'Between History and Story: Writing Islamic Creative Nonfiction' with Shaykha Fatima Barkatulla

Between History and Story: Writing Islamic Creative Nonfiction

How can Muslim writers bring historical figures vividly to life while remaining faithful to both the source material and Islamic principles? Drawing on her experience of writing Khadijah: Islam’s First Lady and her new biography of Aisha (ra), Shaykha Fatima Barkatulla will explore the creative possibilities and ethical responsibilities involved in transforming classical sources into compelling narrative nonfiction for contemporary readers.

Fatima will be in conversation with children’s author and translator Gamze Özdemir, discussing how she researches historical figures, shapes complex lives into narrative, writes for today’s readers, and balances storytelling with faithfulness to the sources.

Programme:
6:00pm Doors open
6:30pm Conversation with Shaykha Fatima Barkatulla and Gamze Özdemir
Followed by audience Q&A, book signing, book sales and refreshments

Date: Friday 16th October 2026
Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm (doors 6:00pm)
Entry: Free, booking required
Age: 16+
Venue: 10 Maple Street, London W1T 5HA (nearest stations: Warren Street and Goodge Street)

This event is part of the Muslim LitFest. Find our full programme of events here: buytickets.at/muslimlitfestlondon26

This event is sponsored by the Yunus Emre Institute.