As Edinburgh celebrates its 900th birthday, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh have been looking at what it means for the Capital’s past and present to be a city of faith. The Keep the Faith project aims to grow our collection of items which tell stories of people of faith who live/ have lived in Edinburgh. We’ve also recruited a group of community curators from across faith backgrounds to inform an exhibition, Four Seasons in Faith.
In the second of our blogs introducing the Keep The Faith project’s Community Curators, we meet Aisha who is of the Muslim faith.
I am Aisha, a Sunni Muslim and the first female Trustee at Annandale Street Mosque. My family moved to Edinburgh in 1980 from Manchester and at that time, there were few facilities for Muslims. My late father, Khalid Mir, along with other 'Uncles' raised enough money and founded a mosque/community centre in Pilrig Street and EVERYTHING happened there -religious festivals, weddings, parties, social clubs, gatherings … and everyone knew everyone! Fast forward 40 years, Pilrig Street has moved to Annandale Street and there are many more mosques serving a wonderfully diverse global Muslim community.
For me, Islam gives me a 'road map' for my life so that I can be a good person. It teaches me that I can do anything and achieve everything. It teaches me to be kind, charitable, selfless and caring towards others. It gives me strength, resilience and comfort during difficult times.
I'm far from perfect in my faith and maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I get an inner peace and calmness from my faith that's hard to describe - I feel my faith makes me a better human being! I adore how my city welcomes, embraces, cherishes and celebrates me and my faith.
I'm proud to be a Muslim & I'm proud to be an Edinbronian – I am Edinburgh and Edinburgh is mine.
If you would like to find out more about Islam in Edinburgh, feel free to contact/ walk into any Mosque – all are welcome!
https://www.blackhallmosque.com/