This is me

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup well into its third week and the apparent “controversy” of the tournament showing no signs of letting up and the western media hell-bent on criticising hosts Qatar’s Islamic laws, beliefs, and culture at every given opportunity. Also with the western world actively encouraging footballers to speak out against Qatar rather than focusing on football in a way I have never seen before I thought it was time to have my say. There were a number of different ways for me to do this but I decided to write a nasheed on the topic. For those of you who don’t know a Nasheed is a work of vocal music that is either sung acapella or accompanied by percussion instruments such as the daf. In general, Islamic nasheeds do not contain lamellaphone instruments. The material and lyrics of a nasheed usually make reference to Islamic beliefs, history, and religion, as well as current events. This nasheed isn’t about right or wrong, it’s about respect because I feel right now at the World Cup Islamic beliefs, laws, and culture are not being respected by the western world. This is a cover of The Greatest Showman because as a proud Muslim I wanted to, and should be allowed to say This Is Me!

I’m no stranger to being bated

Come here, they say

Y’all should be liberated

You should get in touch with western culture

We are right, you are wrong

Just follow as we are

But I won’t let them break my self-esteem

Cause I know this is my deen

For he is glorious

When the western world wants to cut us down

I’m gonna say Shahadah to drown them out

This is faith, this is deen, this is who I’m meant to be

This is me!

I’m not a slave to western culture

Nor am I a slave to the media

I’m a slave to the most high, Ya Rabb Al’Alameen

This is me!

And now you want to talk about Qatar

Well hang on, wait there, let’s talk about what the west are

World leaders being Islamaphobic

While other groups are protected

And we should accept it

But I won’t let them break my self-esteem

Cause I know this is my deen

For he is glorious

When people look down on us

And in the media they put their trust

I’m at ease, I am free, I am who I’m meant to be

This is me!

When people want to insult Islam

I’m gonna raised my hands and do no harm

I am proud of my deen, I make no apologies

This is me!

But I won’t let them break my self-esteem

Cause I know this is my deen

For he is glorious

When the western world wants to cut us down

I’m gonna say Shahadah to drown them out

This is faith, this is deen, this is who I’m meant to be

This is me!

I’m not a slave to western culture

Nor am I a slave to the media

I’m a slave to the most high, Ya Rabb Al’Alameen

This is me!

When people look down on us

And in the media they put their trust

I’m at ease, I am free, I am who I’m meant to be

This is me!

When people want to insult Islam

I’m gonna raised my hands and do no harm

I am proud of my deen, I make no apologies

This is me!