Youth
1 min
Seventeen, Muslim, and Tired of Explaining
I’ve answered ‘but why can’t you drink?’ approximately four hundred times. Here’s my actual answer.
Revert journeys. Identity struggles. Faith found, lost, and found again. Unfiltered voices from your brothers and sisters across the world.
In Egypt, a divorced woman is a tragedy. I decided to be a plot twist instead.
I’ve answered ‘but why can’t you drink?’ approximately four hundred times. Here’s my actual answer.
Fasting while serving in the military in Accra tested everything I thought I knew about faith.
Fasting while studying for finals in Kano tested everything I thought I knew about patience.
Fasting while studying for finals in Yogyakarta tested everything I thought I knew about surrender.
France told me Islam was the problem. My neighbourhood told me France was the enemy. I refused both stories.
Fasting while studying for finals in Denver tested everything I thought I knew about surrender.
People keep asking me to choose between my culture and my faith. I refuse.
I break my fast in a hospital stairwell between patients. The other nurses think I'm crazy. Maybe I am.
It wasn't atheism that pulled me away. It was anger. And it wasn't theology that brought me back. It was mercy.
When the flood came, our community hall became the only institution that stayed — Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
When the neighbourhood changed, our community hall became the beating heart of the neighbourhood — regardless of faith.
Fasting while teaching children in Istanbul tested everything I thought I knew about faith.