IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BURQA: Muslim women on faith, feminism,sexuality and race.

 Hello guys.How have you been?? It's been a long minute.I have been swamped with assignments and i was experiencing a writer's block but I'm good now.I missed you,did you miss me??

Today,we look at a book that has grown into me,weeks after i completed reading it.It's not bout the Burqa:Muslim women on faith, feminism, sexuality and race.It is a book by Mariam Khan.It is an entry of essays by seventeen  muslim women who speak directly to the experiences of muslim women living in the west,the United Kingdom.

Photo by Google images.

I have gone to school with a handful of muslim girls but our interaction was limited to the school environment and that was it.We didn't have any contact outside school and so i don't know much about the community aside from what I heard or was told.

The book helps debunk the stereotypes that we hold about Muslim women and islam in general.It is an eye-opener for everyone who reads it, muslim or non-muslim.

"I believe the role of the writer is to tell society what it pretends it does not know."

The essay entries contained herein address diverse issues of racism, misogyny, homophobia,islamophobia,sex , representation,faith,mental health,love and queer identity.

As i read the book i had the Muslim girls back in school in mind.The essays are really thought provoking.

"By engaging with this narrative i hope to dismantle it from within.Muslim women are more than burqas, more than hijabs and more than society has allowed us to be until now.We are not asking for permission anymore.We are taking up space.We've listened to alot of people talking about who muslim women are without actually hearing muslim women.So now,we are speaking.And now it's your turn to listen." -Mariam Khan.

By reading the book i have had my own reflection on what i have heard from people and seen on TV about islam culture and religion.I am committed to learning more and I do hope that you will do the same and be open minded once you read this amazing book.

"We cannot change our past, perspectives,but we can certainly reflect on them ,own them and commit to growing from them."

 Muslim women and even islam is more than the representation especially in mainstream culture.

"You cannot open a book without learning something.A book can make a home for itself in both your heart and mind, and it can provide the direction you need to succeed in life."-Confucius.

This book certainly does that for you.It is time for muslim women and women all over  the world to make their own voices heard.

That's it for today.I wish to see you here next week but until then stay safe and take care of you and your mental health.

                 Love and light

Esther.