Author Archives: Michelle Schafieh

What does Islam mean to UCLA students?

Photography by Ayman Ahmad [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I asked non-Muslim students at UCLA what they know about Islam, some mentioned prayer and making pilgrimage, but two answers were most common: “Islam requires women to wear hijab” or “It had tons of rules and rituals”. When one looks up “Islam” in the dictionary, this is the definition he/she…

My Journey as a Muslim

My parents told me I was Muslim. They taught me the basic teachings of Islam: how to behave, treat others and distinguish halal and haram. I knew I was Muslim, but I did not know what that meant. They told me I should pray, but they did not enforce it. My parents never pressured me…