Through her struggles, readers gain insight into the complex emotions and experiences that come with loss and tragedy. Asmaa recounts the days, months and years following her husband’s sudden loss and how the verses from the Quran and the deep refections helped her. One of the most powerful aspects of “A Temporary Gift” is the way it explores the intersection of faith and grief. It is a reminder that beyond the pain and darkness of loss, there is still the potential of light in patience and constancy. This book is about re-learning how to live in the face of immense trauma. ‘A Temporary Gift’ is a record of journal entries written by Asmaa Hussein, following the death of her husband Amr Kassem. As Kassem returned home to his family, an Egyptian army sniper shot and killed him, leaving a woman widowed and a child fatherless.

On Friday, August 16, 2013, twenty-six-year-old Amr Kassem attended a peaceful protest in Alexandria, Egypt along with thousands of others, rallying against the mass injustices taking place in the aftermath of the coup d’etat by the Egyptian military under the command of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. She is also the founder of the publishing company, Ruqaya’s Bookshelf, which publishes fun and unique Islamic children’s storybook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Īsma Hussein is a Canadian author and blogger who has written extensively on topics related to faith, identity, and community.

Welcome to the latest instalment in our series on A-Z inspirational reads for Muslim women! In this post, we’ll be exploring Asmaa Hussein’s “A Temporary Gift,” a powerful novel that explores the themes of grief, loss, and resilience.

A temporary gift asmaa hussein pdf