#5 I am a Muslim

Photo courtesy Encore.org.

Story originally from Encore.org. Adapted for English Learners.


I am a Muslim. My name is Moina Shaiq. When I was young (جوان) I lived (زندگی کردن) in Pakistan. Now I live in America. 

After the terrorist attack (حمله تروریستی ) in America on September 11, 2001 my life changed ( تغییر دادن ) a lot. I did not want (خواستن) people to hate (نفرت داشتن از) me. I did not want people to misunderstand (دچار سوء تفاهم) me. I did not want to sit (نشستن) and cry ( گریه کردن ). I wanted to help (کمک کردن) my community (انجمن).

People of many different (متفاوت) cultures live in my city. Now (حالا) I tell people who I am by doing what my faith teaches me to do. Islam teaches (teach: درس دادن) us to know our neighbors (همسایه ها) in 40 homes near us. Islam teaches us to make sure everyone is doing well and has food.

WAITING IN LINE.  Photo: Paul Dufour, Unsplash!

I do simple (ساده) things. I talk to people waiting in lines. I help immigrants (مهاجر). I help them learn (آمر ختن) to live in a new country.

Photo courtesy Encore.org.

Last year there was a terrorist attack in California. It was very hard ( مشکل) for me! After the attack I wanted to talk to people who never met (meet: ملاقات کردن) a Muslim. I decided ( تصمیم گرفتن ) to sit in a cafe and invite (دعوت کردن) people to have a conversation (گفتگو) with me. 

I put an ad (تبلیغات ) in the newspaper. It said, “Meet a Muslim.”  The people at the newspaper said, “No one will come!” But they were wrong (اشتباه).

When I got to the cafe, there were 20 people waiting (منتظر) for me. More than 100 people came! I talked about myself (خودم) and my family.  I talked about Islam.

I have done 11 “Meet a Muslim” events (واقعه). Now I have invitations (دعوت) to talk at churches, schools, parks, and community centers (مرکز ارتباطات ). 

My goal (هدف) is to change one person, one heart, each time I talk about Islam. People need to live together with compassion (شفقت) and understanding (فهم). We must work together (با هم) to end (خاتمه دادن) hatred (نفرت).