Dear Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I pray that this email finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah.

I regret to inform that the Claritas email address in yesterday's update was incorrect. The correct email address is mamoon@claritasbooks.com

My sincerest apologies for the error.

Warmest regards

Zaahied Sallie

Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I pray that this email finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah.

Red Kufi Books has sent vouchers to all international backers to order their free copy/copies of The Beloved Prophet - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme.

Kindly check your spam folder if you have not received the email in your inbox. 

You may also email us at info@redkufi.com and mamoon@claritas.com should you need assistance.

Many backers are yet to redeem their vouchers. Please do so urgently. 

We thank all the backers who have already processed their orders. We pray that the wait is soon over and that you will finally get to hold the book in your hands. InshaAllah.

We want to thank you once again for your support, incredible patience and understanding.

May Allah protect you and your family, always. Ameen!

Sincerely,

Zaahied Sallie

Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I pray that this email finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah.

Red Kufi Books has sent vouchers to all international backers to order their free copy/copies of The Beloved Prophet - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme.

Kindly check your spam folder if you have not received the email in your inbox.

Many backers are yet to redeem their vouchers. Please do so urgently before the voucher expires.

We thank all the backers who have already processed their orders. We pray that the wait is soon over and that you will finally get to hold the book in your hands. InshaAllah.

We want to thank you once again for your support, incredible patience and understanding.

May Allah protect you and your family, always. Ameen!

Sincerely,

Zaahied Sallie

Dear Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I pray that this email finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah.

Please be advised that there are three different order fulfilment types for the backer orders. You will receive an email from Red Kufi Books within the next 24 hours for your order fulfilment type, Insha'Allah. 

1. The backer (excluding South African backers) will receive a 100% discounted voucher code excluding freight to be processed on Claritas' website. 

2. The backer (excluding South African backers) who has already paid freight will not receive a voucher code. Red Kufi Books will process the order on their behalf but will first confirm shipping details via email.

3. South African backers, please note: Bulk ocean freight shipment will leave Turkey within 2-3 weeks. Transit time to South Africa is 30 days. Upon arrival, Red Kufi Books will ship books to backers who have already paid freight and notify backers who have opted to collect their copy/copies.

We want to thank you once again for your support, incredible patience and understanding.

May Allah protect you and your family, always. Ameen!

Sincerely,

Zaahied Sallie

Dear Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

All praise is due to Allah who blessed us with His final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

I hope this finds you and yours in the best of health.

It gives me great pleasure to reveal that The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme, has been published by Claritas Books, an international independent publishing house headquartered in the UK. 

Claritas showcases a wide range of dynamic and credible voices on Islam and the Muslim faith in the 21st Century.

The book has finally come off the press and is tantalisingly close to being launched, Alhamdulillah.

Claritas will provide 100% discounted unique vouchers excluding freight to all donors within the next two to three weeks, InshaAllah. Red Kufi Books will email the vouchers to each backer, who in turn must process the order from the Claritas website using the unique coupon code provided. 

Backers who have already paid freight will not receive a coupon. Red Kufi Books will process these orders directly but will first confirm shipping details via email.

• Publisher: Claritas Books
• Audience: All Ages
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-1-800-11983-3
• Publication Date: 2020
• Length: 210mm
• Width: 280mm
• Edition: First Edition
• Pages: 115

We want to thank you once again for your incredible patience and understanding.

JazakAllahu Khair

Sincerly,

Zaahied Sallie

Dear Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

All praise is due to Allah who blessed us with His final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

I hope this finds you and yours in the best of health.

It gives me great pleasure to reveal that The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme, has been published by Claritas Books, an international independent publishing house headquartered in the UK. 

Claritas showcases a wide range of dynamic and credible voices on Islam and the Muslim faith in the 21st Century.

The book has finally come off the press and is tantalisingly close to being launched, Alhamdulillah.

Claritas will provide 100% discounted unique vouchers excluding freight to all donors within the next two to three weeks, InshaAllah. Red Kufi Books will email the vouchers to each backer, who in turn must process the order from the Claritas website using the unique coupon code provided. 

Backers who have already paid freight will not receive a coupon. Red Kufi Books will process these orders directly but will first confirm shipping details via email.

• Publisher: Claritas Books
• Audience: All Ages
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-1-800-11983-3
• Publication Date: 2020
• Length: 210mm
• Width: 280mm
• Edition: First Edition
• Pages: 115

• 
  

We want to thank you once again for your incredible patience and understanding.

JazakAllahu Khair

Sincerly,

Zaahied Sallie

Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum
 
I hope this finds you and yours in good health with the grace of Almighty Allah, and sincerely Thank You once again for your immense patience with the completion of this publication.

The book is in the final design and editing process, Alhamdulillah. The publisher completed the first round of editing and layout, and we now await the second draft for review. The publisher hopes to have the book ready for print before year-end, Insha'Allah.

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support of this project and request that you keep us in your prayers.
 
 Faithfully
 
 Zaahied Sallie

Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I hope this finds you and yours in good health with the grace of Almighty Allah, and sincerely Thank You once again for your immense patience with the completion of this publication.

In our last correspondence, we announced that a global publisher was secured. Shortly after this announcement, we entered the era of the COVID-19 virus, followed by the resulting global lockdown. Every aspect of life was inadvertently affected by this phenomenon. Our publisher was no less affected. The loss of commerce, restrictions on international trade and movement and closure of offices have severely impacted their business. Many projects stalled, and are suffering delays.

I had a call with the CEO two weeks ago and was deeply grateful to hear that our project will still go ahead, alhamdulillah. A meeting to discuss finer details is in the process of being scheduled. We will provide feedback after the meeting, inshaAllah.

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support of this project and request that you keep us in your prayers.

Faithfully

Zaahied Sallie

Respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum 

I hope this finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah, and sincerely thank you once again for your immense patience with the completion of this publication.

We are excited to announce that the project has been taken on by a global publisher that will see it to its fruition, and release in 2020. Alhamdulillah! 

This deal will ensure that the project has no further delays caused by lack of funds. InshaAllah.

For your perusal, please find attached two fully-coloured, partial illustrations:

1. The Battle of the Hearts - The Trench (P.92 - Ch.42
2. The Choice and the Minor Pilgrimage - Quraysh breaks The Treaty of Hudaibiyah (P.104 - C48)

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support in the completion of this project and request you to keep us in your prayers. 

Faithfully

Zaahied Sallie

Dear respected Donor

Assalamu Alaykum

I hope this finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah, and sincerely thank you once again for your immense patience with the completion of this publication.

After many hiccups, the publication of The Beloved Prophet - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme is in its final stretch.

More detailed information of the publication will be provided in January 2020. Insha Allah.

For your perusal, please find attached four fully coloured, partial illustrations.

1. The New Settlement (P.58 - Ch.25)
2. The Treaty of Hudaibiyah (P.100 - Ch.46)
3. The Sacking of Khaybar (P.102 - Ch.47)
4. The Conquest of Makkah and the Battle of Hunayn (P.108 - Ch.50)

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support in the completion of this project.

Faithfully

Zaahied Sallie

Assalamu Alaykum 

Eid Mubarak!

We hope and pray that this Ramadan has been one of introspection and deep connection with the Most Merciful, the Creator of the Universe. May He accept all our ibadah. Ameen. 

Since our last correspondence, it gives us great pleasure to inform you that all illustrations for The Beloved Prophet have now been completed, Alhamdulillah. The next step is to complete the colouring of the twenty-five artworks. Please find attached the final two artworks from the chapters titled Advancing Towards the New Power (Ch 51) and A New Beginning (Ch 52).

For your reading pleasure, here are three stanzas from the final chapter:

A splendorous gift from the Heavens was given

Islam perfected and chosen as God’s religion

The pilgrimage attained on land; hallowed

Surrender thine will, and God’s favour bestowed

His message fulfilled - God taken as Witness

He feared not poverty, but the accumulation of riches

With charity and all civility, he lived for humanity 

Oh! Principled not personality, without any hint of vanity

Personal utterings set aside, only God’s Will did he preach

An inclined path, the choice laid bare, the summit did he reach

No hour had been idly passed, his life was fully spent

Laid upon her lap, his final hour; connected and content     

Alhamdulillah, we are excited to have reached the final stages of the production of this momentous project. We, once again, Thank You wholeheartedly for your patience and support and implore you to keep us in your prayers. 

We will keep you updated as we progress towards completion. Insha’Allah.

Sincerely

Zaahied Sallie

Please ignore the previous email sent. The images in the earlier email do not open upon selection.

Assalamu Alaykum

I hope this finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah, and Thank You for your patience with the completion of this momentous project.

Alhamdulillah, we are pleased to inform you that the illustrations for The Beloved Prophet - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme is nearing completion. The line drawings for fifty of the fifty-two illustrations are done. The remaining two are underway, to be followed by the colouring of the twenty-five artworks.

For your perusal, please find attached thumbnails of the fifty illustrations in chronological order, showing the twenty-five completed in full, and the twenty-five pencil drawings.

The story of our beloved Prophet (saw) is told over fifty-two chapters. Each chapter is comprised of twelve quatrains; bringing the total stanzas to six-hundred and twenty-four.

The editorial process has been a lengthy one, and with meat needed for story-lines left too lean; poetry needing recrafting. The manuscript has ultimately been shaped into a better final work.

Chapter titles have been finalised with a contents page inserted below for guidance. 

Also, included in this correspondence is the complete text of two chapters contained in the book. The chapters attached are titled Solitude-Contemplation-Revelation (Ch 7) and The Conquest of Makkah and the Battle of Hunayn (Ch 50).

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support in the completion of this project. Please expect another update by Eid ul Fitr 1440, Insha Allah.

I wish you and your family a blessed Ramadan. Ameen

Faithfully
Zaahied Sallie

Assalamu Alaykum

I hope this finds you and yours well with the Grace of Allah, and Thank You for your patience with the completion of this momentous project.

Alhamdulillah, we are pleased to inform you that the illustrations for The Beloved Prophet - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme is nearing completion. The line drawings for fifty of the fifty-two illustrations are done. The remaining two are underway, to be followed by the colouring of the twenty-five artworks.

For your perusal, please find attached thumbnails of the fifty illustrations in chronological order, showing the twenty-five completed in full, and the twenty-five pencil drawings.

The story of our beloved Prophet (saw) is told over fifty-two chapters. Each chapter is comprised of twelve quatrains; bringing the total stanzas to six-hundred and twenty-four.

The editorial process has been a lengthy one, and with meat needed for story-lines left too lean; poetry needing recrafting. The manuscript has ultimately been shaped into a better final work.

Chapter titles have been finalised with a contents page inserted below for guidance.

 

Also, included in this correspondence is the complete text of two chapters contained in the book. The chapters attached are titled Solitude-Contemplation-Revelation (Ch 7) and The Conquest of Makkah and the Battle of Hunayn (Ch 50).

Once again, I appreciate your patience and support in the completion of this project. Please expect another update by Eid ul Fitr 1440, Insha Allah.

I wish you and your family a blessed Ramadan. Ameen

Faithfully
Zaahied Sallie

Assalamu 'Alaykum

Dear Respected Donor

After the last edit, there was a long deliberation, and it was decided that the poem should be expanded. Crucial story details were left out entirely or left too lean to fit the poem into 30 chapters. Our initial plan was 30 illustrations accompanied by 30 chapters with additional historical pages. We have since decided to add 20 more chapters with artwork. This will take the page count for the rhyming text and accompanied artwork to 100 pages. The book will now be 110 – 120 pages.

We understand that this will add more costs to the project which have considerably been delayed due to cost implications. We, however, felt that this was absolutely necessary. The story is an important one, and we endeavour to deliver a book worthy of the life we are telling. Please rest assured that all additional costs will be borne by Red Kufi Books.

The new timelines have been set by the team and confirmed as final dates.

28 Feb: Final poem for editing
19 Mar: Final manuscript for editing
26 Mar: Final edit corrections
12 Mar: Final pencil illustrations
15 May: Colouring of final artwork
4 May: Pre-flight DTP (1st proof run)
9 May: Colour corrections
14 May: Pre-flight DTP (2nd proof run)
31 May: Final DTP
1 June: Final PDF to Press
13 June: Postage to Donor

As always, we request your prayers and thank you for your patience.

Yours faithfully

Zaahied Sallie

Contents of poem only (Click on image to download high-resolution contents)

Exclusive LAUNCHGOOD backer preview

As a backer of our LaunchGood campaign, we are pleased to present to you an exclusive preview of some of the illustrations (above) used in The Beloved Prophet ﷺ as well as extracts from four chapters.

The Villains and the Virtuous

A Zoroastrian at birth
Keeper of the flames
A deepening emptiness
His heart tenantless

He searched the earth
Followed Jesus of Nazareth
Guided by the Prophesy
To the final prophetic legacy


Strength in Congregation

Words of Tauhid
Resplendent indeed
Muslims take heed
Success guaranteed

Bilal, elected in honour
To the office of summoner
In humility and euphony
Summoning nobleman and commoner

Treachery Leads to War

Muhammad the perennial
Prophet and General
Otherworldly and ephemeral
Both lived to gain the eternal

Three hundred and five souls
Three horses and seventy camels
Setting out—Intentioned to waylay
Quraysh’s caravan on the coastal highway


The Eve of Battle

The Prophet sought counsel
“Advance or withdraw?
Not sure of Allah’s will
Maybe caravan maybe war.”

“We won’t flee
Take to our heels
That was Israel,”
Said the children of Ishmael

The Duels of Badr illustration preview (incomplete)

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

Dear Respected Donor

We wish to thank you for your patience and duas.

As with every project, there are natural highs and lows. Alhamdulillah, with the Grace of Almighty Allah, we have finished 65% of the project thus far.

Our illustrator, Brother Saaid Rahbeeni, has decided to complete the pencil work for the balance of the book first and then begin with the colouring process. We are excited about the new artwork and will be sharing some sneak peeks in the coming days. Insha’Allah.

The text is still going through the editorial process; with emendations, deletions, additions and suggestions. We hope to have a tight final manuscript ready for final proofreading. Insha’Allah.

We will keep you updated as we see The Beloved Prophet ﷺ through to fruition. Insha’Allah.

As always, we request your prayers and thank you for your patience.

Yours faithfully

Zaahied Sallie

Dear Donor

Assalamu ‘Alaykum Warahmatullahi Barakatu

As we count down towards the arrival of the magnanimous month of Ramadan, I hope this finds you well with the Grace of Allah.

Once again, Thank You for your support of our project; The Beloved Prophet ﷺ - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme. We would not have been able to achieve what we have thus far without your backing and encouragement.

We are pleased to inform you that we have passed the halfway mark with the illustrations and colour process. The final manuscript is earmarked for proofreading and editing after Ramadan insha’Allah.

Please keep us in your prayers as we humbly endeavour to deliver a unique publication that captures the life of our beloved Prophet ﷺ worthy of his life story. 

With sincere thanks and dua

Zaahied Sallie

Project Coordinator and writer 

The Beloved Prophet Team

Assalamu ‘Alaykum

I hope this finds you well with the grace of Almighty Allah.

All praise is due to Allah! We have managed to raise $6000 to assist with the production and printing of The Beloved Prophet ﷺ - An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme.

Jazaakallahu Khayran to you and all supporters for the generous donations and believing in our project.

We had to adjust our original goal to $6000. Our initial anticipation of raising the bulk of the funds through local contributions did not materialise. The South African Muslim community is reluctant as e-transactors and crowdfunding still a foreign concept to them. We were hopeful that there would be a shift in this reluctance through the agency of the project, but it seems that South Africans still respond better to traditional fundraising.

We have learnt much from our first crowdfunding campaign and will employ a two-pronged (crowdfunding and traditional) approach running simultaneously for our next fundraising drive. Insha’Allah.

The biggest risks associated with this project are related to time which is greatly influenced by not reaching our original target. Our expected date of completion will, unfortunately, be delayed by a few months.Both the artist and writer have both been working on the project for some months, and have already had much of the pre-production completed.

We sincerely apologise for the setback and understand that there might be some disappointment. Rest assured that the project will materialise albeit with a little more time, insha’Allah. Your contribution will earn its return with Allah’s Qudrah.

As an act of goodwill, we wish to offer you a 50%-offvoucher for We Love to Play Pray (shipping excluded),  our children's picture book. This acclaimed publication is authored and illustrated by the same duo bringing you The Beloved Prophet ﷺ  - An IllustratedBiography in Rhyme.

Coupon Code: TBPWLTPP123

Redeem coupon at:

http://redkufi.com/store#!/We-Love-to-Play-Pray/p/60141061/category=16658002

We will continue to keep you abreast of progress on TheBeloved Prophet ﷺand provide important project updates. Insha’Allah.

Allah yaa baarik feek

Ma assalama

The Beloved Prophet Team

Dear Donor

Assalamu 'Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu

All praise is due to the Almighty Allah who has afforded the team and I the opportunity to work on such an incredible project; and because of your generous heart, LaunchGood and its team, we are in a better position to see it to fruition, Insha'Allah.

We have arrived at the final stretch of our campaign and still require $7629 to reach our goal of $12000. 

We are working tirelessly to reach more backers to see us to the finish line.  

We, therefore, request a final contribution, one not of financial means but social sharing. Please share our project on all social media platforms until the end of the month. We thank you for your continuous support and generosity.

The start, middle and end of this project is for Allah's sake. Allah is the Facilitator, and we pray that our efforts gain His satisfaction.  He is our Musabbib. Our disposition is one of satisfaction in His Decree regardless of whether we reach our goal. To Him we strive, ask forgiveness and give thanks. And to you, Dear Donor, we say Jazaakallahu Khayran.

Yours in Islam

Zaahied Sallie and team