Share a little bit about yourself and what you do

My name is Isra. I am 23, and I am a full time working radiographer and a Somali girl that plays basketball.

Growing up, did you play any sports?

Growing up, football was my first love. I fell in love on the school playground, watching David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. I enjoy everything about the game till this day, but I went to an Islamic school where football wasn't common. I no longer had teammates who loved the game like I did to play with and eventually I found myself only watching football and no longer playing. I then found myself watching Kareem Abdul Jabbar, a tall Muslim basketball legend and aspired to learn skills from his game. He was the only Muslim basketballer I had known of and I fell in love with Michael Jordan's basketball. I spent a of couple years just appreciating their greatness and studying the game of basketball, as it is not that common in the UK like it is in the US. Football was the sport and my first love, then basketball came into my life. By the first year of college, I'd already watched the sport and knew the rules. I sometimes used to play by myself whilst other girls would do dance or gymnastics during PE classes. It was while at an open day for my sixth form, I met my favourite coach, Karl Brown. He saw potential in me and instantly made me fall more in love with the game; and encouraged me to sign up for the girls’ team. This was the first girls’ team I'd seen and I knew this was what I wanted.

Were there any women in sports that you looked up to?

At the time, I didn't have any female role models to look up to, however hearing coach Karl’s words of encouragement was enough for me to push on and chase my passion and follow what my heart desired. It wasn't always smooth and easy, there were times both early on and later in my basketball journey, where it caused me more stress than happiness. It all comes down to who you have around you and what your coaches are like. Certain coaches made me want to quit the basketball team and stop playing, but my love for basketball was stronger and coach Karl’s words always stuck with me. I still have more I want to achieve before I hang up my laces. 

How did you get into playing basketball?

When you know, you just know and I definitely just knew from that open day. Basketball fell naturally to me, afterwards it was my outlet for stress; my own space that belonged to me. I didn't need anyone, I could play alone or scrimmages, either way it was my happy place where all my worries and outside problems were left behind - the minute I step onto the court nothing matters. Even more when my banner went up during my final year of university, basketball wasn't like it used to be, there was a lot going on at once but in the end my love for basketball always came out on top. Seeing my face up on the wall I'd look up and remind myself I'm not only doing this for me, but now other girls from similar backgrounds will have someone to look up to. 

Did you experience any barriers in playing basketball?

I would never do anything Allah made haram, however the messenger of Allah pbuh encourages us to be proactive. Our body is amanah, Allah trusted us with so we must take care of it by giving its rights - exercising being one of them. Alhamdullilah for our hijab, Alhamdullilah for our religion, Alhamdullilah for our modesty. Allah has provided me with everything I need to hold onto my religion and to play the sport I love with ease. Alhamdullilah I can wear leggings underneath my shorts and I can wear a long sleeve top underneath my vest. I can wear my hijab or a sports hijab to cover up as I normally would. So these barriers I'd used to face I now challenge with my head held high. 

Describe what has been your greatest achievements from playing basketball.

I want to begin by thanking Jake Wright from Basketball England and Basketball England for enabling me to share my story in the first place. Barriers all begin with one or two people’s perception of something which then gets passed on and on resulting in more and more people agreeing and making something so small out to be something so big and bad. The idea of girls and sports isn't something that easily goes hand-in-hand and girls from similar backgrounds to myself are brought up and raised in a modest manner where we pursue an education or work. Sports is interpreted as a boys’ activity - boys often say I'm going to play football, etc. So that image was already imprinted into society and painting a different modest modern image took time. I never changed myself, I changed the way people perceived girls like me.

When I signed for my first team, it wasn't just me in this situation but a lot of Muslim hijab sisters that come from similar households going through it together. However, during my time at university, I was the only Muslim girl, but this allowed me to express the beauty of Islam and how I can do anything I put my heart to. My greatest achievement is yet to come in my opinion, but right now in the present I'm proud of how far my story has gone and continues to go. I'm proud of the adult I've become. Looking back at 17-year-old me falling in love with basketball, she'd be so proud of how far l've come and she'd be super grateful to have become a role model to look up to. My banner was a gift from God, that was all the work of the almighty. I'm just living the story Allah has planned for me and He is the greatest of planners. I'm honoured to have been featured in a nationwide magazine WomensHealthUK. I am excited for what the future holds and I have set goals I want to achieve on the court before my days are over. I want to look back and know I did my very best and am proud of what I have accomplished. I live by each day in the name of Allah, the almighty the most merciful, the most gracious so Alhamdullilah and I ask Him to protect me and all the other sisters. 

What does it mean for you to be a Muslim woman playing basketball?

Being a Muslim woman playing sports is something I take pride in because it is something that was written for me. Allah chose me and my hijab is my crown. My deen is my pride. Wearing my hijab is part of me fulfilling a religious obligation and protects me. My hijab protects me spiritually against all negativity and acts as a shield to protect me against anything that will negatively impact my connection with Allah. My hijab is a sign that speaks loud and clear especially during university I was the only Muslim girl on the women's basketball team. So sometimes I didn't have to speak, my modesty spoke loud and clear for me. I take my religion everywhere with me and I am proud of who I am. I wear my sports hijab on the court and go about playing the game I love like anyone else. I don't sacrifice any part of my religion or who I am. I play within my limitations during Ramadan because my deen comes first always. I play where I feel comfortable and play where I am welcomed to dress modestly. Us Muslim sisters are unique and rare, and we must stick together and stand tall and proud side by side. 

What do you think are the challenges Muslim women/girls face when it comes to playing sports?

It’s really saddening to see what our sisters have to go through across the world. Muslim women aren't given the same equal rights as everyone else. Look at the Paris Olympics just last month. A fellow basketball sister Diana Konate who was robbed from her sport for no valid reason other than for the fact that she wears a hijab. Why can't women in hijabs do what other women of different beliefs and hair are able to do. Another sister Salimata Sylla suffered the same issue trying to simply play the sport she loves. We have to fight these battles, we have to be the change of these rules. We deserve equality. 

Where do you see Muslim women in sports 10 years from now?

The biggest and most unnecessary challenge us Muslim sisters face is our hijab. The hijab is so beautiful and crown for Muslim women - a gift from Allah. In this generation, Muslim women are always targeted for being different and not like others, but the truth is we are so much more. If people take a minute to understand and to get to know Muslim sisters instead of labelling and banning them, the world would be a far better and fairer place. A Somali sister I see doing great for the community and really exceeding all barriers is Jamad Fiin in America; she has her own camp, she shared her story, she motivates the younger girls and she never gave up what she loved. I hope for acceptance for Muslim women in sports, especially in basketball. 

What advice would you give to a young girl who is wanting to play sports?

I always tell anyone that approaches me or asks me for advice that they are not alone and hopefully hearing a similar story from someone whose been in their shoes and made it through stigmas will only bring comfort and ease to their hearts and encourage them to go on. My message to girls and young women is to chase your dreams and stay involved in the game you love. Don't drop it because society tells you to. Don't stop playing because people laugh at you or call you names. Don't be ashamed. Fight those battles. You're not alone. Like me, there's someone somewhere going through the exact same situation you're going through. It’s never too late you just need the right support system around you and I hope I can influence someone, somewhere, somehow. Just keep on praying, never let go of your religion, never lose faith, never be ashamed of who you are or how you present yourself, keep your head held high and stand your ground. Be the change you hope to see.