Sofina is a 21 year old Alimah student studying at a Bradford Madrassa.  She is currently in her 3rd year of Alimiyyah.  She had come down to Birmingham to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, and we managed to catch her for a quick chat.

What are you up to nowadays?
Just studying and more studying, because I’ve got exams coming up in January. When I don’t study, I eat chocolate and go shopping!

What are your plans for the future?
There are a number of things I want to do really. Firstly I really want to teach the Deen after I qualify insha’Allah. But my heart-felt aim is to devise an institute which will help Muslim women going through issues such as domestic violence, problems within marriage, etc. Something similar to hostels, but somewhere really where they can get authentic Islamic advice about issues they’re facing and how to deal with these. I just think it’s so important to work with the community, and to provide support for Muslim women in an Islamic environment, insha’Allah. Lastly, I’ve also thought about doing chaplaincy for Muslim female prisoners, I’m still thinking about this.

How important is education for women?
The importance of education can be demonstrated by the very first revelation of the Qur’aan, when the Angel Jibra’il (as) told the Prophet Muhammad (saw) to, ‘Read’. In addition, I can think of the quote by Brother Malcolm X, that ‘If you educate a man, you educate an individual, if you educate a woman, you educate an entire generation’. This highlights that it’s not only important for the sister as an individual but it also equips her to education her children, and this continues for future generations. As the saying goes, ‘The first educational institute for any child is the mother’s lap.’ Also, if we look at our Islamic history, the wives of the Prophet (saw) were educated and his wives and daughters were also amongst the famous scholars of Islam, we should follow the example of these pious women as our role models.

Who would you class as your role model and why?
My first and foremost role model is the Prophet Muhammad (saw), and also the female companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). In today’s day, I must say that my Head teacher at Madrassa is my role model. She really is a very humble woman, who is very dedicated to the welfare of our madrassa. She is like a second mother to us all.

One thing you wish to see amongst our youth?
I want to see the likes of Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Aisha (ra) in our youth today, basically the knowledge and practice of our Deen, insha’Allah.

What’s your favourite Surah?
Obviously the whole Qur’aan, it’s really hard for me to pinpoint a particular Surah.

What’s your favourite Hadith?
‘Verily, your actions are according to your intentions’. This reminds me that everything I do is for the Pleasure of Allah alone, and this allows the deed to be done in this world and also gain reward in the hereafter, Insha’Allah.

Give one piece of advice that you would give to our youthful sisters at college?
In college, make the most of secular education, but never forget that we are Muslims, and try to learn what that means i.e study Islam.

Jazakillah khair for your time.