Voice of British Muslim Women

Iffat Mirza, Raynes Park 

Recent popular feminist discourse has broadly adopted the idea of ‘women supporting women’. The idea of women being there to keep one another safe, motivated, and inspired is becoming paramount amongst women’s circles and certainly is a positive direction. So many fields of the secular world, which are still heavily dominated by males, seem either inaccessible at worst or intimidating at best for a lot of women. 

The general lack of spaces for women to learn from other women makes ideas like ‘women supporting women’ difficult to see in practicality, as lovely as the idea may be. But I know it’s certainly not impossible due to the existence of Lajna Ima’illah. This organisation, reaching its centenary, was created for this very purpose 

His Holiness Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad (May Allah be pleased with him) the second Caliph/Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and founder of the Lajna Ima’illah organisation stated “Aside from gaining personal and spiritual knowledge, henceforth the successful progress of the Community is also dependent on efforts by women.” When we think of progress, we must think of the skills and confidence that the women must possess in order to drive such progress for the community. The involvement of women in the community’s progress is certainly not negotiable and therefore, it is necessary that we have spaces for skills to be learned and knowledge to be shared in an environment which uplifts each member. 

The Lajna National Ijtema, a three-day event, specifically caters to this endeavour. The event was initiated as long ago as 1955 in Pakistan. Outside the shade of men, women come together to share their skills and knowledge in a variety of ways. Whether it is STEM exhibitions curated by the Research Association, growing your own vegetable masterclasses, or the presentations running through the day, there is a way for women to come together to celebrate their ability to learn and teach. Indeed, His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) the Caliph/Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stated to the German press in 2019 “My philosophy is that if women work outside the shade of men, they flourish.” 

Therefore, one can see the space for ‘women to support women’ is truly created, inspiring women to utilise such skills in their everyday lives or even pursue in an academic context. For example, in 2019 masterclasses in growing vegetables were held at the ijtema. How were we to know that about 5 months later a national lockdown would be declared and amidst all the panic buying, growing one’s own produce would become an encouraged endeavour?  

Such life skills are widely disregarded nowadays where at the click of your mouse you can order your weekly shop to your house, regardless of what may or may not be in season given that globalisation and technology has meant that any produce is available at any time, but if anything, the pandemic has truly shown us that no skill can be disregarded. 

Similarly, I touched earlier on fields which are greatly dominated by males seeming inaccessible and intimidating to women. How pleasant it is, then, to see Muslim, female scientists at the Ijtema curating exhibitions to light a spark of curiosity in younger girls to pursue STEM subjects and also to know that there are role models in the community who are excelling in their academic and professional pursuits, whilst maintaining true to their faith and beliefs.  

The public speaking skills which are fostered at the Ijtema through the presentations and competitions allow women to find their voice as they address women from all backgrounds on a common theme and to learn from one another. In a world which continuously seeks to silence Muslim women, it is truly such Islamic teachings and guidance of the Caliphs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which encourage women of the community to defy social expectations for them to remain silent, and indeed be their own confident voice to defend themselves and their faith. 

Such environments for women are truly a manifestation of a religion which not only declares women liberated but also gives them the tools to be educated, skilled, and ultimately, empowered.