At 26 years old, Soaliha Iqbal never expected to find herself fully practicing her faith. Soaliha’s experience growing up as a Muslim in Australia. Now, she’s following a different spiritual path with her new husband at her side. Her story only began after she first encountered him while in college. This experience led to profound transformation in her faith and practice.
Soaliha’s parents immigrated to Australia from Pakistan, where they instilled a strong sense of cultural and religious identity in her from a young age. Until the age of ten she went to a school for Muslims, learning the fundamentals of the Islamic religion. This background deeply informed her values and understanding of faith as she grew up.
As she aged and entered into new stages of life, Soaliha’s attitude changed. The shift from a prescribed religious childhood to her own experimentation and search of spirituality begins one of the more interesting twists and turns in her life. She and her husband, who were married in a traditional Pakistani ceremony adorned with vibrant attire and intricate jewelry, are now on a shared journey of faith exploration.
The couple’s wedding was a reflection of their cultural heritage, with Soaliha dressed in a traditional outfit that showcased their roots, while her husband donned a black suit complemented with flowers. To them, this celebration represented their union. It pictured the wonderful tapestry of cultural and religious influences that have informed and molded their existence.
Soaliha’s story is not unique. Perhaps unsurprisingly, most young adults today are re-evaluating their faith through the lens of today’s hot button issues, and more importantly, their own lived experiences. Rajas Satija, an observer of spiritual trends in youth, notes that “COVID kind of exacerbated this trend of young people looking for third spaces.” Societal norms are shifting and people like Soaliha are eager to find new paths to spirituality. They are looking for spiritual connections that often break the mold from their families’ upbringing.
As Rajas goes on to elaborate, for a lot of young people, this is a time when they reconfigure their sense of self. “Youth is a time of really defining your own identity,” he states. “It’s a time when you’re going to feel pressures that you haven’t necessarily felt to the same degree.” Through the process, the majority of people discover a relationship with religion that feels much more authentic to them.
Dr. Anna Halafoff is an academic whose work has examined these phenomena. She emphasizes that important relationships typically help guide this important exploration. “Often people get involved in religious groups through significant relationships, whether that’s with peers or through a romantic relationship,” she explains. Soaliha’s marriage has been an important part of her story. Janel’s Catholicism has aided her in making her own peace between her former faith and current beliefs.
It’s just one of the ways that Soaliha’s searching for honesty and integrity on her soulful journey. The trip is much more than simply practicing customs. Because in truth, it’s about figuring out what it means to be you in the grander story of faith. This shift reflects a growing sentiment among many young people who find themselves grappling with the complexities of identity and belief.
