Young Americans Turning to Quran to Understand Resilience of Gazans: Report
This movement, marked by the hashtag "quranbookclub," has gained traction, with 1.9 million views on TikTok.
Megan B Rice, a 34-year-old novel enthusiast from Chicago, exemplifies this growing curiosity. Using her TikTok platform, Rice initially spoke out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Intrigued by her Muslim followers' suggestion to read the Quran for a deeper understanding, Rice established a "World Religion Book Club" on Discord. The experience led her to embrace Islam, finding alignment with the text's anti-consumerist, anti-oppressive, and feminist values.
For Rice, who rejected Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslim Americans, reading the Quran became a way to empathize with Palestinians in Gaza. The experience challenged her internalized misconceptions about Islam, leading to a profound transformation.
Nefertari Moonn, a 35-year-old from Tampa, Florida, embarked on a similar journey. Initially spiritual but not religious, Moonn delved into the Quran to comprehend what drove people to turn to Allah in times of adversity. The emotional resonance she found led her to take the shahada, becoming a Muslim convert.
The movement extends beyond TikTok, with Misha Euceph, a Pakistani American writer and podcast host, running a Quran Book Club on Instagram since 2020. Euceph highlights how certain Quranic themes resonate with the values of young Americans, emphasizing environmentalism and anti-consumerism.
The Quran's stance on gender equality also appeals to many readers. In the eyes of God, men and women are equals, aligning with feminist principles for converts like Rice. Additionally, the Quran's engagement with scientific explanations for creation, including references to the Big Bang, challenges the perceived conflict between religion and science.
This trend of exploring the Quran reflects a genuine desire among young Americans to understand and connect with Islam, driven by empathy and a quest for truth, as Rice aptly puts it in this report, learning about the most intimate aspects of someone, including their faith, fosters empathy irrespective of one's religious background.
Source: The Guardian
