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Islamic Heritage Month



It’s November… That means Islamic Heritage Month is here!


What is Islamic Heritage Month?

Here at the Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU), we dedicate the month of November to celebrating our Muslim students and the diversity they bring to our community. Islamic Heritage Month (IHM) is all about inclusion, education and connection - making sure our Muslim students feel valued, giving everyone the chance to learn more about Islamic beliefs and practices, as well as promoting mutual understanding and respect between all students across campus.

This year, we have an exciting line-up of events - from insightful talks to deepen your understanding of Islam, to specialist support sessions for Muslim students, and a vibrant Cultural Night where everyone is welcome to come together and have fun!

Whether you’re Muslim or not, come join us this month to learn lots, ask questions, and be part of a diverse and connected community.

All events will be posted on our website and on our Instagram page @qmsu so keep an eye out!

Hope to see you soon,
IHM Community Organiser 2025


The Islamic Approach to Consumerism and Over-Consumption

 
What is Islam?

 
What is the Friday Prayer (Jummah)?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday”. On this special day, the usual midday prayer is replaced with the Friday prayer, or ‘Salat al-Jumu’ah’ in Arabic. Read the history and find out more!

 
 

Reading list

  1. Us

    Zaffar Kunial

  2. Let Me Tell You This

    Nadine Aisha Jussat

  3. Politics of Piety

    Saba Mahmood

  4. Home Fire

    Kamila Shamsie

  5. Great Women of Islam

    Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar

  6. Khadija: The First Muslim and the Wife of the Prophet Muhammad

    Resit Haylamaz

  7. The Qur'an Translation

    M.A.S Abdel Haleem

  8. The Barts Muslim Student Guide

    Rahma Hegy, Rufya Qadeer, Bara’a Al-Diri, Nancy Saqr, Sarah Choudhary

    9.

Upcoming events

Islamic Heritage Month: A Muslim's Prayer Explained
11th November 6pm - 7pm
TBC
Islamic Heritage Month
BL ISOC: Palestine through time
1st December 5:30pm - 7pm
Milton Lecture Theatre
Islamic Heritage Month
Palestine Through Time
1st December 5:30pm - 7pm
Milton LT, Garrod Building
Palestine Through Time
Alcohol Free | Islamic Heritage Month

See all events

Facts and figures

Rising islamophobia

Muslim students are increasingly facing both overt and covert Islamophobia (Akel, 2021).

Akel
Targeted Abuse

Female Muslim students, especially those wearing hijabs, are most likely to experience verbal abuse, with one student reporting 20–30 incidents (Akel, 2021).

Akel
Verbal Attacks

25% of Muslim students report verbal abuse, often being called derogatory names like "terrorist" or "extremist" (Akel, 2021).

Akel
Defending Faith

25% of Muslim students were asked to defend wearing religious garments on campus (Akel, 2021).

Akel
Education Gaps

Young Muslims are more likely to drop out of higher education or achieve lower degrees compared to non-Muslim peers (Social Mobility Commission, 2017).

Social Mobility Commission
Job Discrimination

Job applicants with English-sounding names are three times more likely to get interviews than those with Muslim names (BBC, 2017).

BBC
Workplace Islamophobia

Over two-thirds of UK Muslims experience Islamophobia at work, with 34% facing discrimination in job interviews and 32% during work reviews (Savanta ComRes, 2022).

Savanta
Ethnic Minority Gap

Employer discrimination accounts for up to half of the ethnic minority employment gap in the UK (DWP, 2008).

Discrimination Against Women

23% of working Muslim women and 43% of unemployed Muslim women report facing discrimination in job interviews (Young Foundation, 2008).

Young Foundation
Hate Crimes

44% of religious hate crimes targeted Muslims in the year ending March 2023 (Home Office, 2023).

Islamophobia Spike

The Islamophobia Response Unit reported significant increases in Islamophobia cases from October 2023 to February 2024, with a 365% rise in October alone (IRU, 2023).

IRU
Attacks on Mosques

Physical attacks on mosques occurred in 2022, including incidents in East Ham and Shoreditch (Evening Standard, Tell MAMA, 2022).

Evening Standard | Tell MAMA
Hijab Attack

A Muslim woman was assaulted on the London Tube, where the attacker attempted to tear off her hijab and verbally abused her (Tell MAMA, 2022).

Tell MAMA