I grew up in a predominantly white, middle class town. There were four Asian-Muslim families in a population of approximately 10,000 people. My family was one. Between the ages of four and eleven, I attended a Church of England primary…

Every time I go and watch a movie at the cinema, I see an advert for tobacco which ends with the line ‘Smoking is injurious to your health.’ Like everyone else, I know this is true – but I have…

‘All women are working women… only a few are salaried’ The above slogan for International Women’s Day became popular inside those four walls where women work in silence. International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. This day…

How like joy to come upon me in remembering a head of hair and the way water would caress it, and stress beauty in the flair and cut of the only witness to my dance under sorrow’s tree. This swift…

Slit my throat yourself before forcing me to marry a man. It’ll hurt everyone less. I am gay. And I am so sorry. Please. …but it is what it is. And can’t change that… Even if I wanted to. Believe…

Currently, I’m preparing for a presentation next week in class. It is about my religion, Islam. In my country, taking a course in religion is mandatory in college and this semester I will take that course along with students who…

As Ramadan begins, the Muslim ummah attempts to focus on our Islamic duties, reflect on our religion and strengthen our intentions to practice our deen with a renewed passion and purpose. Personally, Ramadan gives me a distinctive boost of confidence…

While men from our community stare at any scantily dressed girls, it is actually the women who urge us to be more decent. When these men see us hanging out with our male friends, it is the women who afterwards shout at us that we…

Many, if not most, ex-Muslims experience honour-based violence and/or abuse. The official definition of ‘honour’-based violence is that it is a crime which has been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community. In the case…

It was in April, 1990 when my mother was diagnosed with cancer of the gallbladder. Wouldn’t you know it? She’d have an oddball type of cancer. Mom went through chemotherapy during one of the hottest summers in one of the…

One pillar of Islam that my mum strictly adhered to was the difficult but humbling act of fasting.  Unfortunately, at the point that it became obligatory for me to fulfil this religious duty, the lunar Islamic calendar was displaying summer,…

I am so utterly done with being required to defend Ramadan to Muslims and, quite often, non-Muslims alike. The script goes, ‘Oh! You cannot eat all month!’ ‘From sunrise to sunset,’ I reply.  Then comes: ‘What if you get hungry…

‘It is your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you’ – Rumi Loneliness can cause a deep sadness that weakens your physical and spiritual health. I first realised how…

Some people believe a woman should be covered from head to toe in order to prevent unwanted gazes or attention from men. I have several issues with this sentiment, one of them being that the full burden, blame and responsibility…

As a Muslim woman living in New York City, I’ve experienced alarming, commonplace animosity. I’m often blitzed with verbal attacks. I have engaged in staring contests with strangers who looked at me as if I were an insect to be…