IDENTITY
fighting racial inequality in 1950s America. Malcolm X, newly converted to Islam, had travelled from the USA to undertake the pilgrimage of Hajj. A letter he wrote to his friends in Harlem reads: ‘During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass and slept on the same rug – while praying to the same God – with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana. We were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.’ This experience shifted the entire viewpoint of Malcolm X. Upon his return he continued his fight for African-Americans, but he now did this in a way which did not demonise the white population and gave him hope that peace, unity and brotherhood could truly exist amongst the diverse people of America. His enlightenment inspired many people, including Muhammad Ali. We can see the legacy of the Quran and Muhammad’s teachings to the present day. Just one of the many benefits that I receive from my faith is its emphasis on unity. And just one of the many reasons I am proud of my faith is the role it has played in establishing equality in our world.
Seeking spiritual guidance
Kayan Dave (Year 13) explains the influence of Hinduism in his life
W hile I was born into Hinduism, my journey towards spirituality has been a long one. It has only been in the last three or four years that I have started going to my temple regularly, but doing so has allowed me to identify with a particular culture and group of people and has given me a sense of identity and pride. By attending my temple twice a week and listening to learned monks, I can forget my worries, be they prep deadlines or my university application. In addition, I am able to connect with people who share a common goal attaining akshardham. This concept of akshardham is integral to my faith – as a Hindu I believe in reincarnation. I believe that my life shall be judged according to my karma. I will either attain liberation from the cycle of life and death or go to akshardham or my soul shall be put on this earth again as another living being. This has led me to seek out spiritual guidance. I have two sources: the first is the Vachnamrut, which is a compilation of 213 short conversations between Swaminarayan Bhagwan and his followers, where his devotees
asked various questions about issues ranging from vegetarianism to the meaning of life. The book also contains shikshaparti, a section outlining 257 rules by which I aspire to live my life. The second source of guidance for me is my Guru. Although I am Hindu, I live by different rules to most. Like denominations within Christianity and schools within Buddhism, I am part of the Baps sect of Hinduism. This sect is led by a Guru and over the past two hundred years, we have had six spiritual successors to the original founder. Unlike the Pope, the Guru is not elected but chosen by the previous successor. I have met my Guru only a handful of times; however, before I go into any notable activity, be that interviews or exams, he is at the forefront of my mind. As a Hindu, my faith is ever-present within my life, whether that is the physical representation of my faith by my haircut or by the understanding that whatever happens, good or bad, God knows best. Understanding that God is the all-doer allows me to worry less and let things happen.
The power of the message of tolerance and acceptance spread by Muhammad had profound implications for the Arabian world
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