Suma Din - Turning the Tide

Turning the Tide: Reawakening the Womans Heart and Soul

First published in England by
The Islamic Foundation
Markfield Conference Centre,
Ratby Lane Markfield,
Leicestershire LE67 9SY, United Kingdom
email:
Website: www.Islamic-foundation.com

Quran House, PO Box 30611, Nairobi, Kenya

PMB 3193, Kano, Nigeria

Distributed by
Kube Publishing Ltd.
Tel: +44(0)1530 249230
email:

Copyright The Islamic Foundation, 2005/1425 H
Revised Hardback Edition, 2021/1441 H

All rights reserved
The right of Suma Din to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents act, 1988. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright owner.

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available from the British library

ISBN 978-0-86037-758-0 Hardback
ISBN 978-0-86037-729-0 ebook

Cover design and internal design : Jannah Haque
Typesetting : Nasir Cadir
Image Credits : Suma Din
Stock Photography : Fotolia
Printed by : Elma Basim, Turkey

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.

And He it is Who has created human beings from water: then He established relationships of lineage and marriage: for your Sustainer is ever infinite in His power.
(Surah al-Furq a n 25:54)

And among His signs is this:
you see the earth barren and desolate.
Then when We send down water upon it,
it stirs and swells with life.
He Who brings it to life
can surely give life to the dead [of heart as well]
For indeed He has power over all things.
(Surah Fu ss il a t 41:39)

Endorsements

A deeply poignant and meaningful book, that will take the soul on a journey of reflection and spiritual rejuvenation. The verses of the Quran and important life lessons that Suma Din opens our eyes to, will be as soul-quenching for todays generation as they were for the previous.

Sheikha Fatima Barkatulla

Turning the Tide is written in a poetic and gentle way weaving in verses of the Quran and hadith alongside stories from the life of some of Islams greatest female role models. Suma Din does a wonderful job inviting the reader to contemplate their faith in a deeper way through poetry, prose, and supplications.

A. Helwa,

Author of Bestselling title Secrets of Divine Love

Turning the Tide is a lovely book that floats through the various seasons of a womans life with gentleness and joy. Suma Din has collected verses, quotes, poems, and stories into categories that encourage the reader to think about her life stages. Whether you are thinking about birth or death, marriage or youthful energy you will find a lovely wave to ride in this lovely collection.

Dr. Tamara Gray ,

Exec. Director & Chief Spirituality Officer, Rabata

Turning the Tide is an inspirational, empowering book for Muslim Women. It gives an opportunity for the reader to reflect and find her voice. This is much needed in the current times, as many of the Muslim victims I support mistakenly think Islam supports their oppression, which is clearly wrong. It is a brilliant book.

Maryam Cairns ,

Founder of Muslim Survivor of Domestic Violence, Online Support for Muslim victims of abuse

Turning the Tide is one of the most beautifully uplifting books for women of all ages and walks of life. In essence it speaks to the spiritual soul; bringing peace, solace, comfort and strength.

The sections on supplications are truly a nourishing balm for the soul and a source of contemplative comfort for those seeking a heartfelt connection with Allah. It includes a thought-provoking collection of reminders, poetry and soothing verses and quotes from the Quran and Sunnah. You will find yourself reaching out for this book in whatever difficulty or emotional turbulence you may be facing. It will serve as a spiritual guidebook to help one navigate through various stages of life.

Safura Houghton ,

Muslim Chaplain, Founder of The Lantern Initiative

Turning the Tide by Suma Din is a spiritually stirring, intellectually engaging and emotionally refreshing and gratifying work. For it awakens us out of our materialistic slumber to reflect on the numerous, life ennobling signs of Allah, to reorient us to our relationship with our Lord and Creator and to revitalize in us the meaning and purpose of life.

Symbolically and dexterously the story of a womans life is interwoven with the account of water, the source of life. The creative and comforting roles of both are enunciated as Allahs bounties which we should acknowledge with utmost gratitude. This exquisite work serves as dhikr (remembrance of Allah), hamd (praise of Allah) and tasbih (glorification of Allah).

Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai ,
Aligarh Muslim University, Author of the Daily Wisdom Series

16 years ago, I was blessed with the gift of coming across Turning the Tide . I was a new Muslim of 5 years and had given birth to my first child. Reading through this deep ocean of spiritual literary brilliance, I found beauty, comfort and most importantly an invitation to a renewed relationship between my soul and her Lord. My soul had embarked upon a journey in choosing Islam. My body had endured a physical journey in becoming a mother. Turning the Tide was then, and still very much is today, a soothing balm, a celebration of womanhood and a special invitation to worship Allah with excellence.

The call to spirituality flows throughout the book as elegantly as the author has used the metaphor of water. This, coupled with the way the author sanctifies each stage of a womans life, makes it relatable and applicable to all - regardless of age, race or lifes circumstances.

The myriad of voices in each section is gentle, vulnerable and authentic. Through these poetic reflections, the female reader feels understood; her circumstances mirrored through words that depict an honest experience of being a believer and a woman. Turning the Tide doesnt stop there. The authentic experience of the believing woman is honoured and the author then compassionately encourages us to aim for The Most High, Allah, through dua, words from our Lord and advice from His Messenger (saw).

We are provided with a celebration of our unique experience and at the same time we are encouraged to become better, stronger and most importantly closer to Allah. This makes Turning the Tide the deep ocean of spiritual beauty that it is.

Reading it 16 years later, theres so much more Ive taken from it. Im older, my children are older. Im no longer a new Muslim. But Im still a believing woman. Alhamdulillah. Its a book to read at the different stages of your life. I invite all to dive in and be ready to be delighted.

Aliyah Quadri (Umm Raiyaan)
Founder and CEO of Solace UK,
Co-Host of Honest Tea Talk

I read the first edition of Turning the Tide many years ago. The myriad of voices spoke to me then, as a young woman searching for her own voice, and they speak to me now, the voices of so many women, in harmony with my voice. Suma has beautifully interwoven her own deeply soulful voice in this text; words that flow from heart to heart, reawakening the myriad of voices in the reader. A stirring read, a spiritual journey.