Dr. Mona Siddiqui has recently appeared on the BBC’s “Thought for the Day”, sharing her insight into the current situation in Afghanistan. Siddiqui, a regular contributor to the show, works as Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
Siddiqui also acts as Assistant Principal for Religion and Society and Dean International for the Middle East at the university. She has additionally published a number of books on Islam, Islamic law and Muslim-Christian relations. Moreover, many know Siddiqui as a public intellectual, making regular media appearances commenting on issues around religion, ethics and public life.
Dr. Mona Siddiqui: decorated academic
Siddiqui studied a BA in Arabic and French at the University of Leeds. She then took her MA in Middle-Eastern Studies and PhD in Classical Islamic Law at the University of Manchester. Between 1996 and 2011, she worked at the University of Glasgow, founding the university’s Center for the Study of Islam in 1998. She became Professor of Islamic Studies and Public Understanding in 2006.
At the University of Edinburgh, Siddiqui became the first person to hold a chair in Islamic and Interreligious Studies. The university then appointed her International Dean for the Middle East. She’s also held visiting professorships at the University of Cambridge and several universities in Holland and America.
Siddiqui gained an OBE for her interfaith work in 2011. Listed in the Debretts top 500 most influential people in the UK, she’s also spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In 2019, she received the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation. That same year she also became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2020, Siddiqui became an honorary member and first speaker of the Royal Scottish Academy.
Dr. Mona Siddiqui: a multicultural background
Siddiqui came to England with her family from Pakistan at the age of four. Her dad had been looking to further his postgraduate studies. Whilst there, they realized that the UK was a better place for their children, with more opportunities for education. In the late 1960s it was not difficult to get a residency and they decided to make it their home.
For many years Siddiqui felt as if home existed somewhere else, and it took her a while to come to terms with the fact that her home was really in the UK, specifically West Yorkshire. When she did however, she identified quite uncomplicatedly as a British Muslim and felt a sense of belonging. It’s an experience she discusses in her book My Way: A Muslim Woman’s Journey.
Siddiqui embarked upon her masters and PhD without a view as to where it would take her. She just wanted to study and learn more about her subject. She remarks how she embraced the cliché of “learning for learning’s sake”, whilst also being continually challenged by her work.
Dr. Mona Siddiqui: Thought for the Day
Often appearing on the media, including BBC Radio 4’s award-winning The Moral Maze, Siddiqui recently shared her insights for Thought for the Day. In the piece, she advocates for action and a compassionate stance towards the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. With a freeze on nearly $10bn in assets and crippling sanctions, the country is descending into abject poverty.
“Sometimes the only value worthy holding is to feed the hungry, where and when we can. This is a universal responsibility, intrinsic to our humanity.,” she says. It’s not the first time she’s used her platform to raise awareness around the plight of Afghans. In an article in the Times, Siddiqui urges that we meet refugees with empathy, not fear. “We must welcome fleeing Afghans as neighbors and friends,” she says.
Siddiqui has shared other poignant insights on Thought For the Day in the past. These include her thoughts in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and the magic of breath and COVID-19 symptoms.
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