اسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Hope you all are doing well!

Today I am with a person who is the sunshine for her readers and her readers are hers, sunshiners. So you guys must have guessed about whom I am talking about so let's welcome JapaneseSunshine.

Don't forget to check out her stories if you have not.

Let's get started with the interview!

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1. Tell about yourself. 

Name and meaning: Areej, an Arabic name meaning Fragrance of Flowers

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah)

Age: 21

(A/N: Hey, twinny!)

Date of birth: July 28, 1998

Nationality: I am from Kashmir

Hobby: Writing, reading, doing Henna on my hands and on paper, watching YouTube 😂

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah)

Relationship status (single/committed): Single

2. Describe yourself in a few lines. 

I think it is the most difficult question 😂 I am a highly enthusiastic Author, I guess with a super angry form towards anyone who says writing is a waste of time

3. What good changes do you want to bring in yourself? 

I want to be a better Muslim, In’shaa’Allah and just do everything, and I mean literally everything that Allah Subhanahu’Watalla has ordered us to do.

(A/N: Aww, In Shaa Allah)

4. Which book was the first book you read on Wattpad and what were your thoughts on it? 

A Muslim Girl’s Love Story by NiqabiUndercover . I absolutely loved it. It was the story that introduced me to Wattpad. It was also my first step towards my love for Niqab.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah).

5. Tell us about your favourite books on Wattpad as well as offline. 

On Wattpad, ‘Unlocked Hearts by sajmra’, ‘Prince of Knights by TheQueenofDarkness’ and ‘The Beast by palepinkferriswheel’ and offline, my favourite book is obviously ‘The Noble Qur’an’. After that, ‘The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen’

6. Which genre you prefer most and why? 

Spiritual, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Horror though the last one gives me terrible nightmares 😂 I love these genres because I guess I am well-acquainted with the novels written in them.

(A/N: Aww, Ma Shaa Allah)

7. Tell us about your experience as an author on Wattpad. 

My experience on Wattpad has been AMAZING! I’ve been on Wattpad since I was 16. Wattpad is like my second home! I love Wattpad. I love my readers. I met some of my best friends on here. I met my most loyal readers on here. I turned from an ordinary girl into Sunshine of so many people on here. Alhamdulillah for everything. 

(A/N: Aww, Ma Shaa Allah).

8. Choose between the two. 

Chocolates/ Ice cream. 

Chocolates

(A/N: 😋).

Brownies/Oreo

Oreo

Biryani/Pizza. 

Ugh, I’m not gonna choose one! Both are my love 😂

(A/N: 😂😂😂😂).

Black/White. 

Black

Novels/Movies.

Novels

Happy ending/sad ending. 

Both, depending on my mood

Tea/Coffee. 

Tea

Sun/Moon. 

Both, because my dad’s name means Sun and I call one of my best friends, Moon.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

Rapunzel/Elsa. 

Rapunzel

Beef/Chicken. 

I love non-veg so both.

(A/N: Me too!)

Shawarma/Burger.

Shawarma

9. What would be the one advice you would give yourself if you go back to six years? 

I would just tell myself to remember that Allah Subhanahu’Watalla’s plans are vaster than my thinking and He, Subhanahu’Watalla would always be there for me.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah).

10. What are your ambitions in life? 

I want to be a full-time author, In’shaa’Allah. I want to get my series of books ‘The Set Me Free Series’ published traditionally In’shaa’Allah and want the books to outlive me, In’shaa’Allah

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! May Allah ﷻ grant you lots of success, Aameen ya rab).

11. Most people love to prank others so do you. Did you ever prank anyone in your life? If yes, share it with us. 

I absolutely love pranks! I have pranked countless people in my life, though my pranks are never that dangerous 😂

My closest best friend is a guy. We’ve been best friends since we were teenagers. We love each other just like siblings. I once pranked him, telling him that I am getting married in a month and I managed to convince him fully. He was on the verge of tears because he thought I was gonna leave him now. When I told him the truth, he was super mad at me 😂

(A/N: OMG!!!!! THAT'S HILARIOUS! 😂😂😂).

12. As a human we do things which makes us feel embarrassed so tell us about your most embarrassing story. 

I have loads of embarrassing stories 😂 I was once waiting for my dad to pick me up. It was winter and the rooftops were covered with snow. Without realising what I was doing, I waited for my dad under the roofed porch of a bookseller’s shop in a market full of people. After a few moments, the snow from the roof slid down and landed directly on top of me 😂 Thankfully, it wasn’t a huge amount of snow otherwise I’d have been dead rather than embarrassed.

(A/N: Oh gosssshhh!!! 😝😝😝😝).

13. What is the most selfless thing you have done for someone? And apart from your mother, who is that person for you? 

The most selfless thing I have done is forgiving one particular person who wronged me in many ways. I wouldn’t like to mention that person’s name though. The most selfless person in my life is my best friend, Altaaf. He’s my biggest support after Allah and my parents, and he’s done loads of selfless things for me. 

(A/N: Hayee, Ma Shaa Allah! ❤)

14. Who are your most favourite Internet friends? Describe them in few words. 

mohamedalthaf Queen_Lycan Thanweer VeNuSsS_Z Sweet_Oa AmmySiddz Jemialia9 JuliRose1 Abiramiii

They’re simply amazing and my lifelines ❤ I love them more than words can ever describe ❤

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! )

15. Which quality you dislike the most in the people and would want to change? 

Disloyalty, I hate disloyalty. Once you commit to someone or something willingly, you should never betray their trust.

(A/N: True that!)

16. What are your ways of dealing with people? 

My usual way of dealing with people is gentle. I hate hurting someone even if it’s a little. But when I get angry, it’s horrible 😂

(A/N: Awww, Ma Shaa Allah!)

17. Out of 10, how much would you rate your character? 

8

18. What’s the most important fuel of life in your opinion? 

The fact that Allah Subhanahu’Watalla loves you seventy times more than your mother ❤

19. Which reminder would you like to give everyone through a verse of the Qur’an? 

“Inna Ma'al Usri Yusra”

After Hardship, there is ease

Qur'an (94:6)

And...

“Hasbunallahu Wa Ni'mal Waqil”

Allah alone is sufficient for us and He's the best disposer of affairs for us!

Qur'an (3:173)

(A/N: SubhanAllah!).

20. How important is it for us to balance Deen and Dunya? 

I have always been the advocate of Deen over Dunya but there come certain moments in life when you are forced to choose Dunya over Deen, for example, I never take my Niqab off when I go outside but I recently went to a place where I wasn’t allowed to enter with a Niqab. It was their rule. I had to go in there so I was forced to take my Niqab off. I felt extremely bad but then I realised all this is a test from Allah. In any way, love for Deen should be greater than love for Dunya because even if Dunya forces you to choose itself somewhere, Allah Subhanahu’Watalla looks at your intentions. If your intention is Deen over Dunya, He Subhanahu’Watalla is Ar-Raheem ❤

(A/N: Indeed, SubhanAllah! 💕)

21. Since the majority of the youth don’t realise their time of opportunity which starts from teenage, how prominently will you advise them to use it wisely? 

Use your teenage wisely because it’s a very crucial stage of life and it shapes you into who you become as an adult.

(A/N: 💯💯)

22. According to you, how necessary is it for one to stay disciplined? Don’t you feel people lack the Sunnah lifestyle which should be brought back? 

I desperately want to see everyone following the Sunnah, In’shaa’Allah and I agree with you, people lack that pious lifestyle nowadays. It is extremely important to stay disciplined and by that, I mean staying within the limits of Islam because that is true freedom

(A/N: Trueee!!)

23. Name some Sunnah lifestyle which you follow?

Recite Qur’an every day

Wash hands before eating

Smile

Eat with the right hand and there’s loads more, Alhamdulillah 

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

24. How responsible are you as a person? And what is your opinion on it being the most essential part of one’s life? 

I strongly believe in fulfilling responsibility, especially once I’ve taken one voluntarily. I dislike irresponsible people. It just doesn’t make sense to take responsibility willingly and then, refuse to fulfil it. I wouldn’t say I am a completely responsible person, but most of the times I fulfil my responsibilities properly. Being responsible must be an essential part of everyone’s life. 

(A/N: True!)

25. What message would you like to give to those who play the blame game? Don’t you think one should take full responsibility for their wrong?

I dislike people who blame others for their mistakes and wrongdoings. Everyone makes mistakes, to err is human but to put your blame on other people’s shoulders is absolutely wrong. If you’ve made a mistake or even if you’ve done something wrong, you should own it. Accepting your mistakes and wrongdoings is the first step towards becoming a better person

(A/N: 💯💯💯💯)

26. What would you like to do in your leisure time? 

Write, probably with a bowl of tasty snacks in front of me 😁 or do Henna on my hands and feet

27. A) Your favourite food. 

Kashmiri Waazwaan

B). Your favourite fruits. 

Mango

(A/N: Mine too)

C). Your favourite vegetable. 

Tomato (I mean it’s not actually a vegetable but to me, it is)

D). Your favourite Nasheeds. 

Ramadan by Maher Zain

Alhamdulillah by Maher Zain

E). Your favourite quote. 

“You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? Do you think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself plainly when you have need of him.”

~ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

F). Your favourite athlete. 

No one haha

G). Your favourite sports. 

Cricket and basketball 

H). Your favourite animated movie. 

None

I). Your favourite colour. 

Blue

J). Your favourite subject at school.

English and Science

28. How do you feel about being a Muslimah? And what are the changes you would like to bring to the world? 

I feel absolutely blessed and thankful to be a Muslim woman, Alhamdulillah ❤

There are loads of changes that I’d like to bring to the world. If I write about all of them here, it’d take a lot of time so I’ll just write the biggest change that I want to bring to the world. By means of my writing, I want to make people understand that one can also have a bright future in a writing career, plus I want to make people understand that writing novels is not Haram, as long as you’re writing within the boundaries of Islam.

29. How did you discover Wattpad and what was your first experience? 

I was searching for Muslim love stories and I found one that was written on here. 

My first experience was absolutely wonderful! The novel I read was amazing. I wanted to read more so I searched for more novels and look at me now 😁 I’ve lost myself in Wattpad world

(A/N: Aww).

30. Tell us about the first story that you wrote on Wattpad. 

The first story that I wrote on Wattpad is called ‘Friendship Changes into Love’. It’s still on my profile but I am currently editing it. 

It’s a story about two people called Fudail and Taghrid. Both have been best friends since they were little kids. It’s a story about how their friendship turns into love as they grow into adults, but with loads of difficulties and trials

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! The story seems quite interesting).

31. How did you get the idea for your first story? 

I don’t remember exactly. I’ve been writing since I was 11 years old and I’ve always been more into supernatural stuff. When I was 16 and discovered Wattpad, I don’t know why but I wanted to write this story about two best friends, so I just did.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

32. What is your inspiration? 

The Noble Qur’an

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

33. Are your stories benefitting? What lessons we can learn from them? 

I try to make my books as benefits as possible. From my books, you can learn some things about Islam. I put verses from the Noble Qur’an in my books, most of my characters pray five times, my female protagonists are mostly Niqabis. I’m not saying my characters are perfect. I’m saying my characters depict the best images of struggling but practising Muslims. You can also learn about values like love, friendship and loyalty from my books.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

34. As a reader, why should I read your book? 

If you want to learn about the things I mentioned above, you definitely should. Apart from that, I as an author have a very healthy relationship with my readers. I always respond to their questions, messages and comments. My readers call themselves ‘Sunshiners’, not just because they’re my fans but because they’re parts of my heart, all of them

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

35. Writers mostly go through writer blocks and you must have also gone through it. How do you deal with it and how we can overcome it? 

God! I go through Writer’s block numerous times every year. Writer’s block is the most frustrating thing a writer can experience. I have no particular way of dealing with it. My longest and worst writer’s block has been, I don’t know, four or five months long. Sometimes I try to write random scenes related to my books, in order to overcome it. Other times I try to watch some inspirational video related to writing or authors or even read some inspirational article or something. And sometimes I try to talk a small walkout in the lawn. I live in Kashmir so we’re surrounded by exceptional beauty. Sometimes that inspires me to overcome my Writer’s block.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! That's amazing!)

36. Which is your favourite scene amongst the book you have written? 

In the first book of Set Me Free series ‘The Adhaan’, there’s this scene where my male protagonist Zakwaan tells my another male protagonist Lubaid not to hurt Shehed, the female protagonist of my book. He tells Lubaid that he’ll rip him into pieces if he hurts Shehed. Usually, Zakwaan is a sweet person, so his sudden change in behaviour surprises Lubaid. At that, Zakwaan places his hand on Lubaid’s shoulder and says ‘Don’t forget that I am Chief Jabalah Iyas Jibril’s son.’

And there’s another scene in the second book of Set Me Free series ‘Pure Blessing in the Haze’, where my male protagonist Raghid tells my female protagonist’s father to let her live her life freely. He says ‘You don’t see what I see, sir. You see an ordinary girl, I see the most successful author of all time. You see soil, I see Sunshine.’

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! Seems quite interesting stories. I'll surely give a read)

37. Describe:

▪Love 

Love is one of the most powerful feelings created by Allah Subhanahu’Watalla that binds two people till Jannah and beyond that.

(A/N: SubhanAllah!)

▪Friendship 

Friendship is what makes life worth living. Life is meaningless without it

(A/N: 💯💯)

▪Trust 

Trust is the most important thing in the world. It’s the very foundation of so many relationships.

▪Family

Family is the most valuable thing one can have. Family is the strongest pillar of support for every person and it doesn’t only have to be blood-related family. A family is basically a group of people whom you love profoundly and who love you profoundly, people who stand by you through thick and thin.

▪Life

Life is merely an illusion, today it’s yours, tomorrow it won’t so beautify it by loving Allah Subhanahu’Watalla.

38. What is that one thing that you used to love the most in the past but now you don't like it? 

A place, that I’d like to keep nameless because I don’t want to offend anyone from there

39. Your favourite childhood memory. 

Playing with friends every evening and running around the house like crazy 😂

40. Describe your school life and your most favourite school memory.

My school life was, to put it all in a word, nice. I just believe I became a better person in the last two years of school life when I attended a tuition institution (because I studied Science) called Step. The step had a profound influence on me, the professors I met there have been my best mentors, the friends I met there are my friends for life, so I give it more importance than my school. I started wearing Niqab at Step and I guess I became a better Muslim there, Alhamdulillah. Therefore I’ve even used Step in my book ‘Set Me Free’.

I’ll tell you about my most favourite Step memory... It was in Class 11 when my Professor, who never spoke highly of anyone at all, appreciated and spoke highly of me in front of the entire class because I corrected him politely at a point in the chapter where he was wrong.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah!)

41. If you were wrongfully put into an insane asylum, how would you convince them that you’re actually sane and not just pretending to be sane?

I don’t think I’d be able to do that since I am really cray-cray 😂😂😂

42. Would you rather eat chocolate that tastes like bugs or bugs that taste like chocolates?

Chocolate that tastes like bugs

 (A/N: 😂😂😂)

43. Would you rather live under a sky with no stars at night or a sky with no clouds during the day?

Sky with no clouds during the day

44. Would you rather be lost in a bad part of a town or lost in a forest?

In a forest

45. Would you rather have a five-minute conversation with your past self or future self?

My past self

46. Would you rather, fulfil your biggest wish or resolve your biggest regret?

Fulfil my biggest wish

47. If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume you had done?

I don’t really know 😂 beaten someone up 😂

(A/N: 😂😂😂)

48. If you could make a rule for a day and everyone had to follow it, what would it be?

I would lift Niqab ban from those parts of the world where girls are not allowed to wear Niqab.

(A/n: Beautiful thought!)

49. If you could lock up one person in a mental institution, who would it be?

My senior at office 😂

(A/N: 😂😂😂)

50. A Message to readers and to all those who are struggling in writing.

To my readers: I know I say it a lot but I love you guys so much. You guys are my everything. My life and my world are incomplete without you guys. You guys are my favourite group of people on this planet. #SunshinersForever

To those who are struggling in writing: Writing is a very valuable gift and power that Allah Subhanahu’Watalla blesses someone with. It might not be appreciated much by the people around you but it’s a wonderful blessing. Not everyone is perfect in the beginning, everyone makes loads of mistakes. All you need to do is have faith in yourself and just try again and again. If you’re not a trier, you can’t be a writer. Plus, try to learn the rules of the language you’re writing in. For example, if you’re writing in English, try to learn a few basic rules of English grammar so that you can write with ease.

(A/N: Ma Shaa Allah! Great advice!)

Now we come to an end to our interview but one thing is still remaining and that is none other than, questions from your reader! 

1. Who do you trust the most?

My best friend, Altaaf

2.  Who inspires her? 

My Prophet Muhammad Peace and Blessings of Allah Be upon Him, my Ummi Aisha (May Allah Be Pleased with Her), my parents and my Zoology professor who taught me at Step

3. Whom you love the most? 

Allah Subhanahu’Watalla  

4. Who are your supports? 

Allah Subhanahu’Watalla, my parents, my best friend, my professor, my sisters Izzy, Zuhra and Nafisa and my closest readers who call themselves Sunshiners ❤

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So here, we came to an end. I hope you all had an amazing time reading her interview and getting to know more about your favourite author.

May Allah (S.W.T) bless you abundantly and always keeps you happy and smiling. May Allah (S.W.T) fulfil all your duas and ease all your affairs.
Allahumma Aameen ya rabbul Aalameen!

Till the next time,
Assalamualaikum Warahmutallahi Wabarakatuhu!