In a fast moving world, her home library with a collection of over 10,000 books was her safe haven. Reading in the sunshine streaming from her window was a part of her daily homeschooling routine.
She eventually began writing, and started sending articles and stories she wrote to different magazines for publication. They got published! But when she tried entering mainstream publishing, she found it not so easy. Young talent and new ideas didn’t seem to be very welcomed.
She decided that she would eventually open her own publishing house. A place where fresh ideas would be welcomed. The market lacked creative, engaging Islamic resources, especially in English. Growing up most Islamic books she had read were in Urdu and Arabic. She wished to fill this gap and make quality Islamic material accessible to the masses. She started saving up (her pocket money and Eidi).
Not too long later, she got married and all the money she received at her wedding was handed over to her. She now had the means to start. A few months later she found a designer and printer, registered Safwah Publications and published her first book.
Did she know anything about publishing? No.
Did she know anything about business and marketing? No.
Was she full of ambition and willing to learn and grow no matter what it took? Yes.
After publishing five books herself in 1.5 years, authors starting approaching her and trusting her with their manuscripts. Business finally began picking pace.
Risk elements:
Safwah: Published our first book
People: Nobody reads books anymore
Safwah: Hired our first full-time employee
People: Tell him he could lose his job anytime
Safwah: Planning to open a library in Karachi
People: All libraries are shutting down, why are you opening one and how are you going to run it?
Today, 5 years later,
* 65+ publications
* Selling in 15+ countries
* A trusted name in publishing and distribution services with currently 40+ authors of different nationalities and backgrounds onboard. SAHMs, Aalimahs, doctors, business graduates, professional editors, psychologists and EY educators are part of our team.
* Launched a first-of-its-kind children’s library in Karachi, Inkspired
Safwah’s growth and success isn’t the story of one individual though. YOU, yes you dear reader, are a part of our success. Every author, illustrator, customer, bookshop, well-wisher who has trusted us, shared their kind feedback, promoted our work, is a cherished part of our story.
Our vision is clear: providing quality, inspiring, creative and Shariah-compliant educational resources to the world, especially children.
Our story is still being written, and you are a part of it. Read and share our books, visit our library, and help us keep our children’s shelves alive with voices that matter. Together, we can raise true leaders, a generation with values rooted in faith.
