I don't want to clog Sajidah's mentions with more negativity but I'm seeing white, non-Muslim authors jump in to explain why they want to write these books and can't help but notice two trends.
1) You lived abroad in a Muslim-majority country and studied the culture and religion. Lovely! This doesn't mean you're equipped to write about the politics and struggles of a minority population in an entirely different country.
Not even slightly. Books and scholars make a living off discussing the vast differences in diaspora communities. People, there are over a billion of us. We shouldn't have to say we're not a monolith. In the United States, Muslims are the most diverse religious community.
(I just realized I forgot to reference the entire reason for this thread but it's this) 
Anyway! If you're starting from the basic premise of applying a framework you think you learned in Country A (and did you really?) to Country B just because people share a religion, you're probably not equipped to write that book.
There are a 1000 examples, but one that always ticks me off the most is that I have yet to see a non-Muslim writer include any black Muslims in their fiction set in the West. You're going to write a book about CIVIL RIGHTS and not include black Muslims?? Go read a history book.
2) The "I wanted to counter the Oppressed Muslim Woman stereotype/show that Muslims are human/our country is on a slippery slope" argument. Fine. Then who did you write this book for? Because weirdly enough, Muslims are aware of this and have writers who can tell these stories.
You want to enter the fray? Then write your story. Write about how your families and communities silently abet this kind of thing. Dig into that discomfort of "damn, my people are the villains" and tell a tale of how to fix things on your side.
3) I knew what that other book was going to be about before I even read the description. It always is. Start listening to what Muslim women say and stop fixating on their clothes, for the love of God. It's isn't you lane.
Heck, it isn't even MY lane and I've been a Muslim for fifteen years. Let women who actually cover tell you how they feel about it and if they even want to talk about it.
Notice how hijabi authors are writing awesome stories about hijabi MCs that have fully-developed lives and interests that don't always relate to their clothes? Weird right? It's almost like they're people!
Argh, and I'm sorry this became a whole rant. I don't normally like to step into these spaces because I am an incredibly privileged white convert and there's a whole line of POC Muslims that can speak better on this than me, but some white people clearly needed collecting.
But Sajidah is a friend and an incredibly talented writer who deserves the world. and her book, Saints and Misfits? I can't tell you how important this book is.
My God, had someone handed me this book at seventeen, when I was lost and incredibly shy and had no idea how to approach a mosque or conceive of it being normal to want to be a teenager and religious...I can't even contemplate how much it might have helped.
So go read SAINTS AND MISFITS. Read more books like it. Review them, recommend them and fill your libraries and award nominations. You'll be richer for it. amazon.com/Saints-Misfits…
