BMHC - Newsletter March 2012

VOLUME 1

BMHC Newsletter

ISSUE 1

March 2012

Welcome Inside This Issue 1 Welcome 2 Journey Through Muslim Lands 3 4000 participants in Turkish Festivals 4 Dr Abdullah Al-Mutlaq 5 £100000 Raised at fundraising dinner 6 Regular Events at BMHC 7 BMHC Publications

Welcome to the first newsletter of the British Muslim Heritage Centre (BMHC).

This newsletter aims to update all our friends and stakeholders of recent and forthcoming developments at the British Muslim Heritage Centre. We hope to produce it on bi-monthly basis so as to keep you all as up to date as possible and give you the opportunity to participate in, and support, the many exciting events and programmes now regularly held at the BMHC. As this is the first issue, it is appropriate to share with you our aspirations and key objectives. In his forward to the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan, the Chairman of the BMHC, Mr Nasar Mahmood, states the following: “our dream is of a Centre “celebrating Islam's rich and diverse heritage, inspiring all communities to embrace diversity and be instrumental in the

8 Trustee Profile

shaping of a cohesive society”.

9. BMHC Facilities

We remain committed to the following principles: 1.

The BMHC will be a centre for all communities – Muslims and nonMuslims.

2.

We will strive to provide a welcoming environment for all and work in partnership for the common good.

3.

Journey though Muslim Lands: A family event on Sunday,11th March 2012 12.00 noon – 5.00pm ALL WELCOME.

In focusing on Muslim heritage we mean: Muslim history, people and contribution to human civilisation.

NOT TO BE MISSED: JOURNEY THROUGH MUSLIM LANDS This is one of BMHC’s pioneering initiatives which will be organised every two months under the title: Under the title ‘Arabia the Cradle of Civilisation’. The first of these events will be to explore the region where Islam started: Arabia.

The BMHC is pleased to present Dr Salah Aljazairie, Dr Farid Ashayal and Dr Abdullah Al-Shamahi, who will take us on a journey to explore Arabia at the dawn of Islam. The event is aimed at people of all ages and backgrounds and will include presentations, discussions, stalls and children’s activities.

The event will be held on Sunday, 11th March 2012, 12.00noon till 4.00pm.

British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8B

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BMHC NEWSLETTER

4,000 attend the Turkish Festival @ BMHC In line with our mission to ‘celebrate Islam’s rich and diverse heritage’, the BMHC in partnership with Turkish Airlines, Turkish Embassy, Bursa Municipality, Manchester City Council, and other partners organised one of the largest Turkish festivals to be held outside Turkey. The festival took place over three

Among the experts participating in the Turkish Festival were: Prof. Nil Sari, Prof.

Mozaffer Seker, Dr Salah Zaimeche, Dr Bilal Gokker, Prof. Seyfettin Ersahin, Dr Subhi AlAzzawi, Lucy Banks, Dr Jason Roche, Dr Huseyin Korkut and Qaisara Shahraz.

days, on 18th-20th November 2011, attracted almost 4,000 visitors. The Turkish festival represented one of the first major celebrations of Muslim Heritage, which will be followed by one similar festival each year to celebrate other Muslim civilisations.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, Professor Nil Sari, Tony Lloyd MP, as well as many leading experts on Ottoman and Turkish Muslim culture from Turkey and other parts of the world participated in the festival. Rare exhibits were brought from around the world and displayed including a replica of Aljazarie’s Musical Boat, rare ceramics and paintings.

The festival proved a huge success with people of all ages who enjoyed its many educational and entertaining aspects.

Shaikh Dr Abdullah Al-Mutlaq visits the BMHC

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Regular Activities at the BMHC The following is a list of the regular activities starting to take place at the BMHC:

On Saturday, 25th February 2012, the BMHC was honored with a visit from Shaikh Dr Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, Member of Senior Scholars Authority in Saudi

Saturday Quran Study

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Group delivered by AlHuda International Friday evening study circle

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for girls aged 11-19.

Arabia. The same day Shaihk Al-Mutlaq gave a lecture on the role of Muslim Communities in the West.

£ 100,000 Raised at the BMHC Fundraising Dinner

BMHC Publications -

Arabia: Cradle of Civilisation by Dr S E Djazairi

Yasmin Qureshi MP 

Turkish Civilisation by Dr S. E. Djazairi

The BMHC is hugely indebted to all those who have and continue to support us over the years. Many of our generous friends came together on the evening of Friday, 24th February 2012 to show their support and hear of the progress being made to make the BMHC a world-class Centre for the celebration of Muslim heritage and its work to strengthen community cohesion locally and nationally. We are especially grateful to Ms Yasmin Qureshi MP for attending and giving her support to the BMHC. More the £100,000 was raised on the evening which will enable us to continue the refurbishment work and make more space available for the community.

British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8B

BMHC NEWSLETTER

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Trustee Profile: In this and other forthcoming issues of the newsletter we will profile one member of the Board of Trustees of the BMHC.

Name: Mr Nasar Mahmood Profession: Businessman Role within BMHC: Chair of the Board of Trustees Interests: As well as his business interests, Mr Mahmood has been active in his support to various local community initiatives in Manchester and nationally. These include his roles on the governing bodies of local Musilim schools and Manchester Youth Trust (Islah Centre) and various mosques.

BMHC facilities for hire

Mr Nasar Mahmood Chair of the BMHC.

The BMHC is located in the heart of the dynamic city of Manchester, situated in eight acres of greenery.

The serene environment has proved to be an attractive environment for diverse range of functions including weddings, conferences, community events, lectures as well as meetings of many sizes and types.

Among the facilities we can provide are the following: 

Conference, meeting and banqueting hall capable of accommodating up to 200 persons.

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Two large meeting rooms capable of accommodating up to 100 each.

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Four meeting rooms capable of accommodating up to 40 each.

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A board room capable of accommodating 15 persons.

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A fully equipped kitchen and survery.

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On-site free car parking for up to 250 vehicles.

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8 acres of green spaces capable of hosting many and varied outdoor events.

All facilities are supported by audio and video systems and enjoy the latest climatic controls and floor to ceiling natural light. The BMHC also provides dedicated Event Planner, welcome reception and wi-fi internet access.

Our facilities are fully DDA compliant with lift facilities and hearing loops For further information please contact the Sairah Zaffar, Events Manager, on 0161 881 8062 or by email on sairah.zaffar@bmhc.org.uk.

British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8B

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BMHC NEWSLETTER

BMHC Strategy Our Goals A welcoming environment LLocated in the heart of the dynamic city of Manchester, situated in eight acres of greenery. The serene environment will prove to be an attractive retreat for all members of the community.

Our Vision for BMHC

Our Mission

A learning environment The greatest threat to the cohesion of any community is ignorance. That is why we have made the sharing and dissemination of knowledge a primary objective of the BMHC

A centre of excellence, celebrating the rich and diverse Muslim heritage, inspiring all communities to embrace diversity and be instrumental in shaping a cohesive society

Developing pioneering initiatives that promote the rich and diverse Muslim heritage and making it accessible to all

Outreach The BMHC aims to make a positive contribution both nationally and globally by developing appropriate outreach programmes that convey the BMHC vision to those interested.

Partnership In order to ensure Muslim heritage, stretching for more than 1,400 years and covering nearly a quarter of the world’s population, is available and accessible to all BMHC aims to complement and work with other institutions and individuals around the world who share this aspiration.

Centre of Expertise We envisage the BMHC to become the hub of great scholarship and research into Muslim Heritage and its applications, within the interconnected world of today.

How you can help the BMHC The BMHC will only achieve these aspirations with your help through the following:  We invite you to become a member of the BMHC Friends Group and contribute to the programmes and activities through advice, suggestions and volunteering. 

You can donate to the ongoing work direct to the BMHC bank account: Bank Name: Bank Address:

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Manchester Withington Branch 467 Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 9AP, United Kingdom.

Account Name: Account Number: Sort Code: IBAN: SWIFT No.:

British Muslim Heritage Centre 10088053 16-34-27 GB85RBOS RBOSGB2L

British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 8B