ShareBRITAIN is very diverse culturally and religiously and most times, it is very difficult to practise your religion without offending other people. It is more difficult when your religion dictates a specific code of conduct ranging from what you wear to where you can go and how you comport yourself in public. Most people perceive Islam to be very restrictive and unfair to women so, how do British female Muslims cope with the pressures of the society? Maha Musa, 22-year-old single lady from Northwest London is a daughter of a late Imam.  She speaks with Victory Oyeleke of the Sunday Tribune about how she feels as a British Muslim.

Maha relocated from the Emirates to Britain when she was 15. Since Britain is not an Islamic country, there were huge differences in the way things are conducted in Britain compared to the Emirates. For the first time in her life, she had to attend a mixed school and had to carry the full responsibility of maintaining her faith. High school was fun, except for Physical Education where she had to play sports with boys. Since she never did sports with boys before, she refused. Her mother was called to school but she supported her daughter’s decision not to play sports with boys.

College was better because there were lots of other Muslims, the only problem was praying. It was very difficult to get a spare room to pray in; at times, they ended up praying on the corridor.  When asked if she was being forced to practise Islam she couldn’t help laughing and said “no ! Through my whole life I have been a Muslim. I have studied other religions but feel at peace with Islam. I don’t see anything hard about my faith.

From a tender age, I was taught how to serve Allah and to follow Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and his wives.” Maha doesn’t touch the opposite sex, except members of her family, because it is Haram (forbidden in Islam).

She won’t leave her house without wearing the Abaya and Hijab and won’t stay in the same room as her male visitor without a chaperon. Her reason for dressing this way is because it is a decree from God and it preserves her womanhood, giving her husband the sole right to see her womanly curves.

Although, she agrees that wearing the Niqab (veil) brings you closer to God and you get more credit for not revealing your beauty, she personally won’t use it right now, but might use it later in the future. She explains that Niqab (veil) is a personal choice and doesn’t reduce your dignity or cut you off from social life as the Belgium government and French President Sarkozy are claiming. 

Smoking and drinking of alcohol are a no-go areas for her because, apart from  being Haram, it is wise to protect one’s temple. As a Muslim, she has the right and duty to obtain education, the right to work to earn money, if she needs or wants it; the right to have her own independent property, the right to equality of reward for equal deeds, the right to express  her opinion and be heard;

the right to provisions from her husband for all her needs and more, the right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice; the right to obtain divorce from her husband, even on the grounds that she simply can’t stand him.

(Please note that God deeply frowns upon divorce as a solution, unless there is hardly any other alternative.) ; the right to keep all her own money (she is not responsible for the maintenance of any relations); the right to get sexual satisfaction from her husband, custody of their children after divorce and to refuse any marriage that does not please her.

Although, her present society is very different from the one she was born in, Maha promotes the understanding of core Islam in order to fully embrace the beauty of the religion.

She is proud of her religion and lives her life by the requirements of the Quran and Hadith. According to her, people hate things they don’t understand and it is the duty of all Muslims to teach others  by showing them the beauty of the religion.  Maha says: “Islam doesn’t restrict women, it empowers them!” May peace be with you all Amen.

Share