She Speaks We Hear

11 Forgotten Queens of Islam

As a practising Muslim, I often come up against misconceptions about my religion, community and way of life. Many words like “oppressed”, “inferior”, and “unequal” are the first words that come to mind when thinking about women in Islam. There is a widely held misconception that Muslims place little value on the education of women …

11 Forgotten Queens of Islam Read More »

Poetry: Society Unshackle Me!

I am imprisoned within a microscopic lensStereotyped, analysed, suffocatedToo submissive, too ignorant, too uneducatedThat I need to be liberated Society, unshackle me! Let me be!My scarf is wrong for me, my dress style wrongMy skin colour is wrong, I am all wrongI do not fit into the prescription of a liberated society Society, stop! Stop …

Poetry: Society Unshackle Me! Read More »

COVID-19 VACCINE PANEL DISCUSSION

On the 4th of February 2021 we held an all female expert webinar to discuss COVID-19 vaccines. It was an enlightening discussion focusing on vaccine hesitancy, addressing concerns, and answering questions about taking the jab. There were lots of questions – from why Black and Asian communities are suffering a disproportionate impact from covid-19 – …

COVID-19 VACCINE PANEL DISCUSSION Read More »

RAY Festival: Celebrating the Feminine Wisdom of our Sisters

In the Autumn of 2008, I heard the opening verses of the Quran known as the fatiha which literally means “the opening” being recited by a woman in a retreat setting, her voice angelic, her figure and appearance Marian[efn_note]By this I mean, like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is revered by both Muslims and …

RAY Festival: Celebrating the Feminine Wisdom of our Sisters Read More »

More than Scarf Deep

“If I were you, I’d cut ties with all friendships and start over.” A friend advised me when I broke it to her that I was going to take off my headscarf. It was scandalous and shameful in her eyes. And that was the last time I saw of her, she never contacted me since. …

More than Scarf Deep Read More »

From one Muslim to another- we need to do more about anti-Black Racism

As the video of George Floyd’s murder began to surface on my social media feeds, I started thinking to myself – how was this allowed to happen? How far has the dehuminisation of the black community reached, for a Police Officer to treat a Black man in such an inhumane manner despite knowing that he …

From one Muslim to another- we need to do more about anti-Black Racism Read More »

Women of faith must be seen and heard

Ramadan in lockdown has been interesting and it has created new and exciting opportunities for learning, for connecting, for developing.  I have connected with the Qur’an and its teachings in different ways to how I have before.  As I get older and as I learn more, I have an interest in looking beyond the common …

Women of faith must be seen and heard Read More »

7 Top tips to no-nonsense New Year job searching

1. Understand what your values are A former British diplomat to Iraq for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office once said that in any career, there are three things we can dream of having: A high salary Flexible working A job that is meaningful and/or interesting to you There’s a catch though. He claimed that in …

7 Top tips to no-nonsense New Year job searching Read More »

Interview with Activist and Chaplain, Zahrah Awaleh

To commemorate Black History Month we have interviewed activist and Hospital Chaplain Zahrah Awaleh. You can vote for your favourite Black Briton here and learn about others. For BHM events across the country you can go to https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk Thank you so much for taking part in this interview as part of Black History Month. First …

Interview with Activist and Chaplain, Zahrah Awaleh Read More »

Women As Problem Solvers In The Refugee Crisis

We are extremely fortunate to platform a three part series focusing on ‘Women in the Refugee Crisis’ by Tazeen Ahmad the founder of  Humanity’s Heart , an organisation that was born following a volunteering trip by a small group of people to Calais (The Jungle) in June 2016. Travelling through Calais, Lebanon and Greece, Humanity’s Heart witnesses and …

Women As Problem Solvers In The Refugee Crisis Read More »