Wednesday 13-11-2024 - 15:05

For each week of Islamophobia Awareness Month, The Union are shining a spotlight on those in the community. We're asking them to tell us a little bit about themselves and what the month means to them. This week, we've spoken to Aliza.

 

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Tell us about yourself

Hi, my name is Aliza Tucker and I’ve spent most of my life in Manchester. I split my week working at the different receptions at The Union and studying BA Architecture (3rd year). Beyond my working role, I occasionally attended Give it a Go sessions (and even led some origami ones!) at The Union and came to a couple movie nights.

 

What does Islamophobia Awareness Month mean to you?

While I don’t actively contribute to Islamophobia awareness activities, I am happy when people feel comfortable in asking more questions about Islam or the lived experience of Islamophobia that me or my loved ones have encountered.

Year on year I see the Islamic Society hold stalls to introduce Islam to the curious, with guest speakers who share the beauty of Islam with those who may never have had an opportunity to explore what Islam is beyond the media coverage.

This is inspiring to witness as it changes the narrative of defence to openness and sharing, ultimately inviting more people to feel comfortable in asking questions and seeing Muslims as people not so different to themselves.

 

How has your faith shaped your identity and helped you navigate through difficult times?

My faith acts as a moral compass to keep me striving to improve myself and how I am with others. It keeps me in check when I may be feeling low or frustrated, helping me navigate these with kindness to myself and others.

Islam has saved me many times when life has thrown boulders in my way, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

I find that when I’m out of touch with my practice of Islam, things that are stressful seem unbearably so. By spending some time meditating or sitting in the stillness and remembering Allah and Islamic teachings, it helps to ground me and minimises the effects of the external pressures of life.

Faith also gives people hope, hope that positive outcomes are on the horizon, even if we can’t see them in our midst. Hope that there are better days that follow the minefields we must venture through. Hope that our struggles have a purpose, even if as small as to sympathising with others.

 

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about Islam that you’d like to address?

That Islamic laws oppress us. We are forced into obeying them and are punished if we don’t. As Muslims, we believe that Allah can forgive everything we do as long as we are sincere in our repentance; and if it relates to wronging other people, we must seek their forgiveness too.

Islamic rulings give us a framework to live our lives with and most restrictions are present for our benefit, even if we can’t understand it at the time, a silver lining.

It is important to note the difference between religion and culture. A lot of the bad press for the implementation of Islam comes from cultural misunderstandings of the practice which has been passed down generations.

There is an active effort by the Muslims of today to step back from the cultural practices and learn about the Islamic teachings as separate to ‘that’s just the way we’ve always done it’. It is interesting to apply this to non-Muslim upbringings as there are different nuances, but social media comedically highlights the things that transgress religion and culture!

 

What message would you like to share with those who may not be familiar with Islam?

Try not to always take the media at face-value. Do your research by speaking to Muslims, attending some events in your locale, and even taking a visit to a mosque (ask a Muslim classmate or co-worker if you accompany them).

If that seems daunting, watch some Islamic comedy through standup or reels which is a softer way to be introduced to the modern Islamic culture that is experienced by Muslims all over the world.

When you engage with the right people, the mutual exchange of ideas and experiences can be eye-opening and builds bridges between the communities around us.