IWA Establishes Islamic Fiction as a Sub-Category of Adult and Juvenile Fiction

In 2005 and 2006 the Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA), a professional Muslim organization based in the USA with an International membership, took on the work of defining *Islamic fiction and determining the criteria to establish it as a fiction sub-category of Adult and Juvenile fiction. The membership then began the process of identifying published Islamic fiction books that were at that time described as Muslim authored books or children’s books in the Muslim book industry. The Islamic Fiction Books website www.islamicfictionbooks.com was created to list published Islamic fiction books including author names, book titles and when known the locations where the books can be located.

The Islamic Fiction Books web site provides the criteria and definition for Islamic fiction and includes information related to this sub-category of fiction. The web site includes statements from readers of Islamic fiction also. To learn more about the history of English language Islamic fiction be sure to read the information on the web site’s Islamic Fiction Historical Perspective page. For a greater understanding of how books are classified and why read the web site’s Classifying Islamic Fiction page.

The Muslim publishing industry has made no attempt to include Fiction and Islamic fiction as literature in its classification of books written by Muslims. This is the reason the IWA organization decided it was important to develop, define, and promote Islamic fiction for Muslim readers and especially for Muslim students in Pre K through 12th grades.

Not all Islamic Fiction books written and published are included on this site as some Muslim fiction writers are unaware of the work being done to classify Islamic fiction books written by Muslims.

Fiction Main Category:  Adult Fiction or Juvenile Fiction
Fiction Sub-Category: Islamic Fiction or Fiction
Genre Classification: There are many genre descriptions that can be used to help describe the type of fiction story.

The goal of the IWA organization is to gain acceptance of Islamic Fiction and Fiction literature by the Muslim book industry and gain approval from the BISAC Committee for a BISAC sub-category fiction code of Islamic fiction.

*The content on this page is primarily about English language Islamic Fiction.

Islamic Fiction Defined

Islamic Fiction refers to creative, imaginative, non-preachy fiction books written by Muslims and marketed primarily to Muslims. Islamic Fiction may be marketed to mainstream markets, too. The content of these books may incorporate some religious content and themes, and may include non-fictionalized historical or factual Islamic content with or without direct reference to the Qur’an or the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). The stories may also include modern, real life situations and moral dilemmas.

Islamic Fiction does not include Harmful Content: vulgar language, sexually explicit content, unIslamic practices that are not identified as unIslamic, or  content that portrays Islam in a negative way.

Islamic fiction authors intend for readers to learn something positive about Islam and benefit when they read Islamic fiction stories.

Differences in Islamic Practices and Teachings: While Islamic knowledge presented in Islamic Fiction may be taken directly from the Holy Qur'an and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as from Islamic history, not all of the Islamic content in these books will be considered factual or acceptable by all Muslim readers. This is due to differences between a Muslim reader and the writers, editors, and publishers with respect to personal practices, beliefs and knowledge, as well as the influence of his school of thought, culture, and tradition.

Issues Which May Impact Muslim Evaluation of Islamic Fiction Story Content

Islamic Reminder: Determining the accuracy and permissibility of Islamic content is the responsibility of every adult Muslim reader. This may differ according to individual differences in school of thought and practice. All Muslim parents, guardians, teachers, and school administrators must determine whether a book’s content is halal for their children and students. This Islamic Reminder holds true for all materials a Muslim reads.