Our Stories, Our Lives

Reader Offer

Policy Press, the publishers of ‘Our Stories, Our Lives’ (edited by Wahida Shaffi, Youth and Women’s Specialist) have given us a complimentary copy of the book. We are offering this copy to a Christian or Muslim woman who writes a short item for publication on our website of news of Muslim and Christian women in their area.

What ‘Our Stories, Our Lives’ is about

In the early years of the 21st century, a number of Muslim women have achieved positions of influence. Women who care about the society in which they live and bring up their children are increasingly finding a voice and working together to make things happen. There’s some way to go in harnessing the potential that lies at the heart of this change, but there is plenty of evidence that Muslim women are paving the way forward in new dynamic, challenging and creative ways. This book is all about women who have shown courage, dignity and strength; pioneers who have recognized their potential in the public and private realms of society, who have struggled, made sacrifices, taken pride in their multiple identities and who are committed to positive and peaceful change in the UK.

This book presents the stories of 20 women from Bradford between the ages of 14 and 80, from their own perspectives. Based on a broader project called OurLives, which was designed to explore the insights and experiences of over a hundred women in Bradford, it belongs to a long tradition of oral history, where practical knowledge is passed from generation to generation. The book offers an intricate mosaic of the experiences, views and hopes of these women and in so doing emphasises the power of people’s lives to aid deeper debate and understanding and gives voice to an important and often marginalised group. It will be fascinating to a range of people with an interest in Muslim women’s lives and views and of wider interest to students, academics, policy-makers and professionals.

What Others Said

“What comes over most clearly from these vivid, conversational articles written by Muslim women in Bradford about their lives is their ordinariness. These women have varied jobs, families, hopes and expectations, and their faith does not cut them off from the real world. On the contrary, any world should be proud to have such thoughtful, humorous and committed people in it. This book will encourage its readers to encounter genuine relationships with real women in their real lives.” Dr Jane Williams, Lambeth Palace

“At a time when so much is written about Islam and so little is understood, this insightful, touching, and at times surprising book allows the often silent voices of Muslim women to be heard. Every story is unique; each one is essential”. Zaiba Malik, journalist and writer

Take up this opportunity

If you are a Christian or Muslim woman please email us, tell us a little about yourself, and your experiences with Christian and Muslim women locally. Please write by 24 August.

A Global Story of Peace

One of the Forum’s Shi’a Muslim members, Adnan Abidali, is currently working in China and has sent photos of his experiences visting a Chinese Presbyterian Church. He says, ‘This is evidence of Christian Muslim Forum’s inspirational work in promoting inter faith dialogue far beyond the border of the UK or Europe and it’s an honour to be a part of that.’

Julian Bond