If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.
When kids grow up not seeing themselves in books they grow up feeling like they don't matter..
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.
From Law to Literature
After studying Law at university and working in the legal field for several years, I moved to Dubai with my family in 2017. The move marked a turning point in my life, as I stepped away from professional work to focus on my children and settling into a new home. When it was time to return to Scotland, I knew I wanted to move towards work that felt more meaningful. Before I had fully defined what that might look like, I decided to create an Islamic sensory book. My children had always loved touch-and-feel books when they were younger, and I had long wished for an Islamic-themed version of this kind. Sadly, even by the time my children had outgrown them, such books still didn’t exist. So I decided to create one myself. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of the meaningful career I had been searching for. Soon after, I found myself drawn into writing all the stories—for both children and adults—that represented my life experiences that I simply couldn’t find on the shelves. As the saying goes, if you can't find the book you are looking for-write it!
Sana A. Faqir is a Scottish Muslim writer with Pakistani roots. Her writing is deeply rooted in her faith, culture and identity.
She is the author of Join Us for Ramadan, a bestselling sensory board book that invites children to experience the joys of Ramadan through touch and feel. Passionate about representation in children’s literature, Sana writes so young Muslim readers can see themselves reflected in the stories they read. In 2025, she was awarded the PB Rising Stars Mentorship and is currently developing more stories that celebrate Muslim children.
Sana also coordinates the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland, an annual event that brings acclaimed Muslim children’s authors from around the world to Scottish audiences.
Sana believes it’s just as important for adults to see themselves reflected in the books they read as it is for children. With this in mind, she is also working on her debut adult novel—a halal romance set in Glasgow.
Sana A. Faqir is a Scottish Muslim writer with Pakistani roots whose work is deeply influenced by her faith, culture, and identity. A lifelong lover of stories, Sana grew up believing in the transformative power of books—especially the kind that make readers feel seen. Today, that belief forms the heart of her writing for both children and adults.
Before becoming an author, Sana studied law and worked in the field for several years. A family move to Dubai marked a turning point: stepping away from the legal world opened up space for her to reconnect with her creative side. Now back in Scotland with her three children, Sana is pursuing her long-held dream of becoming a full-time writer.
Sana is the author of Join Us for Ramadan, the first-ever sensory board book about Ramadan. A bestseller within its category, the book invites children to experience the spiritual joys of the holy month through touch and feel. Passionate about representation in children’s literature, Sana writes so young Muslim readers can find themselves—and their families, traditions and everyday experiences—on the page. In 2025, she was awarded the PB Rising Stars Mentorship and is currently developing more picture books that celebrate and empower Muslim children.
Beyond her own books, Sana is deeply committed to promoting a culture of reading within her community. She believes that reading for pleasure is life-enhancing for children and adults alike, and that stories are most powerful when they reflect the lives, identities, and emotions of their readers. This conviction led her to found the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland in 2023—an annual event that brings acclaimed Muslim children’s books from around the world to Scottish audiences.
Sana is also writing her debut adult novel—a halal rom-com set between Lahore and Glasgow. As a big lover of romance, she grew up watching rom-coms but rarely seeing someone like herself—a practicing, hijabi Muslim woman—at the centre of a love story. Inspired by trailblazing Muslim authors such as Leila Aboulela and S.K. Ali, she finally decided the time had come to write the story that had lived in her heart for years.
When she isn’t writing, Sana can be found teaching at her local Islamic school, taxiing her kids to various clubs, cooking Pakistani food, or (most likely) ignoring all of the above to curl up with a good book. Some of her favourite recent reads include Good Material by Dolly Alderton, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai and Heart the Lover by Lily King.
If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.
When kids grow up not seeing themselves in books they grow up feeling like they don't matter..
If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.
Celebrating Identity Through Inclusive Literature
Believing that books are most powerful when they make readers feel truly seen, Sana focuses on creating "mirrors" for both children and adults. She is the author of the bestseller Join Us for Ramadan, the first-ever sensory board book of its kind, and was awarded the 2025 PB Rising Stars Mentorship. Whether she is developing empowering picture books for young readers or writing her debut halal rom-com set between Lahore and Glasgow, Sana’s mission remains the same: ensuring that practicing, hijabi Muslim women and their families are at the center of the story.
My commitment to representation in literature goes far beyond my own writing. I’ve always loved reading, and I’m a huge believer in reading for pleasure—for both children and adults. Unfortunately, reading for leisure is on the decline, particularly within the Muslim community. Books have shaped me in so many ways, and I want everyone to experience that same joy. In 2023, I founded the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland. It began with a simple hope: that Muslim children could associate reading with excitement, choice, and happiness. I truly believe that when children are allowed to choose their own books, and when they see themselves reflected in those stories, reading stops feeling like a chore. Alhamdulillah, the book fair has become a space where children can experience the magic of walking into a bookshop and choosing books for themselves—books that reflect their lives, their faith, and their families. Some of the most fulfilling moments for me on this journey have been the messages from parents telling me that their child, who never enjoyed reading before, fell in love with the books they discovered at the fair. Even better, if the book they fell in love with is mine! And this work doesn’t stop with children. I genuinely believe that one of the biggest influences on a child becoming a reader is seeing the adults around them read. Reading for pleasure has so many benefits for adults too and I feel strongly about encouraging it within my community. I’ve organised some amazing author events with Muslim authors such as Aliyah Umm Raiyaan and Aamna Qureshi, aimed at inspiring Muslim women to reconnect with reading. I love getting messages from women who tell me they picked up a book I recommended on Instagram. On that note, make sure you follow me on Instagram for updates on my reading!
Whether you have a question about my books, the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland, or your own writing journey, I’d love to hear from you.
