by Roszeen Afsar @Roszeen The literalist way of thinking among certain Muslims is sad to say the least. I’ve been exposed to it many times, but the most memorable was in my university prayer room. I remember being hauled into a discussion about Sufism amongst a group of girls who carried a negative opinion of …
I got 99 problems, but judging people shouldn’t be one
It’s difficult to be a Muslim online these days; if you’re not receiving backlash from Islamophobic trolls, then you can definitely rely on your own community to take the position of judge and jury when it comes to your morality. Okay, so I’m being a little facetious. But I see it time and time again, …
The Aliens; Islam & Feminine Spirituality
by Roszeen Afsar In my previous post; ‘The Smiling Sister; Paintings of Hijab’, I wrote that knowledge of spirituality today is very little, and as such female spirituality is never brought up in discussions on Islam. I was asked why that is. This is an interesting question and one I touched on in my final …
Glasgow to Guys- A Female Surgeon’s Story
by Safina Ali Safina Ali is the surgical Head and Neck Fellow at Guys Hospital, London. She is an inspiration and role model to young Muslim women everywhere. The term “fellow” in the world of surgery is reserved for those undertaking specialist advanced training in particular area of surgery. She recently spoke at an interfaith …
Where do we stand with Rape on Our Screens?
by Sabrina Mahmood (Trigger warning: this article contains references to rape, which may be distressing for some) Have you ever seen ‘The Last House on The Left’? It’s classified as a horror film, and being a well-known name in the horror world, I decided to watch it. When I read the info on the …
The Smiling Sister; Paintings of Hijab
by Roszeen Afsar “The hijab is much more than the external solid scarf, but it is worn as an internal spiritual means of faith, these collections depict that so well.” – Nargis Akhter The above quote is the feedback I received from a friend after I showed her the piece I’d painted of her [above] …
My Faith Inspires Me To Express Myself Freely And Peacefully
by Sabrina Mahmood It’s safe to say that there are times when we all feel like we need to say something but for whatever reason, we hold back and let the moment pass. When you add being a Muslim and woman into the equation it sometimes seems like an impossible feat to be heard. That …
Lessons learnt: why don’t more women feel welcome in the mosque?
“Woman is a delicate creature with strong emotions who has been created by the Almighty God to shoulder responsibility for educating society and moving toward perfection. God created woman as symbol of His own beauty and to give solace to her partner and her family.” ― Hazrat Ali ibn Abu-Talib A.S Last month, Islamic centres around …
‘How Not To Wear A Hijab’
by Nabila Pathan Amongst the plethora of Islamic chain messages I receive on a weekly basis, I can always guarantee, without fail, one or two “how not to wear Hijab” forwards. Don’t be amazed by my talents of predicting a pending message. Be dismayed at the whirlpool of intolerance that we are contributing to. There …