“It’s a marvel the way Abdur-Rahman blends cultural criticisms and reflections on media into a memoir about the stories we inherit and choose to tell. With quick prose and stunning insight, she skillfully widens intimate family portraits into histories of the American Civil Rights movement. She captures the challenges and triumphs of keeping faith in an ideology, keeping faith in our loved ones. Heir to the Crescent Moon is a deeply personal account of learning to navigate the limitless possibilities of being Black and Muslim and a woman.”—Donald Quist, author, Harbors
“In swift, stunning passages, Abdur-Rahman’s brilliant memoir, Heir to the Crescent Moon, fearlessly and honestly recounts what it is to inherit religion, to embody wisdom, to protect love, and to assume the immeasurable role of daughter.”—Susan Steinberg, judge, Iowa Prize for Literary Nonfiction
“Abdur-Rahman’s debut memoir is like her Abi’s dhikr beads—each chapter is an opportunity to ponder and marvel at all she has to teach us in poignant, gorgeous prose that will make you smile and break your heart, often at once.”—Susan Muaddi Darraj, author, A Curious Land: Stories from Home