Islam
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Iffat Mirza Rashid, Alton There are two days of the year that bring me a small spark of joy. I never know exactly when they’ll be, and there’s no way of knowing where I’ll be when I realise today is that day. These are the days of the year when I see the first conker and when I see the first butterfly, because to me they signal the moment…
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Nooresahar Ahmad, Hampshire There was an anecdote that the late writer Kurt Vonnegut liked to tell. It began with him leaving his home office, a stack of manuscript papers in hand, with the intention of going out to buy a single envelope in which to put them. His wife questioned him as he left: ‘why don’t…
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Sameea Jonnud, Aldershot Turning onto the main road a few days ago, I was greeted by the usual sight of Union Jack bunting adorning the front of a property opposite as well as a large flag on a lamppost. I was startled to see that not only was it there, but on many lampposts at…
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Iffat Mirza Rashid, Alton It’s shocking, really, the amount of resources, money, and attention humans put into developing tools to kill fellow humans. I think what enables this drive for destruction comes partly from the fact that we cannot, or rather do not, humanise each and every victim of war. In fact, we do not…
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Ayesha Naseem Mirza, Walsall Since 2008, World Humanitarian Day is commemorated globally each year in recognition of the efforts of humanitarian workers and to advocate for the well-being and dignity of people affected by any crises, as well as for the safety and security of aid and rescue workers. Yet, writing this feels very foreign.…
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Fatiha Nadeem, Bradford Each year, International Youth Day reminds us of the potential young people hold, with this year’s theme serving as a reminder to the youth to play their role in applying the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. These goals include No Poverty, Gender Equality, Climate Action…
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Ayela Noor (aged 15), Fleet As soon as I enter, I am immediately greeted with smiles. Jalsa has a very positive, friendly environment that makes me feel welcome. I start the day walking around the site, and I see people of all different backgrounds, united by one thing. Islam. It’s beautiful and so inspirational to…
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Danila Jonnud, Hampshire I could never, by any stretch of the imagination, be a Vulcan. That is to say, I could never fit the criteria required to be part of the fictional logic-driven emotion-rejecting alien race from Star Trek. To be honest, I’m more like the opposite but sometimes I see something so incomprehensible in…
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Yusra Dahri, Tilford Over the past decade or so, the hijab has remained a contested issue. Even now, only 26% of Britons believe that wearing a hijab is a woman’s personal choice, whereas 49% believe Muslim women wear the hijab due to family or community pressure. As a woman who wears the hijab of her…
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Unaizah Ahmad, Chester Under the soft summer sun of the English countryside, the vibrant green fields of Hadeeqatul Mahdi, Alton, are transformed into a global village every year, where thousands of attendees from various cultures and ethnicities gather to increase religious knowledge, spirituality, and foster a sense of community. The purpose and history of this…
Voice of British Muslim Women 