The aim of this public document is to list important problems faced by the Muslim community.
This will allow those seeking to make an impact to choose a problem below and solve it through community work, building startups or other various methods.
STEPS:
- Scroll through the problems below
- Pick an unaddressed or partially addressed problem you’re passionate about
- Speak to the community / users (TIP: just tweet about the problem and see what people reply - e.g. INSERT TWEET)
- Design the product
- Share screenshots of it on social media
- Use feedback and iterate with the community (i.e. build in public)
- DM @asabbas98 on Twitter so I can update the list below to ensure others are aware of solutions being built
Example Case Study: Muslim Census
Below are a few examples of organisations and startups that have identified a specific problem and are actively solving it.
Muslim Census
Problem: Lack of evidence (data) around problems faced by Muslims in the UK.
Solution: Use social media & surveys to collect representative data to highlight issues faced by the UK Muslim community.
Impact: Muslim Census have published statistics and reports that have been referenced in government documents, in the UK parliament and mainstream media outlets including Sky News, the Guardian, Al Jazeera, the BBC and the Independent.
To-do
In progress
Complete
‣
Education
Muslims generally live in areas with poorer performing schools
Muslims generally live in areas with poorer performing schools
Student loans remains an obstacle for many Muslims applying to uni
Student loans remains an obstacle for many Muslims applying to uni
Partially Addressed
‣
Politics
Politicians don’t care about Muslims / Muslim problems
Politicians don’t care about Muslims / Muslim problems
Being Built
Laws disproportionately affecting innocent Muslims (Prevent, Schedule 7)
Laws disproportionately affecting innocent Muslims (Prevent, Schedule 7)
Partially Addressed
Muslims don’t know which politicians to vote for
Muslims don’t know which politicians to vote for
Being Built
‣
Finance
Muslims lose out on savings due to inflation
Muslims lose out on savings due to inflation
Lots of Muslims do not have pensions
Lots of Muslims do not have pensions
Many Muslims do not know or get involved in investment opportunities (e.g. stock indexes)
Many Muslims do not know or get involved in investment opportunities (e.g. stock indexes)
Lack of low-risk and halal opportunities to grow wealth
Lack of low-risk and halal opportunities to grow wealth
Muslims earn the least out of all religious & non-religious groups (UK)
Muslims earn the least out of all religious & non-religious groups (UK)
It’s hard for Muslims to buy a house
It’s hard for Muslims to buy a house
Partially Addressed
It’s hard for Muslims to save money quickly without an interest-based loan
It’s hard for Muslims to save money quickly without an interest-based loan
Being Built
Most Muslims don’t have a Will
Most Muslims don’t have a Will
Partially Addressed
Muslims do not own or run large businesses
Muslims do not own or run large businesses
Being Built
‣
Media
Muslims get a lot of bad press / not fairly represented
Muslims get a lot of bad press / not fairly represented
Lack of quantitative evidence to substantiate Muslim claims [MUSLIM CENSUS]
Lack of quantitative evidence to substantiate Muslim claims [MUSLIM CENSUS]
Partially Addressed
‣
Social
Gang crime
Gang crime
Anti-blackness, racism, colourism
Anti-blackness, racism, colourism
Ughuyr rights in China
Ughuyr rights in China
Divorce rates are increasing
Divorce rates are increasing
Inter-generational loss of mother tongue
Inter-generational loss of mother tongue
Muslims are generally politically homeless
Muslims are generally politically homeless
Partially Addressed
Marriage rates are declining
Marriage rates are declining
Partially Addressed
‣
Career
Lack of Muslims in tech
Lack of Muslims in tech
Many Muslims are entering careers engaged in haram practices (e.g. interest)
Many Muslims are entering careers engaged in haram practices (e.g. interest)
No Muslim unicorns in the UK / lack of entrepreneurship (particularly in tech)
No Muslim unicorns in the UK / lack of entrepreneurship (particularly in tech)
Lack of Muslim start-ups
Lack of Muslim start-ups
Lack of Muslims in UX/UI
Lack of Muslims in UX/UI
Partially Addressed
‣
Health
Muslims are disproportionately affected by health inequalities
Muslims are disproportionately affected by health inequalities
Pornography addiction is rampant
Pornography addiction is rampant
Mental health of (particularly young) Muslims
Mental health of (particularly young) Muslims
Language barrier for many Muslims visiting doctors
Language barrier for many Muslims visiting doctors
Partially Addressed
‣
Islam
Lack of female mosque space
Lack of female mosque space
Lack of muslim services for female needs
Lack of muslim services for female needs
Difficulties in raising a Muslim family in the 21st century
Difficulties in raising a Muslim family in the 21st century
Lack of easy access to Muslim scholars & imams
Lack of easy access to Muslim scholars & imams
Organising umrah / hajj is hard
Organising umrah / hajj is hard
No formal definition for Islamophobia
No formal definition for Islamophobia
Islam is often little or misunderstood
Islam is often little or misunderstood
Many Muslims do not have a relationship with Allah.
Many Muslims do not have a relationship with Allah.
Lack of iman
Lack of iman
Articulating the religion of Islam for non-Muslims
Articulating the religion of Islam for non-Muslims
Most muslims don’t know their basic fiqh
The Jibreel aims to address this
Most muslims don’t know their basic fiqh
The Jibreel aims to address this
Partially Addressed
Little support available to converts
Little support available to converts
Being Built
Many Muslims do not pray / pray on time (incl. Fajr)
Many Muslims do not pray / pray on time (incl. Fajr)
Being Built
General decline in Muslims practicing aspects of their faith (e.g. backbiting, lying).
General decline in Muslims practicing aspects of their faith (e.g. backbiting, lying).
Being Built
Few Muslims (including Arabs) speak Arabic, the language of the Qur’an
Few Muslims (including Arabs) speak Arabic, the language of the Qur’an
Partially Addressed
Declining youth engagement in local mosques
Declining youth engagement in local mosques
Being Built
Few Muslims know their basic aqeeda
Few Muslims know their basic aqeeda
Being Built
‣
Palestine
BDS is difficult to follow
BDS is difficult to follow
Americans are not aware of US spending on Israel
Americans are not aware of US spending on Israel
If you think there’s a problem that should be listed here that isn’t, drop me a DM at @asabbas98