Alexis York Lumbard and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd about the story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Alexis York Lumbard and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd about the story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)          

We have a fresh opportunity to reflect about story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) , At this point Alexis York Lumbard  isn’t  going to speak about her views on her books but she also speaks about Muslim authors today.

Alexis York Lumbard

Alexis York Lumbard is a busy mother and a gifted author of children’s books. Her first book, The Conference of the Birds, retells an ancient classic in a poetic way that is accessible to children. The art found throughout the book comes from the well-known illustrator, Demi. Alexis York Lumbard now has two other children’s books scheduled for publication…

Having noticed a lamentable absence of high quality books for the earliest of readers, she began writing her own stories since becoming a mother in 2005. With a B.A. in Religious Studies from George Washington University as well as years living abroad in other cultures, the goal of her work is to bring the wisdom and beauty of the world’s religious traditions to the eager and gifted minds of young children.

About her life and writing Alexis York Lumbard has written:

“I was born in 1981 on a military base in North Carolina.… My father served in the U.S. Marine Corps for most of my childhood. Like many military families, we moved around frequently. Of all the places we lived in those early years, my fondest memories are of Whidbey Island, Washington. I remember riding the bumpy ferry to and from Seattle and watching with great wonder the many birds taking flight. Little did I know that my very first children’s book, The Conference of the Birds, would involve these feathered friends!…:

“Even when I am not writing there is always something swirling about my mind. I think about stories while playing with my children. I think about stories while washing the dishes. But most of all, I think about stories while reading great books. If I had to choose one author whom I admire the most, I would choose Leo Lionni. I especially love Frederick, the poet mouse with a philosophical nature. Children are little people capable of asking, and reflecting upon, very big ideas.”

The quotes above are taken from a longer piece on her life and work, which can be found on Alexis York Lumbard’s author page on the Wisdom Tales Press web site.

Alexis, her husband, and three children live in Massachusetts

 

Q: I wonder how you converted Islam?

AYL: Thirteen years ago, when I was just 18, my family and I vacationed in Turkey and Greece.  The Greek islands were gorgeous and the Roman ruins were interesting, but once we landed in Turkey, a land so different than my own, I found myself completely entranced. 

I knew nothing about Islam or Muslim culture, but the sacred art and architecture found as such amazing sites as Hagio Sophia and the Sultan Ahmad Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, left an indelible mark upon my soul. 

I remember sitting on the cool stone floors of the courtyard at the Blue Mosque and listening to the adhan. 

While I had no earthly idea of what was being chanted, I felt a calmness deep within.  It was in a sense, the very first time I felt the sacred.  This experience planted a seed within my breast.

At summer’s end, I left my family and went to the University of Oregon.  There, far away from the ties of my past (I had a rather wild youth), surrounded by majestic mountains and verdant forests, I had a lot of time alone—to reflect.  This was the first step.

I was also eager to learn about the world.  I took a course on Africa and Swahili.  Through these two courses, I learned about Islam and Muslim peoples, though at this point, everything was a purely intellectual. 

I did not grow up in a religious household (my family is only Christian in name) and didn’t see myself as searching for a religion. But the more I read about Islamic beliefs, the more compelling Islam became. I also saw great beauty in Islamic practices, especially the centering and purifying act of wudu and the rhythms of prayer that punctuate and perfume the dross of daily life.

I also became close friends with a small, but genuine group of Muslim students.  There were a few African-American brothers, an Indonesian brother, an Iraqi sister, an white-American girl who called herself a “Sufi” and Abdallah, a Yemeni, who was like a father figure to rest of us. 

Around them, their soft and gentle ways, their sincere smiles and sweet friendship, all my previous stereotypes of Muslims and Islam vanished like ashes in the wind.  

Then one night I read Arberry’s translation of Surah al-Fatihah. 

My heart fluttered and I began to cry.  At last my attraction towards Islam went from my head to my heart, and I realized that God was true and Merciful and that I needed Him if I wanted to live a peaceful and purpose-driven life.  Later that same week, I took the Shahada at a barbeque—how American!   

And that was just the beginning.  In the 13 years since, I have obtained a degree in Religious Studies, gotten married, lived in Cairo and Amman where I studied Arabic, and I am now, with my husband, raising three little Muslim daughters and writing children’s books with a hope to bring stories from the Islamic tradition to a broader Western audience.

 

Q: Let me repeat what you've just said "But the more I read about Islamic beliefs, the more compelling Islam became."  Could you elaborate on that, please?

AYL:  Sure.  Well I was very attracted to the Islamic concept of Tawhid, which permeates all of Islamic thinking.  To begin with the simple and central idea that there are many messengers but one God.  Having grown up in the Judeao-Christian world, the only messengers spoken of where those in the bible.  But in my hearts of hearts, I knew that there had to be messengers among others—it never made sense to me that God with ignore the rest of the world.  As many hadith say, God has sent 124,000 messengers all over the world throughout history.   Related to this, of course, is the idea that there are other holy scriptures, though these are no longer intact.

This concept of tawhid permeates all things Islamic—tying all our beliefs and actions to heaven.  This too is tawhid.  For examples, through salat and dhikr, we  tie ourselves to God who is One.  Through charity, we tie ourselves to the rest of humanity and thereby create stronger brotherly bonds.   And there are many more examples.

 

Q: How did you begin the Journey to love the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

AYL: My journey towards a love of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) began by studying his life.  I read Muhammad: His Life Based on Earliest Sources written by the late British scholar and Muslim Intellectual Martin Lings.  This book is a must read.  Not only is it scholarly AND accessible, but it is utterly mesmerizing—you feel as though you are there witnessing history unfold before your eyes.  You feel joy and awe when Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) receives his first revelation, heartache as he faces severe trials and tribulations, and profound respect as you see how he leads his followers in truth and beauty, triumph and honor.  And then in time, all it took was to hear a beautiful hadith about his soft and thoughtful nature or a story which illustrated his wisdom, for a love to grow in my heart.  And now, it is just there, like an anchor, reminding me what truly matters.

 

Q: What made you take up writing for children?

AYL: When I was expecting our second child, I wanted to find a biography of the Prophet in English that I could read to our eldest.  She was very young—only two—so I wanted something captivating.  I soon found that there was nothing of quality for the very young.  In fact, I soon found that there were hardly any good books in English about anything Islamic for children of any age.  So I said to myself, “Well why don't you write it?”

Haa!  How naive was I.  Many people think that it is easy to write for children.  What most people do not realize however is that children’s literature is just like adult literature—it needs to have all the same elements that make for a good story. 

It truly is an art, especially when one considers the unique interplay between words and images in the genre of picture books.

To make a very long story short, I studied Martin Lings book together with the works of  favorite children’s book authors and in a very slow and messy manner, eventually found my “voice.”  It took me many years to learn the craft. I attended conferences.  Joined writer’s critiques. 

I wrote and rewrote my story over and again. It took me long time to shape the story just right.

And now, five years later, having poured my heart and soul into this book, I am very happy to say that it will be released this January (inshallah) as a book app and eBook, available on all major smart phone and tablet devices. I also have a conventionally published book, The Conference of the Birds, also for children ages 4-8.  I heard recently from my publisher that an Arab press is seeking to acquire translation rights.  That would be delightful! 

 

Q: I wonder what made you focus on the story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

AYL: My book is a rhyming poem for ages 4 and up that keeps children hooked page after page with its playful setting of a mother cat and her three kittens at story hour. Through this “story within a story,” (the mother cat is the storyteller) children learn about the miracles surrounding the Prophet's birth, his encounters with the Angel Gabriel and their heavenly journeys, to the struggles and ultimate triumphs he experiences while bringing this new message to his people. Written in a soft, intimate tone, both parent and child will close this book feeling as if they know Muhammad personally.  It is full of love, innocence and adventure, everything a good children’s book should have!  Moreover this story is true!!!

 

Q: The  story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)is much needed in this day as there are a lot of alien and enemy, I wonder how it should be rewritten to be understand well by western people?

AYL: It doesn’t need to be rewritten.  It just needs to be told with purity and simplicity.  The truth will shine on it’s own.

 

Q: I wonder how should Western Representations of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)be faced and corrected.

AYL: I think that Muslims living in the West need to be more involved with non-Muslim communities.  I do not mean in any political sense, but simply in engaging in a simple and friendly way with their non-Muslim neighbors and co-works.  I think the power of sincere friendship and dialogue can peel away at the hard exterior of some non-Muslims, thereby making them more receptive to the true and beautiful nature of Islam and our Prophet. One person at a time—one person at a time for God is with those who are patient.

 

Q: Well, I agree with you that the power of sincere friendship and dialogue can peel away at the hard exterior of some non-Muslims, thereby making them more receptive to the true and beautiful nature of Islam and our Prophet, Haven't you any experiences to prove that?  

AYL: Yes.  When I first became Muslim my family was very concerned.  They never voiced their opposition, but I could tell that they were worried.  But over time they saw the direct effect it had on my actions and personality.  They couldn’t deny that Islam was a positive force in my life.  They now support all that I am and all that I do, Alhamdulillah.  My father, a retired U.S. Marine and a staunch Republican, very proudly displays picture of me (in hijab) at his government work office along with samples of books. I would say that my being Muslim has brought us closer together.

I have seen this happen with friends and acquaintances.  The more questions they ask, the more knowledge they gain and the more they realize that Islam isn’t so different.  They definitely soften.

 

Q: The Prophet Muhammad married Aisha when she was nine. They forget that in those times, girls often got married soon after their menses, what did you add?

AYL: I do not touch this issue in my book.  In fact, I do not mention any of his wives, but there is a very good reason for this.  My book is a picture book written for children as young as age 4. Children this young have short attention spans. They also have lively imaginations. 

This means the book must be engaging and under a certain word count.  In one of my first drafts I thought I might have room to mention his first wife Khadijah and mention that they had children, but then I felt badly, that it would be unfair to not mentioning the other wives—of which there are many.  So I decided to have a singular focus: his role as a Prophet, not a husband, father or anything else. For if there are too many twists and turns in a narrative, a child will loose all memory of what happened in the book two pages ago. Issues pertaining to his wives better suit older audiences, such as middle grade and young adult readers.   

If I were to write biography of our blessed Prophet for a young adult audience, I would simply say that our modern society is so vastly different from the past, especially the time in which the Prophet lived, that it makes no sense to compare the two.  Things were different then.  People were different then. Early marriage was practiced throughout the old world, be it Jewish, Christian or Islamic.

It is a difficult question you raise and I am not sure if even an answer such as this will suffice with people in the West, especially the more secular. And as the Quran says, “Say Allah, then leave them to their vain talk.” (6:91)

 

Abdurrahman: Thank you very much, my sister Alexis.

AYL: My pleasure.  May Allah bless you, your family and readers forever more and a day.  Ameen.