Download An Interview with Three Muslim Teenagers in Ireland

An Interview with Three Muslim
Teenagers in Ireland
Three Muslim teenagers living in Dublin agreed to talk to us about what it is like to
live as Muslims in Ireland today. Khadija is 18, Hajar and Mabrooka are 16.
How long have you lived in Ireland?
Khadija: 6 years
Hajar: 6 years
Mabrooka: Since I was 6 years old.
Can you describe an average day you
would have?
Khadija: I do my morning prayer first
thing in the morning, go to school and
when I come home, pray the prayers that
I missed while I was at school. Before
going to bed I pray the last prayer of the
day. At the weekends I go to the
Institute for grinds and afterwards might
go out with my friends in town.
Hajar: I begin each day by performing
the first prayer (Salah) of the day. I have
breakfast and go to school. When I
return from school I pray my second and
third prayer (which are known as Duhur
and Asr). I don’t have time or a place to
go in school to do these prayers. I study
in the evenings but take a break to pray
Magrib, this is the third prayer of the day
and takes place at sunset. Before going
to bed I pray the last prayer of the day
and sometimes read some of the Quran
(our holy book).
Mabrooka: I get up early, do my wudu
(purification before prayer) and pray the
first prayer of the day. I get the bus to
school and after school, pray the second
and third prayers. When it gets dark I
usually pray the Magrib with my family.
I find it more meaningful to pray in a
group rather than on my own all the
time. Before I go to bed I pray Ishaa
(the last prayer) and recite some of the
Quran.
So you all pray five times a day?
Khadija: Yes. We don’t manage to
pray at school but during the month of
Ramadan I go to the Mosque during
lunchtime to do the afternoon prayer.
I’m lucky because the Mosque isn’t far
from my school.
Hajar: Yes, praying five times a day
may seem like a lot of time put aside for
God but each prayer only takes five
minutes of my time. Praying five times
a day makes my faith stronger; God
guides me during hard or difficult times.
Mabrooka: Yes, I pray my five
essential prayers. It’s hard to pray my
second and third prayer in school but
what can I do? God is understanding, he
understands my situation. I pray them
when I get home.
What do you believe about God?
Khadija: I believe strongly in God. He
plays a big role in my life. He helps me
when I need him and guides me through
life. He is with me all the time.
Hajar: I believe God is one, has no
equal, is gracious and merciful, is the
protector and the availer. I believe God
cannot be drawn or described because he
is unique. God can only be described by
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his 99 names which are characteristics
listed in the Quran.
Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the
last prophet of God.
Mabrooka: I believe God is
indescribable. He is the creator, he is
one, he has no equal, no mother, father,
brother, sister or child. He is most
compassionate and caring.
What is the proper name for your
headscarf?
All: Hijab
What do you believe about Jesus?
Khadija: We believe Jesus or Isaa, as
we call him, to be the prophet who
brought Christianity to the world.
Hajar: We believe Jesus is one of
God’s messengers.
Mabrooka: We call him Isaa, which
sounds like the Irish word for Jesus! We
believe he was a prophet but don’t
believe that he was crucified or that he
was the Son of God. We also believe in
Mary and believe that she was a virgin.
What similarities do you see between
Islam and Christianity?
Khadija: Both believe in one God and
Jesus, although we have different views
on Jesus. We both have holy books,
holy days and holy celebrations. We
believe that Mary was a virgin, in the
Day of Judgment and in Heaven and
Hell.
Hajar: There are many similarities
between Islam and Christianity. Both
religions believe in one God, in Jesus
and in the Day of Judgment. Both
believe that Jesus will return to the earth
and in Heaven and Hell. Both religions
believe that God is merciful and will
forgive sins through prayer.
Mabrooka: Islam and Christianity are
very similar but we believe that
Why do you wear it?
Khadija: I wear the hijab because it is
part of my religion. It identifies who I
am.
Hajar: God has asked us to wear the
hijab and has explained why in his holy
book. It is our choice to wear it but in
my opinion it should be worn because
God is only asking a small thing of us.
He is only asking it of us for our own
protection.
Mabrooka: Allah asked us to wear it to
show our modesty and respect.
After the September 11th attacks did
you experience any hostility from
people here in Ireland?
Khadija: Yes but not as badly as others.
Kids on the street would ask me if I was
Bin Laden and that kind of thing.
Before September 11th I received
comments about wearing my hijab and
that I should take it off!
Hajar: Not a lot, we just got a few
more unusual looks and just a few
comments. They were not nice at all
though.
Mabrooka: I was given dirty looks by a
lot of people. I just wanted to shout
“Those terrorists don’t represent Islam!”
How did that make you feel?
Khadija: It used to upset me but now I
don’t care because it is who I am and if
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someone has a problem with that, well,
that’s their problem.
Hajar: I felt quite secluded and a bit
angry.
Mabrooka: It’s hard when I experience
racism and have to face people’s
prejudice towards Islam.
What do you like best about living in
Ireland?
Khadija: I have made a lot of friends
here.
What are your hopes for the future?
Khadija: My hope for the future is that
everyone will be treated equally, no
matter who they are. I would also like to
go to university here and do a degree in
Engineering.
Hajar: It is great to experience a new
culture and see how the Irish still
consider religious belief to be important.
Hajar: My hopes for the future are to
see the Irish accept multicultural races
and to see peace around the world.
Mabrooka: It’s a very diverse multicultural society - even the Muslims are
from different countries. I also find it
interesting to meet Irish Muslims
(converts) and hear what they have to
say about why they converted to Islam.
Mabrooka: I really hope that people
don’t think that the media’s portrayal of
Islam is true because a lot of it is very
anti-Islam. They are trying to associate
Islam with terrorism and that upsets me.
Islam means peace.
What do you find most difficult about
living in Ireland?
Khadija: Well, it’s not an Islamic
country; it is a different culture to my
own. Being discriminated against due to
my colour and religion is difficult.
Hajar: What I find most difficult about
living here is that the Irish are still not
fully accepting multi-culturalism and
different religions.
Activity:
Write a letter to one of the girls,
addressing any of the issues
raised that you found
interesting.
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