Inside the world of UK Muslim women

[Ibtisam]

She wants to marry her soulmate, shops in Primark, TK Maxx and Topshop, and dreams of starting her own business, while keeping a delicate balance with her Islamic values. Meet the typical Muslim woman in Britain today.

 

A thousand women throughout the country have responded to the biggest lifestyle study of Muslim women undertaken in the UK. It appears to show that Muslim women have established a delicate balance between a desire to live a contemporary lifestyle and tap into consumer trends while sticking to values underpinning the Islamic guide to life.

 

The survey shows that 58 per cent of Muslim women do not think the racial background of a partner matters, although two-thirds believe it is very important for their man to be knowledgeable about Islam.

 

Success to 37 per cent of women means being a good Muslim, while 32 per cent say it is about combining work with family life, with 52 per cent wanting to run their own businesses.

 

When asked which Muslim causes were most important, 70 per cent of women said matters affecting Muslims in their own community or in the UK were a priority against 21 per cent who said that the Middle East was the most important issue facing Muslims today.

 

Talat Ahmed, 32, from Redbridge in east London, is married with a three-year-old daughter and works in human resources for a charity. She said: 'I become so English when the Rugby World Cup is on. We're British and we love it here.

 

'[but] it's complex because living in the West we feel alienation. The media and the government categorises Muslims. We choose to be Muslim and we want to be respected and we want people to understand. A lot of things get misconstrued because Islam is a private thing. I totally respect people of all religions. Sure we are British. We choose to live here. To me it's terrible being told to go back where you come from.'

 

Half of British Muslim women polled for the survey - carried out by Muslim women's magazine Sisters and Ummah Foods, a halal food business - say the hijab is about dressing modestly, with 19 per cent equating it to 'covering up completely'.

 

More than half the women polled never go on holiday in Britain for fear of not being welcome in coastal resorts, lack of halal food outlets and uncertainty over where the nearest mosque would be. Eighty-two per cent of Muslim women want shops to sell products that are halal- and sharia-compliant - a desire mainstream retailers largely fail to satisfy.

 

'I'm proud of my religion, and being British as well as Muslim is important for my identity, but as I've got older, I've started to feel like I don't belong here,' said Farah Mulla, 27, who lives in west London and works in marketing. 'I don't hide my religion though - I'll do things like pray at work, even if there are people around - that makes no difference to me.'

 

For Farah, praying and reading the Koran is part of her daily routine. 'The Koran gives me guidance and praying puts me at peace. It gives me a sense of belonging.' When it comes to marriage, she says she would only ever marry a Muslim although some members of her family have married out of Islam. 'Mixed-faith marriages can work, but it just wouldn't work for me. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I didn't marry a Muslim.

 

'My faith is so important to me and I wouldn't want any misunderstandings or conflicts arising from that. But Asian culture confuses things too much and sometimes people get too involved with caste and background, which just isn't right and isn't anything to do with religion at all.'

 

Nabila Pathan, 25, from Leytonstone, east London, presents Women's Voice, a woman's chat show, on Press TV, an English language channel funded by the Iranian government.

 

She says: 'The government is always funding these quite contrived attempts to "understand" Muslims, but to be honest I think a lot of Muslims are fed up with that. Sometimes it's better to read things about ourselves if it's come from ourselves - that way, it's on our terms.'

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk

[cynical lady]

Everywhere you look in SOL, threads full of marriage/looking for a partner seriously what the hell is happening here. There is more to life than finding a partner/getting married.

[Ibtisam]

Originally posted by cynical lady:

Everywhere you look in SOL, threads full of marriage/looking for a partner seriously what the hell is happening here. There is more to life than finding a partner/getting married.

^^^This thread is not?? :confused: Why are you posting your rant here?? Are you sure you are not think so much about this topic you are seeing things??

 

I mean I just saw this part

The survey shows that 58 per cent of Muslim women do not think the racial background of a partner matters, although two-thirds believe it is very important for their man to be knowledgeable about Islam.

Which is just a passing comment. What did your eyes show you baal??

[Jacaylbaro]

CL, And why is it bothering you hadii dadkii dhiigu wada dhaqaaqay ?? ,,

[cynical lady]

Am not seeing things…….its there look^^

 

Jacl affingris please

[Jacaylbaro]

i said why is it bothering you if people are ready for action ??

[Paragon]

CL, the elders call it 'Doob Summer Qooq'

[cynical lady]

Jacl..good for them, but why must they bombard us with it? One thread dedicated to that will be much appreciated me thinks.

 

 

p.s :Ibti I am not hijacking your thread blame Jacl.

[Jacaylbaro]

It is summer like Isseh said ,,,, if people talk such stuff we should all know it is summer.

 

i still don't know why CL is different ..... if she is really different

[Paragon]

^Some bloom early some late .

[Ibtisam]

CL

Again I do not see where you saw anything about people wanting to get married or looking for partner?? :confused: Please show me.

 

And stop hijacking my thread, it is about identity of Muslim women in the UK based on surveys.

 

 

Looool @ is she really different! Hahaha lool

[cynical lady]

The Opening Line was …….She wants to marry her soulmate

 

 

“The survey shows that 58 per cent of Muslim women do not think the racial background of a partner matters, although two-thirds believe it is very important for their man to be knowledgeable about Islam.”

 

“When it comes to marriage, she says she would only ever marry a Muslim although some members of her family have married out of Islam. 'Mixed-faith marriages can work, but it just wouldn't work for me. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I didn't marry a Muslim.”

Closing line “But Asian culture confuses things too much and sometimes people get too involved with caste and background, which just isn't right and isn't anything to do with religion at all.'”

 

I am not saying the whole article is dedicated to that only; it has other parts but look at the opening line?

 

 

p.s am not hijacking I said it woman blame Jacl…….btw Jacl I am.

[Jacaylbaro]

why are you different bal CL ??? why ??

[Ibtisam]

CL paranoia baa kuu heese my dear. Baal maaryaah haa kaa carariin

[cynical lady]

no comprende!