On Our Own Tracks

The connection between Islam and humanity, and how Rikki feels about being an Australian woman practicing the Islamic Faith!

Whenever you think about the word ‘humanity’ what comes to mind? Is it the words of beauty, peace, love and basically all of the things that resemble a good person? Is it the art of displaying the attributes of kindness, helpfulness and generosity to another living thing? It is in the weeks following ‘World Humanity Day’ that we have the opportunity to be opened up and inspired by the people around us who prove to the world what ‘humanity’ means.

Personally, as this day is about the many aspects of ‘humanity’, I have decided to take the opportunity to highlight a particular religious group in our society – the group of people who practice the Islamic Faith. To me, a lot of negative stigma about this particular group has appeared in our media throughout recent years, and I believe that there is a real need for our society to be properly educated about  this religion so that we can ease the stigma about it and celebrate it as a beautiful part of our society.

For this particular blog, I have been very lucky to be able to discuss with my friend, Rikki, what practicing the Islamic Faith in Australia is like for her.

As Rikki explains, the best ways to describe the Islamic religion is through the four key terms of: peace, submission, purity, and obedience.

Rikki explains further, it is with these four values set in place that the Islamic religion is able to convey its ‘most beautiful part’ – that all of their practices are centered around the concept of ‘unity’ which then branches off into different practices including:

• Praying in congress
• Eating together
• Learning together
• Fasting together

Rikki has also told me that another of her favourite parts of her religion has been getting the opportunity to experience the beauty of Ramadan.

Ramadan runs for one month each year, with the dates depending on the rise of the new moon, and celebrates the time when the Quran (the central religious text of Islam) was revealed to the Islamic people. As Ricki describes it, this month is when Islamic people fast together, rest and also use the time out to assist others and find ways to help the community.

In acknowledging that these are the raw foundations of this religion, I am now left wondering about the aspects of the Islamic religion that we see.

Personally, this curiosity stems from areas such as women’s rights. When I asked Rikki about her experience of being a woman of Islamic Faith, she replied saying that the only time she feels oppressed practicing her faith is when Australians make false, negative presumptions about Islam, presumptions that they have obviously learnt from the media. So she wants us all to understand that these women “practice by choice not by force”.

It is with taking this into consideration that we can further understand that this religion is truly based on structure, spreading love and peace throughout the world, just like any other religion

So if you, like me, are now interested in Islam and other religions – and are having second thoughts about society’s stigma around them – why not explore what the real truth is from the lovely people around you who are living it day to day.