Voice of British Muslim Women

Aroosa Akram, Slough

We as humans, have been social creatures since the beginning of time, travelling in packs, and having families. This past year has been a life changing one for a lot of us, with so many people having to give up meeting loved ones and staying socially distanced as per government guidelines. This atmosphere has left people feeling hopeless and discouraged coming into the new year.

Looking back, I reminisce about a time where I could go to the mosque and join hands with my fellow sisters in prayer, or hold social gatherings to celebrate Eid. I remember the small gatherings when we once stood shoulder to shoulder, but are now merely on a video call staying miles apart. I had been attending these gatherings since I was only 6 years old, which meant I was raised amongst fellow sisters, seeing them weekly, and yet, it has now been almost a year since we were able to pray together. However, as a new year dawns I remain hopeful that we will soon  be able to hold small gatherings again,  after the rollout of the new vaccine and preventative measures being put in place.

I remember seeing first hand the amazing set up of our national convention, the Jalsa Salana and the months of planning and work put in by dedicated volunteers, which allowed the event to go smoothly. It gave us the opportunity to be in submission to Allah at the hands of the Khalifa of Messiah, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad. The convention was unable to go ahead last year as it gathers crowds of over 30,000, though I remain hopeful and wish that there will be a possibility that it can be held through a different medium during these times, and one day resume  as normal in the coming years.

The past year was a complex whirlwind of events and has left many discouraged but, through prayer one can find hope amongst the chaos.

The Holy Qur’an provides hope to believers with this verse:

‘…’I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me…’ [i]

This verse shows that believers should turn to God in prayer, and it is our Lord Who provides hope; hope that we will be reunited with loved ones, hope that we will be able to reaffirm our faith, and hope that we will be in submission to Allah in congregation.

For the New Year, I’m carrying the hope given to me by God.

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[i] Holy Qur’an 2:187