aishah's Eid Gifts, Ismat's Eid, Adil Ali's Shoes, The Lost Ring and Henna On My Hands. In 2015, with over twenty Eid stories, I decided to compile some of them into a collection. I was going to call it Treasury of Eid Tales. Unfortunately, it took a long time to find an illustrator. Eventually, Dr. Sarah Nesti Willard, an art professor, offered to do them. It was a happy moment for both of us when the book was finally published. As a teacher and librarian, I work towards addressing the gaps in Islamic children's literature, inshallah, I try to ensure that children can see themselves represented in the stories they read. This book is one of the first of its kind. Inshallah, it will help fill the gap in the representation of Eid in children's literature.

 Tell us about your fifth fairy tale book?

I am perhaps best known for the Islamic fairy tale series, which includes Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel. Beauty and the Beast is the fifth book in the series, and it is different because I co-wrote it with my daughter. In this version, Beauty is described as a compassionate individual who is always eager to help those in need. She loves to read, invent new things, and has a deep connection to God. While the story shares many similarities with the original tale, there are also significant differences. She has two sisters, Neelia and Ceelia, who are the exact opposite of her in almost every way. One day, a tragic storm destroys her father's ships. He sells whatever he can to cover the costs and compensate for the loss of his sailor friends' lives. Some parts of the story were challenging to adapt in order to make it authentically Islamocentric. This was particularly the case with the Beast. That's all I'll share for now! The book will be available next month, inshallah, and I hope many children will enjoy reading it.

 What else are you working on?

I am currently involved in a few different projects. I'm collaborating with the Islamic Curriculum Initiative, founded by Zeynap Alp of Turkey. We create teaching resources about Palestine – may God bring peace to Palestine and to all who are suffering from genocide and oppression. Additionally, I am working on a picture book titled STOP!. The book addresses the situation in Palestine and envisions a peaceful ending. Using minimal text, the illustrations carry the story. The book aims to inspire and advocate for peace, serving as a powerful call to action to safeguard children and promote harmony for all. Its emphatic message, encapsulated in the repeated plea “STOP!”, reinforces the urgency of its message.

You can view Fawzia's collection series at Kube Publishing: www.kubepublishing.com

Credit: Tahira Khan