After a month of fasting, increased prayers, and seeing friends and family, there’s nothing better post-Ramadan than curling up with a book for some quiet time ahead of the busy Eid celebrations.
That’s why a book makes the perfect gift for loved ones during Eid. Whatever kind of person you’re buying for, we’ve got you covered, with everything from cookbooks to fiction to books for young readers. Whether you want to buy something to help during the month of Ramadan or are looking for a present to gift on Eid itself, take a look through our handy guide for inspiration. And, depending on the person you're buying for, you can jump straight to the relevant section using our links below:
For keen cooks
The Ramadan Cookbook by Anisa Karolia (2023)
Know someone who’s stuck for ideas on what to make every day during Ramadan? Then grab them a copy of The Ramadan Cookbook by food blogger Anisa Karolia. Winner of the Gourmand Awards 2023 Best Influencer Cookbook of the Year, The Ramadan Cookbook – and its follow-up The Ramadan Family Cookbook – features delicious, easy-to-make recipes for both the pre-dawn and sunset meals. It’ll provide endless cooking inspiration, making it a truly valued gift.
Rooza by Nadiya Hussain (2025)
Who better to take readers on a journey around the world through food than Nadiya Hussain? The Great British Bake Off winner’s Rooza is a sumptuous cookbook full of recipes that are both familiar and unfamiliar, highlighting the many different cultures and countries that mark the month of fasting. Each recipe is straightforward and clear, making them easy to follow no matter how tired or hungry fasting has made you. Just beware the mouthwatering pictures!
Want to know more about Rooza? Our friends over at The Happy Foodie interviewed Nadiya Hussain about the inspiration behind the book, as well as her top tips for Ramadan and Eid preparations.
For young readers
Ibraheem's Perfect Eid by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Nabila Adani (2025)
This heartwarming and humorous story is perfect for teaching little ones about the true meaning of Eid. Following the success of Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani’s debut picture book Not Now, Noor!, Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid follows the title character as he worries about getting no presents on Eid. Focusing on family, culture and community, this book is a celebration, and a perfect year-round read to remind all children about love.
City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (2023)
Not only is Nazneen Ahmed Pathak’s debut novel an exciting adventure story filled with magic, it’s also a great way to introduce young readers to the impact of colonialism and empire, and to ways of dealing with loss and grief. Following a girl who embarks on a rescue mission when her magic-wielding mother is taken to England by the all-powerful, sinister Company, City of Stolen Magic is a book children will curl up with and try to read in a single sitting.
For fiction fans
We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan (2021)
Set in dual timelines, Hafsa Zayyan’s debut novel, inspired by her own mixed family background, is an immersive and sweeping story of family, displacement and legacy. Following Hasan in 1960s Uganda and Sameer in present-day London, We Are All Birds of Uganda offers a new perspective on the forced displacement of Asians from Uganda, and interrogates how we find ourselves when our pasts have been lost to history.
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (2024)
Award-winning novelist Elif Shafak’s new book There Are Rivers in the Sky flits between Victorian London, Turkey in 2014 and London in 2018. Following a child with a brilliant memory, a Yazidi girl, and a broken-hearted hydrologist, Shafak weaves together a story about three people connected by a single drop of water. This is another feat of storytelling from Shafak, and an Eid gift that is sure to please fiction fans.
For knowledge seekers
This book shows readers how faith and making du’a (a personal supplication) can transform their lives, using real-life stories and sharing advice on how to make du’a properly. Aliyah Umm Raiyaan guides readers through sincerely preparing their heart for du’a, talking to Allah from a place of certainty, and moving forward after du’a. Following a month of fasting, The Power of Du’a is an ideal gift for anyone who wants to continue reflecting on their relationship with religion and Allah, and is an uplifting and moving read.
The Koran translated by N. J. Dawood
What more perfect gift to give on Eid than a translation of the Koran (or Quran)? This Penguin Classics version is translated by N. J. Dawood, and was first published in 1952 with the aim of providing a modern and accessible translation, although in that edition the chapters (surahs) of the Koran were rearranged into roughly chronological order. This version follows the order of the Koran, and contains Arabic text alongside the English translation.
Scientist Jim Al-Khalili celebrates the forgotten and inspiring pioneers of the world of science in Arabic, which was the international language of the subject for more than 700 years. Whether your gift recipient is a lover of science or not, they’ll love learning about the people who shaped the world during the golden age of Arabic science, including Iraqi physicist Ibn al-Haytham, the greatest mathematician of the medieval world al-Khwarizmi, and polymath Abu Rayhan al-Biruni.