As part of our tenth anniversary celebrations, we’ve launched a blog series to commemorate and reflect upon the work of the LSE Faith Centre over the past decade. For this blog, I talked to Izabela Hanifah Was about her work as the Muslim Chaplain to LSE.
Who are you and what’s your job at the Faith Centre?
My name is Izabela Hanifah Was, and I’m the Associate Muslim Chaplain at LSE. As part of my job here, I keep an eye on our Muslim staff and students, and I’m here for them to talk to about anything really, but especially to help with questions on spirituality and community issues.
How did you become a chaplain?
I have several years of work experience in community settings as well in charities and non-profits. And I’m a Muslim myself, I’m active in my community, especially with women and young people. In all of my work I have been very keen to create spaces where individuals are not subject to criticism or disapproval, this is important in religious spaces I think, and it’s important for people in positions of religious leadership and spiritual guidance to be good listeners, to be kind, compassionate, and open-minded too. My credo is “there is no taboo in Islam; we just need a space to talk”. So, chaplaincy seemed like the perfect place for that. I took use of the fortunate circumstances during the lockdown to enrol in free online courses, which are often costly and taught in traditional classroom settings. I completed my course and found this role to apply for, and here I still am.
You do seem to love your work, you’re a very positive presence here. What do you enjoy about it?
I like to supply treats. As you know, because you eat them all. But it’s a good space for a chaplaincy and I enjoy coming to a welcoming atmosphere, where I am met with acceptance and students’ curiosity. It’s also great witnessing the impressive work of the researchers here, and all of that work is aligned with or interested in faith. I’ve hosted events here with writers and teachers who I think are really interesting. “It’s not just a chaplaincy” in many ways.
Do you think it’s important for universities to have chaplains for their staff and students?
Yes, and Faith Centres!
It can be challenging with the difficult discussions between religious denominations and faiths, and within those faiths too. We are navigating a lot of complicated things on a busy university campus, I think it is important to have a place and a team dedicated to the religious and spiritual side to these challenges.
For individuals who work or study there, universities become a second home, and it’s critical to recognise how deeply a person’s faith or values permeate every part of their life. People can celebrate, observe, and learn about their own and other religious traditions in spaces like these. And the Faith Centre is a place where friendships can be formed. Particularly with the help of chaplains, these friendships can be with the Creator or with oneself.
In everything I do, my true responsibility is to act as a reminder to spend time with the Quran, at any stage of our journey through life.
Note: This article gives the views of the author, not the position of LSE Religion and Global Society nor the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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