
Queer and Muslim
On Faith, Family, and Healing
University of Regina Press
Will be published approx. on 21. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
216 pages
978-1-77940-128-1 (ISBN)
Description
What does it mean to be queer and Muslim in a world that insists you cannot be both?
Queer and Muslim is a powerful collection by and for LGBTQ+ Muslims navigating layered identities across lines of faith, family, culture, and community. With contributions spanning essays, poems, letters to past and future selves, and more, the book explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of queer Muslim life and challenges the perception that faith and queerness are inherently incompatible.
These raw accounts confront the psychological toll of grappling with tensions between religious expectations and queer identity and offer rare insight into the ways mental health is lived, expressed, and supported across diverse cultural and theological landscapes. They tell of building chosen families and reconnecting with birth families, radical healing, cultivating spaces of belonging, and reclaiming faith on your own terms.
In an era of rising Islamophobia and escalating threats to queer and trans lives, the stories contained within Queer and Muslim-stories of resilience, grief, pleasure, rage, and joy-are vital, each of them an affirmation of the multiplicity of queer Muslim identities. Queer and Muslim invites readers to listen deeply, think expansively, and care more courageously.
Queer and Muslim is a powerful collection by and for LGBTQ+ Muslims navigating layered identities across lines of faith, family, culture, and community. With contributions spanning essays, poems, letters to past and future selves, and more, the book explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of queer Muslim life and challenges the perception that faith and queerness are inherently incompatible.
These raw accounts confront the psychological toll of grappling with tensions between religious expectations and queer identity and offer rare insight into the ways mental health is lived, expressed, and supported across diverse cultural and theological landscapes. They tell of building chosen families and reconnecting with birth families, radical healing, cultivating spaces of belonging, and reclaiming faith on your own terms.
In an era of rising Islamophobia and escalating threats to queer and trans lives, the stories contained within Queer and Muslim-stories of resilience, grief, pleasure, rage, and joy-are vital, each of them an affirmation of the multiplicity of queer Muslim identities. Queer and Muslim invites readers to listen deeply, think expansively, and care more courageously.
Reviews / Votes
"Psychologists often speak about neutrality. In practice, neutrality is rarely possible. Our interpretations are shaped by the political and cultural contexts we inhabit. The ethical task is not to remove politics from therapy. That would be impossible. It is to recognise when our reactions are shaping the care we provide" -When politics enters the therapy room | BPS"A vibrant anthology, Queer and Muslim gathers essays and verse from twenty-three authors who reconciled religion and sexuality and traded trauma for good mental health."
"A luminous, soul-stirring testament to queer Muslim resilience, radical faith, and unapologetic healing."
-- Pepe Hendricks, editor of Hijab: Unveiling Queer Muslim Lives
"Queer and Muslim is a raw, vital collection illuminating LGBTQ Muslim lives with complexity and transformative care and a courageous tribute to Muhsin Hendricks' enduring legacy of healing."
-- K. D. Thompson
"A rich, powerful, and compelling anthology, full of timely, unflinching, tender, intimate narratives of LGBTQ Muslim lives and experiences."
-- Wim Peumans
"This collection of personal narratives is both important and full of hope. By adding more understanding to how queer Muslims inhabit their lives, loves, and faith, and by leading us to think about healing and belonging through these stories, this collection provides original and uplifting interventions that aid queer Muslims being seen and heard for who they are, in their own words."
-- Momin Rahman
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Regina
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 127 mm
Width: 204 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
150 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77940-128-1 (9781779401281)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Rahim Thawer (he/him) is a registered social worker, psychotherapist, and author based in Toronto, Canada. Rahim explores intersections of mental health and systemic oppression in his practice and writing.
Maryam Khan (she/her) is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Maryam conducts community-based research with 2SLGBTTIQ+ individuals and communities.
Maryam Khan (she/her) is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Maryam conducts community-based research with 2SLGBTTIQ+ individuals and communities.
Content
Foreword-Imam Mushin Hendricks
Introduction-Rahim Thawer and Maryam Khan
PART ONE. IDENTITY AND FAMILY
Pagal Ke Beta Chaka Ka Ma: Son of Mad, Mother of Fag-Sami Sharif
Wound (Open) Letter to My Mother-Saara
Samajhdaar-Y.K.
The glass from my chest is melting into my toes-Maha Noor
Me My Mama and My Mama's Racism-Ayan Yusuf Karshe
Self-Care? No, Thank You-Maryam Khan
PART TWO. STRUGGLES AND RESILIENCE
Lessons of Resistance-Fira
Fighting the Islamic State and Islamophobia-Nazanin Moghadami
An Overdue Letter to My Inner Child-Adnan Patel
Rethinking Therapy: Building Resilience through Culture and Spirituality-Robbie Ahmed
PART THREE. HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION
Honouring Shame: An Embodied Experience of Queering Islam-Sarah Shah
Psychedelics and Possibilities-S.H.
Party 'n' Pray: A Conversation about Substances and Spirituality-Shafik Kamani and Rahim Thawer
PART FOUR. COMMUNITY AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Trans Wudu-Aaron El Sabrout
The Garden Is My Home-Nathan Viktor Fawaz
Queer Conversations with Allah-Mond Motadi
Is That Muslim?: Building Community in Diverse Ways-El-Farouk Khaki in collaboration with Troy Jackson
Diving Into Allah's Mercy-Elias B.
Clustering Into Collective Care-Amal Ishaque
quasa Meeting Minutes-Nas
Conclusion
Epilogue: Honoring Imam Muhsin Hendricks
Introduction-Rahim Thawer and Maryam Khan
PART ONE. IDENTITY AND FAMILY
Pagal Ke Beta Chaka Ka Ma: Son of Mad, Mother of Fag-Sami Sharif
Wound (Open) Letter to My Mother-Saara
Samajhdaar-Y.K.
The glass from my chest is melting into my toes-Maha Noor
Me My Mama and My Mama's Racism-Ayan Yusuf Karshe
Self-Care? No, Thank You-Maryam Khan
PART TWO. STRUGGLES AND RESILIENCE
Lessons of Resistance-Fira
Fighting the Islamic State and Islamophobia-Nazanin Moghadami
An Overdue Letter to My Inner Child-Adnan Patel
Rethinking Therapy: Building Resilience through Culture and Spirituality-Robbie Ahmed
PART THREE. HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION
Honouring Shame: An Embodied Experience of Queering Islam-Sarah Shah
Psychedelics and Possibilities-S.H.
Party 'n' Pray: A Conversation about Substances and Spirituality-Shafik Kamani and Rahim Thawer
PART FOUR. COMMUNITY AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Trans Wudu-Aaron El Sabrout
The Garden Is My Home-Nathan Viktor Fawaz
Queer Conversations with Allah-Mond Motadi
Is That Muslim?: Building Community in Diverse Ways-El-Farouk Khaki in collaboration with Troy Jackson
Diving Into Allah's Mercy-Elias B.
Clustering Into Collective Care-Amal Ishaque
quasa Meeting Minutes-Nas
Conclusion
Epilogue: Honoring Imam Muhsin Hendricks