1. My name is Sabina Bhayani. I am 19 year old shia muslimah from Gujarat, India. I am studying Diploma in Pharmacy. My interests are computer and internet surfing, discussions and debate and taking part in quiz competitions. I also have interest in knowing my religion better and find logical answers to any doubts or queries I have in my mind regarding my faith. I am also conscious about my appearance and how I carry myself in public. So, I try to look as stylish as I can while not neglecting proper Hijab. Moreover, I am a homely, frank and cheerful person.

2. According to me one of the biggest challenges faced by any shia sister would be lack of resources and awareness about her rights. In underdeveloped country like India where I am living, I see most of my shia sisters highly influenced by culture and her environment and lacking individuality in thoughts, awareness about her rights, lack of decision making ability and courage to stand up against injustice. Her thoughts and opinions may be limited to her life and her surroundings instead of being like an aware shia individual in the time of globalization. In country like India where shias are scattered and in minority, young shia sisters may face a lack of opportunity to grow herself spiritually as well as professionally and may face discrimination in her educational institute or at workplace like I myself have to tackle with the prejudice non-muslims have about us and experienced bias by my teachers and also they don’t seem to have much expectation of brilliance from a muslim. And as we do hijab, people may think we would be from very conservative or rigid back ground and simply they can make us feel unfit for college or workplace by just staring us as if we are from some different planet. And Muslims not being united and in strength in my country, we may have to face serious consequences like riots to simple discrimination. So protection of rights of minorities would be biggest challenge faced by our shia sisters.

3. My advice to all shia sisters would be: As we all know Islam was spread by the essence of akhlaq of our Prophet SAW and Imam A S, we should also try to possess the qualities which can truly represent teachings of our faith and to make a separate image of shias in eyes of non-muslims different from sunnis and try to convey that Islam has nothing to do with extremism and terrorism.

4. In Shiasisters, I would like to see discussions where all members can actively participate or even a chat room where we can exchange our thoughts and ideas.