I Spent Seven Days as a Muslim

Islam is one of the most widely practised religions in the world and yet, in my experience, it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

This week, I decided to live as a Muslim to understand the religion deeper. I ate halal food, wore loose and modest clothing that only showed my hands and face, followed prayer practices, donated to charity, and immersed myself in the Qur’an and Islamic theology. I visited a mosque, spoke to multiple Muslims (many of whom reached out after seeing my journalism), and had some deeply thoughtful, eye-opening conversations.

And to put it simply: I learned more this week than I expected to.

What is Islam?

Islam is an Arabic word that means “submission”, specifically, submission to the will of God (Allah). The faith is about living in alignment with divine commandments, seeking peace through devotion, humility, compassion, and justice. The core structure of the religion comes from the Five Pillars of Islam:

1. Shahada – the declaration of faith: “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His final messenger.”

2. Salah – prayer five times a day at set times.

3. Zakat – giving 2.5% of their wealth to those in need.

4. Sawm – fasting during Ramadan.

5. Hajj – a pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime for those who can afford it.

There are also six Articles of Faith; belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that both good and bad come from Allah. Muslims believe in an afterlife, where Allah will resurrect every soul, judge them, and either reward with paradise or punish with hellfire (though ultimately, all Muslims are believed to eventually reach paradise).

The holy book of Islam is the Qur’an, believed to be the literal word of God revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad, over 23 years. Unlike the Bible, the Qur’an has never been revised or reworded- it’s memorised and recited in its original language, and every letter is treated as sacred. I read passages throughout the week and despite not understanding Arabic, could see the reverence and discipline involved.

What I Did

I started my week by committing to a halal diet, avoiding pork and alcohol and only eating meat that was ethically slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines. I donated to charity in three ways: I gave money to a suicide prevention organisation, dropped off lemons to a local store that had called out for donations, and donated clothes to the op shop.

I wore modest, loose clothing all week, only showing my hands and face, and staying away from bright colours. I attended a mosque prayer service, joined a tour of the mosque, and had long, personal conversations with Muslim women about what it means to live this faith.

The Mosque

Stepping into the mosque for the first time was surprisingly familiar. Architecturally, it reminded me of a church, but with no pews, no images or pictures on the walls, and a very different atmosphere. I later found out that this particular mosque was originally a Christian church. It felt peaceful, focused, sacred.

In the prayer service, the Imam (prayer leader) stands at the front, with everyone lined up behind him. Men at the front, women behind a divider or in a separate room. “It’s not about oppression,” I was told. “It’s about focus. In our religion, we don’t allow mixing. If women are in front, will the men focus on the prayer or on the women?”

This structure wasn’t easy for me. I’m used to being part of co-ed environments. Being separated from the men felt isolating at first. But I’ll admit, there was something comforting about being behind the divider, especially as someone who didn’t know the prayer movements perfectly. I had space to learn without feeling watched.

Islam & Women

One of the most powerful conversations I had was with a Muslim woman named Maliha. She’s memorised the entire Qur’an and wears her scarf with pride. “Islam doesn’t oppress women,” she told me. “It liberates us.”

She explained how, before Islam, girls were being buried alive out of shame. Islam outlawed this and elevated the status of daughters. The Prophet Muhammad said that fathers who raised daughters well would be rewarded with paradise. There’s even a verse in the Qur’an that asks: “And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked, for what sin was she killed?” (Qur’an 81:8–9).

This woman told me, “It’s not degrading or humiliating until you make it humiliating. You accepted Islam yourself. No one is forcing you.” She explained that even if she left Islam, her family wouldn’t talk to her, but it didn’t matter because she would never want to leave. She was confident. Grounded. Proud. “Every part of your life, Islam has an answer for it,” she said.

It’s not all that simple. There are still verses that raise questions, like the often-cited Qur’an 4:34, which some interpret as allowing men to “discipline” their wives. I asked about this directly. Maliha was firm: “No one I know has ever been hit. We would never accept that, not for our sisters, not for our daughters, not for ourselves.” Others explained that hitting, even with a symbolic stick, is neither common nor condoned in their communities. “If someone wants to hit, they won’t do it lightly,” Maliha said. “And Islam doesn’t accept that.”

This duality is something I kept coming back to. Islam has texts that can be interpreted in conflicting ways, just like every major religion. But what I saw firsthand was a community of women who felt empowered, protected, and deeply connected to their faith. And they weren’t asking to be rescued.

Reflections

One thing I noticed was by the end of the week, I was feeling shocked when women around me showed skin. Not out of judgement, but awareness. An elbow stopped being just an elbow. It became an act of defiance. A rebellion.

After just one week of wearing modest clothing, this made me realise how powerful dress codes can be in shaping your perception of the world.

I also found comfort in the structure of the prayers. Muslims pray five times a day, every day, without fail. Whether you’re sick, lying down, travelling, or exhausted, prayer is still expected. Even if it’s just with your eyes. There’s something deeply grounding in that.

I also liked the integrity of the Qur’an. That there aren’t a million translations, or a sense of “choose your own adventure” morality. But of course, that also means some controversial or old-timey scriptures remain front and centre.

What I’ll Take With Me:

• A broader appreciation for Middle Eastern and halal food. I was pushed out of my comfort zone this week finding week halal meat. This meant my horizons were broadened and I would love for this to continue.

  
  

What I’ll Leave:

• The gender separation, especially in worship settings. I understand the reasoning, but personally, I value co-ed spaces that challenge and stretch me socially. I love my girls, but I also feel so enriched by close connections with all sorts of people.

Final Thoughts

Out of all the religions I’ve explored, this week sparked the most intense reactions. Some people messaged with curiosity. Others with open hostility. And unlike with the LDS church, where people just thought it was “weird”, here I heard comments accusing Muslims of being evil. The line between terrorism and Islam remains dangerously blurred in many minds.

But what I experienced was the opposite. Peace. Community. Discipline. Clarity. And above all, pride.

As Maliha told me: “We’re not oppressed. We’re devoted. We’re proud.”

Interfaith conversations are SO important. The unknown breeds hostility. If you want to know something, then find out about it. It’s dangerous not to.