In this 2-part series we hear from alumna Farzana Salik about how she started her social enterprise Taahirah – a movement championing Muslim women’s health. This first part details her early journey in becoming a founder.
Bio:
Farzana Salik is a 23-year-old Law graduate from the University of Cambridge (BA Hons) and Oxford (MSc), with a focus on public law and children’s rights. Having completed the Bar course, she is on the path to becoming a Barrister, enriched by invaluable experiences at law firms, NGOs, and within the Magistracy. Concurrently, Farzana is pursuing her Licence for Islamic Scholarship at Al Salam Institute. Inspired by her personal journey and advocacy for women’s rights, Farzana founded Taahirah – a movement championing Muslim women’s health. She currently leads the development of a Muslim women’s health app, integrating Islamic and health guidance at every life stage. Farzana’s mission is to use her skills and experiences to serve her community.
Please can you tell us a little about your journey to becoming a founder?
Leveraging my educational background, I saw an opportunity to transform my frustration into something impactful.
My journey traces back to when I was as young as 11 .The week before my menstruation —the luteal phase— was a recurring cycle of mood swings, debilitating cramps, headaches, and relentless fatigue. Back then, I brushed it off as “just PMS”. After all, our school’s scant menstrual education left me – and many others – clueless! I now suspect I’ve always had Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS affecting 10% of women.
As I transitioned into adulthood, these erratic symptoms persisted, especially during family planning. Though, this time was different. In Islam, puberty marks the onset of worship responsibilities, with specific exemptions during menstruation. Simple, in theory. But with conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, spotting, miscarriage, postpartum bleeding, menopause, and so on, its practice becomes harder.
Amid my personal turmoil, a realisation dawned on me: two significant challenges plague many Muslim women, including myself. First, there’s a glaring lack of holistic menstrual education within the Muslim community, from both medical and Islamic perspectives. Socio-cultural barriers stifle open discussions, leaving many without the support they need. This is paradoxical – Islam has long recognised menstruation as a divine and natural fact of life (read more here). Secondly, despite there being around a billion Muslim women globally, there is no single ecosystem tailored to our needs. Women are left piecing together information from various sources to manage.
Leveraging my educational background, I saw an opportunity to transform my frustration into something impactful. And, reclaim the narrative around Muslim women’s health. That’s how Taahirah was born.
Initially, I was torn between pursuing women’s health or sticking with law. But one sleepless night sketching app logos (after submitting my Masters thesis) became a turning point. Then, a spontaneous entry into the Spark Award for new startups took me to Doha where I pitched to 300+ people as a top-seven finalist. With each stage, Taahirah evolved from a mere idea into a venture with real potential.
Since then, we’ve began laying a strong community foundation:
- Surveying nearly 700 women to understand their needs.
- Completed the Oxford University Innovation Incubator.
- Newsletter reached 300+ subscribers.
- Collaborated with educators, institutions, and organisations.
- Featured at Muslim Tech Fest 2024, Europe’s largest gathering of the Muslim tech industry.
- Printed 400 infographics to raise awareness about women’s health issues.
- Built a dedicated team of 14 members.
Today, Taahirah stands as one of the first female-led initiatives advocating for Muslim women’s health through what I call “Islamic FemTech.” Our initial goal is to launch a holistic health app supporting Muslim women through every life stage, with plans for much more!
As I advance on my journey as a founder, I am guided by the Prophetic saying, “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.” Drawing inspiration from the rich Islamic and Newnhamite legacies of women’s education, I aim to continue creating spaces that improve Muslim women’s health and wellbeing.
What was your mindset towards your career as you reached graduation? Did you see yourself as a founder?
Not in the slightest! Growing up in Newham, East London, I wore multiple hats. As a British-Bangladeshi woman from a low socioeconomic and working-class background, and being one of only two visibly Muslim women in both Oxbridge cohorts, I felt I carried the immense “weight of representation.”
So, I was laser-focused on overachieving, and set on the Bar. My extensive CV reflected this. During and outside of term time, I volunteered with the Magistracy, participated in societies, mosques, and charities, and interned at legal aid clinics, law firms, and NGOs—the list went on! The idea of founding a startup was nowhere on my radar.
Though, looking back, I realise my community-building experiences inadvertently laid the groundwork for Taahirah. In Sixth Form, I co-founded a Muslim women’s network. At Cambridge, I established the first JCR dedicated to Muslim women – Newnham Akhawaat. These initiatives created safe spaces for underserved Muslim female students to thrive! Coincidence? Maybe not!
Finally – what would you say to the ‘you’ when you were graduating, that you know now and didn’t know then?
Remember, it’s okay to slow down. There’s no need to rush or succumb to the pressure of immediate achievement.
Start with the basics: Ṣalāh (prayer) and Duʿāʾ (invocation) are powerful tools. They offer you moments to pause, reflect, and connect with God’s call to success five times a day! So, eliminate distractions, engage with introspection, and embrace solitude. The clarity you seek is found here!
Remember, it’s okay to slow down. There’s no need to rush or succumb to the pressure of immediate achievement. Take the time to ground yourself early in what truly matters—faith, family, friends, and Farzana. This’ll give you a strong foundation to make thoughtful decisions. And when challenges arise, you’ll face them with firm resolve, trusting in God’s plan: “My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.” [26:62].
Embrace lifelong learning, as the Qurʾān teaches: “Read” [96:1]. Life post-graduation is full of lessons and experiences that will shape you in unexpected ways – be open to it! Seize every opportunity—the good and the seemingly bad. Importantly, travel, explore nature, engage with different cultures, and expand your perspectives. These will enrich your life immeasurably!.
Finally, it’s okay to struggle. Research shows that “post-traumatic growth” can lead to significant personal development in areas like appreciation of life, relationships, and spiritual depth. Instead of magnifying failures and minimising successes, try to zoom out and see the bigger picture. You have and always will, find your way! “Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine.” [65:2-3].
Through it all, embody love, mercy, and justice.
See part 2 in the series – From Lawyer to Health Advocate: Farzana’s Journey in FemTech for Muslim Women.