Narrative Summary
Interview with Alaa Abdelhakiem by Brandy Woods
Alaa Abdelhakiem is currently living in Springfield Missouri where she is a sophomore
at Missouri State University. Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Egypt until the age of six, and then
Pennsylvania and now in Springfield, Alaa tells her story of growing up in a Muslim home and
her experiences with Islam in the Ozarks.
Alaa explained her experiences as a child growing up in a Muslim home. She considers
herself to be much like her parents when it comes to religion. Alaa speaks of her parents’
devotion to their faith and how that helped her view it as an important part of her life. She speaks
about her parents keeping Islam as a very active role in her life growing up and how that shaped
her into the person she is today. From being actively involved in Mosques to practicing at home,
these practices have showed her that no matter what she is going through good or bad she can
pray or read the Quran and feel better.
Alaa has spent the majority of her life in Springfield, but she does remember being in
Pennsylvania, where there was plenty of diversity and a large Mosque with many family friends.
There was a large support system for them from the same culture that her family was accustomed
to. When her family decided to move to Springfield Missouri, she recalls hearing that Springfield
was the buckle of the Bible belt and was predominately white conservative Christians. This made
her whole family nervous because this move was taking place just after the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Though they were nervous Alaa says they found out that not everything was just as they heard.
Though the population was primarily white conservative Christians, many of the people were
very nice, and while some were rude that was not the response her family received the most.
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Alaa remembers growing up in a High School in Springfield Missouri which is
considered one of the most diverse high schools in the area and yet she was one of the only
Muslims in the whole school. This led her to doubt her faith and challenged her to really find out
why she believed what she believes and over all strengthened her faith. Alaa speaks of another
challenge that she faced being one of the only Muslim women in her school, when she began to
cover by wearing the hijab. This is where Alaa says she found out who her true friends were.
Some people were very positive and some were not. Alaa explained that being covered was
different for everyone in her school, and she received many stairs, but she explains that it
encouraged people to understand why she covered and learn more about Islam rather than just
assuming. Alaa speaks of how this has helped people understand that sometimes stereotypes are
not true and sometimes it is best to actually meet people and discover what the truth is first hand.
However there were some who did not want to know and, this was a time when she had to decide
that she would not care so much about what other people think of her and rather do what she
feels is right.
The next step for Alaa was College. She is now attending Missouri State University as a
Math and Biomedical Science major. She explains that at the University, it is much easier for her
to have a network of people who have become her support system. Alaa says sometimes she just
needs someone who is like her and can relate to her and in collage she has found people like that.
For her being a Muslim woman at the University has proven to be much easier because it is a
much more diverse place than where she went to high school and this for her makes it much
easier.
In the summer of 2012 Alaa went back to Egypt as she does most summers. Alaa says
every time she goes to Egypt she changes a little. She explains that the cultures are very different
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and doesn’t believe that there are many similarities. She sees this as an eye opener because
everyone around her is very devoted to thier faith. Alaa was in Egypt in the holy month of
Ramadan where Muslims fast. During this time Alaa explains that her cousins read the Quran
multiple times which showed her how she needs to be more dedicated to her faith. In Egypt she
explains that there is a much larger support system, because everyone around her prays and when
it is time to pray the Azan or call to prayer can be heard from every Mosque. If you have a
problem you can go to the Imam and talk to him, which is not something she can find in
Springfield. For this reason Alaa explains why she loves her friends at the Mosque in Springfield
because it reminds her of her support system back home in Egypt.
Being a Muslim woman in the Ozarks has brought her many different responses. She
speaks about times when people will meet her and be very excited because she is Egyptian and
when they know she is Muslim be less excited. While this does happen, she has also met people
who just want to understand more, she sometimes receives silly questions like, “Do you live in
the desert?” and “Do you shower with you scarf on?” but she is happy that they are trying to
learn. In the American culture events like dating, partying and drinking usually play a role in a
young persons life. Alaa says that these events are not something that she partakes in as she
believes that there is no dating, just engagement and then marriage and as for drinking it is
against Islam. She says that many people feel bad for her, but she is actually very happy with the
fact that she uses her time more productively.
When speaking of her spirituality, Alaa spoke of how her parents grew up in Egypt
around many other Muslims, while she grew up in Springfield being one of the only Muslims.
This makes her value her faith even more; however, feels that her parents are more spiritual
because they are older. She feels spiritual by praying five times a day and reading the Quran in
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her spare time. Alaa says that the five daily prayers allow her to take a break from her everyday
life and just stay positive and refocus on god. More than just praying and reading the Quran Alaa
speaks of how the most valuable thing to her is not just having the title of a Muslim, but rather
showing people. Alaa explains that it is important to her to be a good person and do good things
to show people that Muslims aren’t bad people, that they are actually good people. She explains
that this is in fact her ultimate goal in her spirituality, just to be a good person and Muslim and
follow the Quran. Praying, fasting, and being close to god, her family and friends is how she
wishes to accomplish this goal. Alaa explains that every day her ultimate goal is just to be better
than the day prior.
A few concluding thoughts Alaa made is her advice and something she would like
everyone to understand. The advice she gave was, no matter what go with what you believe and
is closest to your heart because this life if for you and if you live it for others then your whole
life will follow that way. The things that Alaa wishes everyone would understand are, to not go
by stereotypes because they are often times wrong, and that there is a big difference between
culture and religion and before deciding that actions are because one or the other, make sure you
know for sure.
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