My family are observant Muslims, but I've come to the faith through an intellectual conviction, and that's something that they've taught me. It's never been forced upon me. They've given me a very strong identity as an Australian Muslim.
Randa Abdel-FattahWhen it comes to the hijab - why to wear it, whether to wear it, how to wear it - there is theology and then there is practice, and there is huge diversity in both.
Randa Abdel-FattahLife isnโt like the movies. People donโt change overnight. people donโt go from arrogant and self-righteous to ashamed and remorseful. They donโt suddenly give in when theyโve spent years taking out. No doesnโt magically become a Yes.
Randa Abdel-FattahReligious celebrations, and the good will, high spirits and generosity that mark them, are wonderful occasions for understanding the potential of 'everyday multiculturalism', and how people from diverse faiths can connect and show they care, rather than go down parallel, sometimes hostile, roads.
Randa Abdel-Fattah