Welcome to the ‘Being at University’ podcast. I’m Harriet
Harris, Chaplain to the University of Edinburgh, and in this first series we
explore what it is like being people of particular faith or belief at
University.
If we follow faith or belief traditions, these are profound
shapes of our values, our choices and lifestyles, how we conduct our
relationships: in short, they provide the inner compass by which we navigate
our lives.
What I love about this series is hearing students talk about
how their faith or beliefs bring them joy, deep friendships, a feeling of
support during hard times, and a sense of perspective. They also talk about
challenges, with mental health, with discrimination and micro-aggressions, with
visibility and also invisibility. And we hear lots throughout this series about
choosing a university, arriving at university, making friends, joining
societies – the stuff of student life.
Today, talking with me about ‘Being Muslim at University’,
is Estifa Zaid, a PhD student in Physics who also took her MA and MSc in
Edinburgh, and Omar Shabana, who has just completed his UG degree in Biological
Sciences and is currently conducting research into cancer at the University of
Oxford. As well as the variety of topics already mentioned, Estifa and Omar
bring to the conversation differences in background and skin colour, and the
sense of both awe and grounding that their Muslim faith gives them.
Music: ‘Avulekile’ by Soweto Melodic Voices, from their CD
Harambee, 2014.
Soweto Melodic Voices is a youth choir from Soweto,
supported by the University of Edinburgh Chaplaincy to perform at the Edinburgh
Fringe, to inspire young people and schools in Edinburgh, and to record music
in Soweto. For details of the Edinburgh-Soweto link see here.