Issue #25

Assalaamualaikum & hello everyone!

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It's been a year since my last email! A lot has happened in the meantime.
I'll start with the announcements and then recap other milestones along the way inshaAllah.

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   I wasn't informed when it was coming out so it's a surprise to me too. I also haven't seen the final cut but inshaAllah it will be good! You can watch it here: https://www.mewatch.sg/show/Skuad-Cilik-29475
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   If you're watching it later (like I would), I should be on Season 5, Episode 4.
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   We’re grateful to have Ameera Aslam, who saw LAS through our fledgeling days, and talented local musician, Ahmadul Amin!
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   More about our features:
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   Ameera Aslam is a writer, poet, activist and writing coach. Desiring Light, her first poetry anthology, won the Daybreak Press Book Awards in 2021 and her second poetry collection, These Ramadan Lights, was launched at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2023. Her third book, and first non-poetry collection, When You Think You Are Falling, was published in 2024 and has appeared on several bestseller lists including Wardah Books (Singapore), MPH (Malaysia), and The Straits Times (Singapore).
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   Ahmadul Amin is an independent singer-songwriter and musician. His music is sure to sweep you into new experimental soundscapes with dream pop and lo-fi vibes that soothe the soul, and stays rooted in traditional Malay music.
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   Friday, 17 October 2025, 8.10-9.35pm (registration opens at 8pm!)
   Wardah Books, 58 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199474
   Tickets/open mic*: tinyurl.com/LASOCT25​
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   *Open mic slots reserved for Muslim acts - only 5 open mic slots available! Confirmed open miccers will be refunded their ticket fee."

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I'll share the other updates below.
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How have you been?
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Xx,
Ameera
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PS: I know there isn't much on vulnerability in this email. Though it seemed that this past year was filled with podcasts and awards and progress (and it did alhamdulillah!), I also experienced one of the biggest heartbreaks. I'll save that for another email next time. Life be life-ing.

Updates & Things to Check Out

I submitted a poem titled "Conversations with a Saint" to The Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore Ecstatic Poetry Prize 2025. Although I didn't win top three, I was honoured that it was shortlisted (among over 500 entries)! Alhamdulillah.
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You can read it here. (And you'll understand why I used a gif of a sheep.)

I was on Nura J's Hidden Pearl Podcast. You can watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify.

Back in February, I received the Synergy Award for Islamic Non-Fiction—an award recognizing "collaboration, dedication, and a commitment to raising the standard of excellence in this genre".
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You can read more about it here.

I was beyond honoured and grateful to be involved in one of the most beautiful and meaningful projects of my life this past Ramadan!
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Please watch this 30-episode Docu-series on the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam here, follow us on Instagram here, and sign up to the newsletter here. If you've ever trusted me on anything, trust me on this one. This will change your life.
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On that note, Ramadan is in 4 months! Allahumma ballighna Ramadan!

I can't embed the post here but I hope you click through to watch it. I mean, everyone else has already said what needs to be said I think. And I know so many of us are grieving the murder of Ash-Shahid Saleh al-Ja'farawy. </3 The only consolation is that he attained martyrdom as he had wished for. May Allah raise his ranks and grant comfort and a great reward to his family and loved ones, ameen.