TikTok Trend: Young Americans turn to Quran reading in solidarity with Gaza
Washington: In a trend on TikTok, young Americans are diving into the Quran to better understand Islam and show solidarity with Muslims, particularly those in Gaza, a report by The Guardian has noted. This movement, marked by the hashtag "quranbookclub," has gained traction, with 1.9 million views on the platform.
Megan B Rice, a 34-year-old romance 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.
The TikTok movement is not without precedent, as the Quran became a bestseller in the aftermath of 9/11. However, the current wave distinguishes itself by a genuine desire to understand the resilience and faith of Muslim Palestinians, rather than confirming preconceived biases about Islam.
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 revert.
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, left-leaning 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.
Sylvia Chan-Malik, an associate professor at Rutgers University, draws parallels between the current TikTok trend and her own experience post-9/11. Having converted to Islam during that period, Chan-Malik notes the vast disconnect between popular perceptions of Islam and the reality she discovered through personal interactions.
Zareena Grewal, an associate professor at Yale, observes that individuals often approach religious texts with the intent to confirm existing worldviews. In the case of TikTokers, they seek progressive messages within the Quran, recognizing the complexity and multiple interpretations of religious scriptures.
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.
The TikTok 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 The Guardian’s report, learning about the most intimate aspects of someone, including their faith, fosters empathy irrespective of one's religious background.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Newborn baby kidnapped from Kalaburagi hospital in Karnataka
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Nov 26: A newborn baby boy was allegedly kidnapped from Kalaburagi district hospital by two women disguised as hospital staff, police said on Tuesday.
