A Christian TikToker takes a deep dive into Islam
University student Wilf Lovatt has launched a years-long digital project to study the Qur’an — resulting in an offline journey meeting Muslim communities across the UK
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“This is a miswak stick, a fascinating item in Islamic history,” said Wilf Lovatt, 20, in a video recently shared on social media. “It’s a chewing stick used to enhance oral hygiene, and sometimes used as an alternative for a toothbrush.”
Lovatt, a third year law student at Lancaster University, was dressed in a crisp navy blue thobe, clutching the traditional chewing stick in one hand and a pen in the other. “It’s been stated in a series of authentic hadiths that the prophet Muhammad strongly stressed the importance of oral hygiene and would often use the stick after his night prayer.”
The video is part of Lovatt’s years-long series studying holy texts from major religions. The student, who has more than 300,000 followers across Instagram and Tiktok, including Bradford West MP Naz Shah and online preacher Akhi Ayman, announced his project in January and is beginning with an exploration of the Qur’an.
Lovatt is among a growing number of non-Muslim content creators who have recently started documenting their study of Islam’s foundational text. The trend first gained traction in October 2023 after US-based TikToker Megan Rice shared that she was listening to an audiobook of the Qur’an, inspired by the faith of Palestinians in Gaza. She has since converted to Islam.
Lovatt’s social media videos have been embraced by Muslims in the UK and beyond. Followers from Newcastle, Manchester, Sunderland and Preston have given him tours of their local mosques, and he is regularly invited to community events across the country. On the day we meet, Lovatt was attending a charity fundraiser for Palestine in Oldham.
Lovatt was born and raised in Dronfield, a small town just south of Sheffield. A practising Christian, he prays daily but doesn’t attend church. According to the latest Census data, Muslims make up less than 1% of the town’s population. “There’s not many Muslims where I live, so learning about the beliefs and just how extensive some of the practices are has been fascinating,” he said.
On Eid al-Fitr, 10 April, one of Lovatt’s social media followers from Sheffield drove to pick him up from Dronfield and take him to prayers at the city’s Grand Mosque. Later that day, Lovatt accompanied a group of young men to Birmingham, where they took part in Eid celebrations along Coventry Road.
Muslims outside of the UK who have seen his social media posts have also been in touch. On a recent holiday with friends, a Spanish follower offered to show Lovatt around some Islamic sites in Marbella. “My friends’ initial reaction was that it probably was not a good idea to meet someone you’ve never met in Spain,” Lovatt said. “But it actually ended up working out alright, because while I was out they were all in bed hungover from the night before.”
Ten months into the project, Lovatt says the Islamic faith has influenced a number of aspects of his day-to-day life, notably his attitude towards alcohol consumption. “Drinking is a big part of English culture, especially among people of my age, but I’m not really a fan,” Lovatt said, explaining that he often feels pressured to drink in social settings.
“Now, after interacting with people who abstain from not just alcohol but other substances too, I don’t think I’ll feel bad about not drinking,” he added.
As part of his research into Islam, Lovatt has been spending time with Muslims from a number of sects. His coverage of some groups has proved controversial at times. “Have you seen some of the comments?” he asked when we met. Lovatt was referring to recent videos he filmed while attending the annual Arbaeen procession in Marble Arch, London.
The procession is a significant event in Shia Islam, marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein ibn Ali, who was killed during the battle of Karbala during the 7th century. Earlier in the summer, Lovatt also shared videos of himself visiting members of the Ahmadiyya community in Surrey.
His posts are littered with comments declaring some sects as “non-Muslim”, and followers also argue with each other over their beliefs. Lovatt has come to expect this. “I find that when I make a video on a different sect, there will be a hostile reaction to it. It may be due to the culture someone has been raised in, or what they’ve been told about a certain group,” he said.
“When I visit somewhere, it’s not necessarily me promoting or agreeing with something, it’s just me doing my research and trying to learn,” he continued.
After sharing content from the Arbaeen procession, Lovatt said he lost around 2,000 followers on Instagram. “The negative comments don’t affect me, and I know not to let comments online or one interaction shape my whole view of a community,” he said.
Lovatt is currently half way through the Qur’an and estimates a full analysis of Islam could take up to two years. His approach has been to read the religious text surah by surah, summarising all the key details. “There have been a few instances where a certain story might be mentioned in a particular surah, but more of the information comes from the hadiths and other sources so it takes longer,” Lovatt said.
He also plans to visit Muslim countries in the Middle East and South Asia, including the Arbaeen procession in Iraq next year. “That’s one of those events that is not often covered in the media, so it would be good to shine a light on it,” he said. “I’d also like to go to India and Pakistan.”
Lovatt is often asked the same question from some of his followers on social media. Is he Muslim yet? Did he secretly take the shahada? When will he convert?
He has not ruled out the possibility. “We will have to see what happens. I’m open minded to anything,” he said. “But it’s a personal process. I have to do my full research, not just into Islam but every other religion as well.”
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