As a junior doctor graduating in 2016, I knew I would have a very little chance at getting quality training in my home country for various reasons. With the aim to get higher quality training in a western country and not much focus on anything else, I decided on moving and living in the west as a Muslim and find the perfect training programme for me. I will not deny that the income that I was expecting to get was lucrative compared to what I would have got if I stayed in my country, and this was another reason why a then young lad like me was looking forward to leaving.
There was an obvious shortage of doctors in the UK. I got married, found a good training programme and moved to the UK. To be completely honest, I didn’t really think things through at that point. I was newly married, newly graduated, looking to gain knowledge as a doctor and have an experience of living independently abroad. It certainly looked greener on the other side. I was not aware of the possible challenges of living in the west as a Muslim. Partly because I thought I was too young to think of all the details at that stage: future kids and their education, long term plans, retirement, etc. I was kind of a kid myself!
Fast forward a few years: specialisation, family, finances, retirement, and most importantly religion became far more important to me. The impact of the country that I would live in on these aspects became real and tangible.
How Abundance in the West Strengthened My Faith as a Muslim
Moving to the UK has surprisingly (to me) made me a better Muslim. Having everything done in a certain way from when you are a little kid makes you really accustomed to the Muslim lifestyle. When you take this away and you realise that people around the globe have a very different view of things, something ignites in your heart. You start to miss the way of life you had. You connect more to your culture and religion. And you understand why things are done in a certain way back home. In fact, you start to celebrate your identity and how you’re different from anyone else.
As a Muslim in a non-Muslim country, you are unique indeed. While some folk are happy to bury this part of their life and “blend in”, for me this part in me grew more and more. Now I take every opportunity to speak about my religion, my culture even with my work colleagues and with non-Muslims. I am simply proud of being a Muslim.
The rise of Islamophobia and the right wing
Now Islamophobia is something I never really thought of or its impact until I moved to this country. My parents also spent some time in the UK when I was little but never talked about it, so I assumed it only existed on CNN and BBC. Or at least it does not exist in the way its portrayed to us. Islamophobia is more common than you think. I can see it on Facebook comments from “keyboard warriors”, some middle aged men when they see a hijabi. It’s evidently more common in uneducated people.
Racism or “religionism” segregates people and creates bubbles. It is difficult to really blend in if you’re not drinking, watching British series, passionate about football. There is little in common to talk about with others. That’s ok for me because I’m an introvert anyway, but if you think you’ll have a lot of best pals in this country, then I’m afraid to say that won’t be the case. Social life in the west is very different that the one we have in Muslim or Arab countries. Blending in could be difficult particularly if your values, culture, religion, passions are completely different. For me they certainly are. This ties in well with the next paragraph.
Subtle racism
Racism to me was when angry people tell others to “go back from where they came from.” Until I moved to the UK, this was my knowledge of racism: plain hatred, people not wanting to be near you, unjustified anger. Alhamdulillah I have not experienced this. But there are plenty of other subtle signs. You will not be obviously hated on… but you may be subtly excluded from their groups. And you may not receive the same passionate support that some people offer one another. You may not be a close friend of theirs. Slight remarks of how our home country is backward/underdeveloped/has a lot of desert. Things that are sometimes difficult to really hold of and point out. Things people know you will not report them for!
Living in the West as a Muslim: holding on to burning coal
يأتي على الناس زمانٌ القابضُ فيه على دينه كالقابضِ على الجمر
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“There will come a time when holding on to your religion will be like holding on to a burning coal.”
— [Tirmidhi, Hadith 2260 – Hadith Hasan]
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told us this in a short hadith about a certain time. Not to sound dramatic but I feel most of us in the 21st century can relate to this. From not being able to attend Jumu’ah sometimes due to work commitments, to the struggle of teaching my son Arabic and deen, and trying to ignite in him the same fire and protective love I feel in my heart for Islam: being a Muslim in the West is not easy.
That said, this is a broad statement, as some can build environments filled with values and teachings that are just as strong, if not stronger, than those back home. Still, tamassuk of my faith has brought me closer to Allah, and given me a deep sense of protection and heartfelt jealousy over my deen that I may not have developed otherwise. SubhanAllah, who would have thought?
Living in The West as a Muslim: You are on your own, pal
When I first came here, I was just an excited lad. Excited about work and maybe some sightseeing after work. This excitement faded away with time when I was faced with real life problems. Individualism in this country made me realise that my wife and I are on our own here. Yes, we have some friends but they lead busy lives and have their own struggles. With no close family, it feels slightly lonely when it hits you: You are on your own here.
For me, loneliness creeps in, in particular, when I have trouble at work. Some of these troubles stem from “subtle racism.” You will wonder: If you weren’t different than them maybe you would have been helped more and this situation could have been avoided? If you were more “likeable” maybe you would have been helped to get out of the problem as you see with your colleagues?
You learn with time that there is no point blaming racism or others. It will only burden you and you will not gain anything. You will not prove a point to anyone. You just need to realise that if things go down, you are on your own pal.
The Enjoyment is in The Ride
I am not sure if I painted a bright or a dark picture about moving to a non-Muslim country by writing this article. I certainly did not want it to be biased and I must say, I am enjoying the ride. Allah has blessed me with Rida and I am satisfied with my journey. I am growing both personally and professionally possibly in a way I may not have been able to do in my home country? Yes, it will not be perfect, and it’s not meant to be. This dunya is dar Al-Bala’ and all I want is to pass the test. It is very interesting to know that the fact I have moved to the UK has been written way before I was born. This is my qadar and I embrace it fully. There is no point focusing on the negative.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“تفاءلوا بالخير تجدوه”
“Think positively and expect good, and you will find it.”
Alhamdulillah, I am thinking positively and enjoy this chapter in my life. I simply do not want it to be the final chapter.