Scottish Shi’i Voices is a research-driven community project capturing and celebrating the lived experiences of Scotland’s growing Shii Muslim community.
In creating this unique online video resource, the project aims to promote a better understanding of Scotland’s Shi`a among the general non-Muslim public and among Scotland’s Sunni communities. The project offers an important platform for Scottish Shi`a to express their unique religious and cultural identities whilst simultaneously affirming and celebrating their Scottishness.
The first phase of the project resulted in 7 video interviews exploring the histories and lived experiences of a diverse cross-section of Scotland’s Shii community. All the interviews are available to watch below and we would like to express our sincere thanks to all our interviewees for helping us create such a rich and inspiring resource.
This is a living, evolving project, and we plan to grow the video archive through a further series of interviews in 2020/21. If you would like to be involved, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The project is led by Professor Andrew Newman (Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh) with support from the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World. The project was created thanks to a generous grant by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
A separate paper, prepared by Professor Newman and available at Scottish Shi`i Voices paper, provides some further background to the project.
Ameed
Ameed’s parents initially migrated to England in 1947 for economic reasons. Born in 1961 in Glasgow, Ameed describes the development of Shi’ism in Scotland and his strong affiliation and connection to his faith instilled by his parents.
During this interview, Ameed explores:
- Shi’ism within his family home.
- The growth of the Shi’i Community in Scotland over his lifetime.
- The conversion of homes into Shi’i prayer places.
- His multilayered identity.
- His religious affiliation and its ipmact on his professional life.
- Faith and religion as opposed to materialism.
- The desire of the second and third generations to make parents proud.
- Current challenges of multiculturalism.
- International networks of Shi’I clerics and teachers.
- The difficulties of being Shi’i in Sunni majority Pakistan.
- Faith and mental health.
Asif
Asif, a 2nd generation Asian, from Kenya, made the decision to move to Edinburgh to be with his Mother after a stroke. He describes his family’s heritage and history under the British Empire and how his multinational job allowed him to resettle in Scotland.
During this interview, Asif explores:
- The role of the British Empire and his father’s OBE.
- Nairobi as a tolerant and accommodating place.
- The sharing of religious knowledge between Shi’i and Sunni in Kenya.
- The benefits of working for a multinational company.
- How he joined his family in Edinburgh.
- The Role of Women from the Shi’i Perspective within the Family and wider Society.
- The two official Shi’i Centres in Edinburgh
- Leadership challenges
- The development of the Scottish Ahl al-Bayt Society.
- The future generations of Shi’i Muslims.
- The importance propagating the Ahl al-Bayt message
- The importance of tolerance and a sense of a shared humanity.
Farhana
Farhana has lived in Edinburgh since the 1990s, having come here from the English Midlands to study. Initially she lived here with her uncle. Her father and brothers then visited. They all loved the city so much that the whole family moved up. She has an arranged marriage to a half-Finnish, ‘born-and-bred’ Londoner. Trained as a biochemist, she describes herself as ’a very busy working mum’.
During this interview, Farhana explores:
- Early years and family history.
- The importance of a support network.
- Family identity and heritage.
- What it means to be Shi’i.
- Language and faith.
- Community spirit.
- The faith journey in modern society.
- Being Shi’i in Scotland.
- Role models in Shi’i Islam.
- Being accepted as a Muslim woman.
- Generational differences in understanding and practicing the faith.
- Arranged marriage.
- Universals of motherhood.
Fayrouz
Fayrouz arrived in Scotland from Iraq with her family at the age of seven. What was supposed to be a temporary move for the duration of her father’s university degree turned permanent in 1990 with the outbreak of the Gulf War. She has lived in Scotland ever since.
During this interview, Fayrouz discusses:
- Her journey to Scotland
- Her identity as a Shi’i Muslim
- Some important Shi’i beliefs and practices
- The challenges and opportunities of migrating to a new country
- The growing Arab community in Scotland
- The Scottish Ahl al-Bayt Society
- The development of Scottish Shi’i organisations over time
- Generational differences across the Scottish Shi’i community
- Her humanitarian work
- Her relationship with Iraq
- The Iraq War and its impact on her and others in Scotland
- Inter-faith and intra-faith relationships in Scotland
Riaz
Riaz was born in Lahore, then still part of India. His father then travelled to Kenya in 1935 for better opportunities. Riaz came to Edinburgh from Kenya in 1993.
During this interview, Riaz explores:
- The Shi’i community in Kenya and East Africa.
- Shi’ism in his life.
- Coming to Edinburgh.
- Sunni and Shi’i practices.
- Being a Shi’i in Edinburgh.
- The Prophet and the twelve Imams.
- Imam Husayn and Karbala.
- Teaching the Faith in English.
- Learning About Other Faiths.
- Generational Identity.
- Others’ Curiosity
Sadiq
Sadiq was born in Edinburgh to parents who came to the UK from the province of Sind in Pakistan. He father was a lecturer in English literature and came to the University of Edinburgh in 1998 to do a Postgraduate degree in TESL. At the time of the interview Sadiq was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh.
During this interview, Sadiq explores:
- Feelings of connection with Pakistan as he was growing up.
- Coming to a knowledge of his faith during his youth.
- Non-Muslims’ awareness of Muslim sects.
- What makes Shi`ism special.
- Experience of mosque and Muslim schooling.
- Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
- The influence of faith on his life.
- Identity/ies.
- The importance of family.
- Study of religion in school.
- What differentiates Shi’i Muslim beliefs.
- The infallible Imams.
- Being a Muslim in Scotland.
- Changing prejudices about Islam and Shi’ism.
