ManchesterISOC Writes
Ahh you found us!
Assalamualaikum and welcome to the University of Manchester Islamic Society’s very own blog! A platform to document your stories, thoughts and reflections!
Check in for regular posts on all kinds of topics!
We ask Allah (swt) to make this a continuous source of benefit for us all.
This blog is about you! Whether it’s a thoughtful reminder, a personal story or even recipe for a mouthwatering halal dish, we want to hear about it!
Want to get involved? Have a question? Please write to us at blog@manchesterisoc.com!
‘Today I Wanted to End My Life’. An Account on Having Hope
As part of our Mind Your Mind Mental Health Campaign we will be submitting stories that you send in to us about your experiences with mental health. We hope that this will help to destigmatise mental health and increase conversation. If you would like to submit a story you can do so anonymously by following ... Read more‘Today I Wanted to End My Life’. An Account on Having Hope
Mental Illness Is Not A Personal Failure
As part of our Mind Your Mind Mental Health Campaign we will be submitting stories that you send in to us about your experiences with mental health. We hope that this will help to destigmatise mental health and increase conversation. If you would like to submit a story you can do so anonymously by following ... Read moreMental Illness Is Not A Personal Failure
‘I Didn’t Realise I Had Mental Health Issues Until This Year’
As part of our Mind Your Mind Mental Health Campaign we will be submitting stories that you send in to us about your experiences with mental health. We hope that this will help to destigmatise mental health and increase conversation. If you would like to submit a story you can do so anonymously by following ... Read more‘I Didn’t Realise I Had Mental Health Issues Until This Year’
Share Your Story: Story 1
As part of our ‘Mind Your Mind’ Mental Health Campaign we asked you to share your stories. Our aim is to create a space to discuss mental health so that people can share their experiences to help raise awareness and support others struggling with their mental health. We hope that others will benefit from this exchange of ... Read moreShare Your Story: Story 1
Al-Kitab Club: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Malcom X is such a well-known figure across the world, but how much do we really know about his life? “I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda… I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as ... Read moreAl-Kitab Club: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Oh the Places You’ll Pray!
Most of us often find ourselves praying between the masjid, university prayers rooms or in our homes but on occasion, when we can’t find anywhere to pray, we find ourselves having to improvise and offer salah in places you often wouldn’t think to! The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The entire earth has been made a masjid except for the graveyard and the bathroom.” ... Read moreOh the Places You’ll Pray!
Al-Kitab Club: Our Thoughts on This Month’s Book
If you’ve ever wanted to delve into the Seerah of the Prophet but didn’t know where to start, this book is for you! Title: Muhammad (PBUH): his life based on the earliest sources Author: Martin Lings Rating: 5/5 Quick summary This book details the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), starting from before he was ... Read moreAl-Kitab Club: Our Thoughts on This Month’s Book
Coping with Injustice: Strike Your Stick Like Musa (AS)
Every time we turn on the news, scroll down our Facebook feeds or listen to the radio it seems as though all we hear about are stories of oppression, war, crimes, poverty and disease. When one crisis is over, another one emerges. News nowadays seems to be just that…bad news. For many of us, the ... Read moreCoping with Injustice: Strike Your Stick Like Musa (AS)
Revert stories: The only Muslim in the village
This week we got the opportunity to interview Sherrie, an MA Translation and Interpreting Studies student from Malpas, who reverted to Islam. The interview was wonderfully insightful and it really gave us a much better understanding of the life of reverts to Islam! Please do read this interview right up to the end, because trust us, it’ll ... Read moreRevert stories: The only Muslim in the village
Interview Corner: Reflections from the Refugee Camps
This week, we sat down with committee members from Manchester ISoc to hear what they had to say about their recent trip to Lebanon with Global Rahmah Foundation, where they delivered aid to those in need in refugee camps, using money raised from our charity week. In a nutshell, how was the trip? Abdurrahman: A ... Read moreInterview Corner: Reflections from the Refugee Camps
Introducing Al-Kitab Club
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu! Manchester ISoc would like to present Al-Kitab Club. We can often feel overwhelmed by all of the things we wish to read, learn and benefit from. We tell ourselves we don’t have the time, and we struggle with making the time, to read in our busy lives. We try to ... Read moreIntroducing Al-Kitab Club
Favourite Ayahs challenge by Manchester ISoc
The Qur’an. 6236 ayahs. Each one perfectly beautiful in its own way. Each one full of answers, lessons and guidance. We wanted to hear from our readers, so we asked you to share your favourite Ayahs with us. Here’s what you had to say: “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” -Surah Ash-Sharh [94:6] I ... Read moreFavourite Ayahs challenge by Manchester ISoc
We’re back!
Assalamualaikum! It’s fair to say that some long overdue blog posts are in order! After dusting off the cobwebs and eagerly scribbling away at the drawing board, we have come up with a jam packed schedule for you this semester! From interviews and polls to reminders and moving stories, you can expect nothing but ... Read moreWe’re back!
Ramadan: The Last Ten Nights
Ramadan has taken me by storm. Just yesterday the month was dawning upon me, yet I find myself, today, already having reached the last 10 nights, as if the first 20 had charged through my life in full force, without hindrance or interruption. Time does not wait for anyone, it flows, passes, proceeds, and continues, ... Read moreRamadan: The Last Ten Nights
Welcome, Ramadan
“Ramadan will be starting on Saturday” “I’m sorry, don’t you mean Sunday?” “Brothers, we will be fasting on Monday!” Ramadan, the blessed 9th month of the lunar Islamic year: A cyclical guest whose very commencement is, more often than not, a matter of difference and confusion. For most, Ramadan signals the re-enactment of the accustomed ... Read moreWelcome, Ramadan
The Power of You
It’s important to surround ourselves with positivity, but we must also realise that we can’t completely isolate ourselves from negative energy. Ignorance, difficulty and injustice will be found everywhere. If you get out of a testing situation, or cut ties with an angry person, understand that you will soon face negativity again. But let me ... Read moreThe Power of You
What about tomorrow?
When I reflect on the past few months, I notice something. If you’d have asked me last year where I expected to be heading, my answer would have been very different from what I see in front of me today. In such a short amount of time, my life has changed drastically. It’s moments like ... Read moreWhat about tomorrow?
Let’s talk about Mental Health
I’m a Muslim and I suffer from anxiety and depression. I used to feel so alone and isolated from my brothers and sisters. I’d see statistics that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem at some point and that the odds are even higher when we look at the student population. ... Read moreLet’s talk about Mental Health
My Story
As-salamu-alaikum, wa-rahma-tullahi-wa-barakahtuhu,For the next couple of minutes, you will hear my story, It’s no Tarantino script and it’s not quite as gory, In fact, you may find certain parts a little bit boring, But God-willing, It will be ok and you won’t end up snoring. — Where to begin, where to start, The name is ... Read moreMy Story
You are who you surround yourself with
They say if you want to know the character of a person, look at the people they surround themselves with. If you were to pause for a moment and evaluate your friendships, would you say that the people you surround yourself with are indicative of your character or of who you want to be? If ... Read moreYou are who you surround yourself with
The souls we don’t see
We only ever really see a small fraction of a person. Our perspective is incredibly limited. We don’t have access to the hearts of those around us, nor do we hear their cries in the quietest portion of the night. And often, when we make negative assumptions about others, it is a reflection of our ... Read moreThe souls we don’t see
Beginnings
Beginnings are special. They signify opportunity. Just as the Sun radiates through the night sky to greet us with morning, beginnings carry with them countless blessings. These words mark the start of Manchester ISoc’s brand new blog. A platform to share stories, thoughts and reflections. We ask Allah (swt) to make this a good beginning, ... Read moreBeginnings