Animated picture capturing field of yellow flowers with an elevated cliff overlooking the sea during sunset. A female with a headscarf covering is standing on top of the cliff facing the sea. Her wheelchair is situated behind her. Picture includes a text on the top that reads ‘that lives life with physical disabilities.’ Logo of Sa’diyya Nesar’s name is above this picture with text that reads ‘author, speaker, and poet.’
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sa’diyya Nesar is a TEDx speaker, poet, and author of Hearts that Remember and Strength from Within. Born with muscular myopathy, her work delves on her life with physical disabilities, and deriving strength from adversities. She previously received her Bachelors in English Language & Literature from Hong Kong University and pursued her Islamic studies at Cambridge Islamic College. She wrote for a variety of outlets, including the HuffPost, SISTERs magazine, Muslim Matters, and Malaysia's Qalby app. She is Hong Kong's RESOLVE’s social justice 2020 fellow for ‘DisABILITIES & Empowerment: less assumptions, more conversations.’ She directed 'Women in Islam' and 'Community Care in Islam' events in Hong Kong's Muslim space, and was an occasional speaker at the international annual 'Healthy Muslimah Summit,' and 'Disability & Islam' conference.
Join Sa'diyya’s mailing list and follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to get up-to-date releases and offers.
ABOUT HER BOOKS
Hearts that Remember
Book cover of ‘Hearts that Remember’ authored by Sa’diyya Nesar consists of the book title written on a crumpled textured red heart with the subtitle ‘is there rest and relief for this tired heart?’
Hearts that Remember calls readers to let go of the pursuit of perfection to make room to embrace our imperfections as human beings. Sa’diyya draws from her life with a physical disability and shares how disability pushed her to reflect on life’s purpose, navigate her emotions, and deal with marginalization that is ultimately fueled by modern day’s pursuit of perfection. She shares how her heart ultimately found sanctuary through the remembrance of God, especially upon reflecting on His 99 attributed names, depicted in Islamic tradition.
Hearts that Remember is a safe-space for all readers to find sanctuary and rest. It is a chance to also learn on Disability & Islam based on the author’s intersectional life experience. Sa’diyya, throughout the book, includes poems on some of Allah (SWT)’s—monotheistic God—attributed names to put life in perspective.
The journeying through Allah (SWT)’s attributed names inadvertently shows readers that Allah (SWT)’s definition of success, beauty, and acceptance might be different to society’s latest trends. The chase towards the latest trends can lead us at a greater risk of loneliness, loss of direction, and hurt. This is the breeding ground of restlessness. Hearts that Remember, therefore, encourages readers to remember their authentic selves and life’s purpose for their hearts to rest. The book also has the underlying theme of remembering our vulnerable within the community for our hearts to collectively grow.
Strength from Within
Book cover of ‘Strength from Within’ authored by Sa’diyya Nesar consists of yellow flowers growing in the midst of book title. The subtitle of the book is ‘personal insights on how to cope, grow, and flourish during life’s trials based on my life with physical disabilities.’ The book cover is against a blue-benched backdrop with yellow flowers at both sides.
Strength From Within is about transforming our fears into courage and discovering the hidden potential that was always deep within us. It is about turning the hurdles in our lives - whether they be external or internal - into stepping stones of success.
This book was written to uncover the hope and beauty that can be found beneath life’s trials, especially through deriving lessons from the stories of the prophets. It provides a new perspective on strength, loss, and potential based on the author’s life with physical disabilities. Strength From Within is a guide for readers to discover how to live and flourish in this life without allowing life to pin us down. It is a guide of how to unleash our hidden treasure - our strength from within.
STRENGTH FROM WITHIN IS COMPLETED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED BY 2024, IN SHA ALLAH.
CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF THE FIRST CHAPTER!