Islam today issue 46 April 2017

issue 46 vol. 5 April 2017

International Children’s Book Day TO READ AND WHAT TO READ SCOTLAND: GIVING UNITY WINGS Travel Guide to Muslim Europe The ‘Aunt’ of Muslim Europe

Contents

issue 46 vol. 5 April 2017

Page:

islam today magazine is a monthly magazine

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Report

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Travelling Across the pond

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Hawza in a Nutshell - Lesson on Akhlaq

published by the London based Islamic Centre of England. It focuses on the activities of the communities affiliated to the Centre, reflecting a culture of openness and respect towards other religious communities both Islamic and non. The magazine is available in paper and digital format.

Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour Amir De Martino Anousheh Mireskandari

info@islam-today.net letters@islam-today.net info@islam-today.net

www.islam-today.co.uk Follow us: islamtodaymag @islamtodaymaguk

To Read and What To Read

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Art

The Islamic Centre of England 140 Maida Vale London W9 1QB Tel: +44 20 7604 5500 ISSN 22051-250 Disclaimer: All information in this magazine is verified to the best of the authors’ and the publisher’s ability.

However, islam today shall not be liable or responsible for loss or damage arising from any users’ reliance on information obtained from the magazine.

April 2017

by Batool Haydar

Being in the moment..., In the Spotlight, Engage Inspire, My Favourite things, Do try this at home

by Moriam Grillo

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To know Me is to worship Me

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‘Suffering and divine love’: the way to redemption

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Scotland: Giving Unity Wings

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Travel Guide to Muslim Europe

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International Children’s Book Day

Publisher

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Psychological egoism

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Innovative Graphics

Contact us Information Letters to the Editor Article Submissions

Dr Shomali's visit to Canada

by Ezra Hashme

Editorial team

Layout and Design

Going North of the Border

by Abbas Di Palma

by Revd Frank Julian Gelli

An open lesson on Christian-Muslim dialogue The ‘Aunt’ of Muslim Europe

by Tharik Hussain

by Shaheen Mirali

Corner 24 Children Book reading

by Ghazaleh Kamrani

& Where 26 What Listing ofEvents

Report

Going North of the Border

D

r Mohammad Ali Shomali visited Scotland end of February 2017 to attend two programmes organised jointly by the Ahl Al Bait Society Scotland and the Focolare Movement in Scotland. The events which had been planned since his last visit in September 2016, included an address to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh during Time for Reflection session and an open lecture on interfaith at the University of Glasgow. The theme of the lecture at the University of Glasgow was: “Unity in God and Unity of God�. The speakers were Dr Shomali and Dr Paolo Frizzi, a lecturer in Religious and Global Processes and Theology and Praxis of Interfaith Dialogue in Italy at the Sophia University Institute.

(Read the full report on page 16)

Dr Shomali was interviewed by Ms Mary Catherine O'ReillyGindhart for the news blog of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland Committee for Interreligious Dialogue. https://soundcloud.com/user257885493/interview-on-interreligious-dialogue-dr-shomali28-february-2017

April 2017

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Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali’s speech at the Scottish Parliament

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In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

residing Officer, members of Parliament and everyone here, I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to address you today. I have been to Scotland several times and always associate it with welcoming people and beautiful nature.

If we reflect on the development of religions and traditions, we realise that there has always been a central question: how to keep your people together and convince them that, by remaining inside the circle, they are better off. Otherwise, you may lose them. It is closely related to the issue of identity: how we understand our position in relation to others.

Unfortunately, the way to demonstrate that we are better off in the circle was often to distance ourselves from others. Instead of saying what you are, the focus was on what you are not. That type of identity is based on fear and exclusion. It will certainly not work in today’s world. If it worked before, it was because the world was very partitioned and people often did not meet people of other faiths, ethnicities or cultures.

That is not today’s world, and that fragile understanding of identity no longer works. We need a new type of understanding that is based on what we have, can offer and appreciate in others. Relating to others is an essential part of everyone’s identity. I cannot be a good Muslim or Christian - or a good Iranian or Scot - unless I know how to relate to other people and accommodate them in my own identity.

For believers in God, that is a very important part of our faith. How can we believe in God, the creator of all, and then fail to care for part of God’s creation?

For us, every human, animal, bird, flower and drop of water is significant because it is a manifestation of God. So, now, we need to rethink our understanding of identity. Human bodies have different organs and each has its own function. However, nothing survives in isolation. Humans can survive only in relation to others, finding their role within a bigger unity. When I look at the Qur’an, I see that that is actually God’s plan. In his creation and revelation, God has showed us the way towards unity. God’s plan is that humanity unites around the truth, and one of the places in which we can establish a model of mutual recognition, respect, love and unity is Scotland.

May peace be with you.

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s s o r c c A the Pond Travelling

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n early March, the Director of the Islamic Centre, Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, travelled to Canada to attend a number of programmes in different cities over a period of 12 days. The first was held at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary on March 2nd. This was a follow-up of a meeting held a year earlier. The topic of the discussion was: ‘Muslim Shi‘a position on Ahl ul Kitab' (The People of the Book).

Dr Shomali explained the etymology of the term Ahl ul Kitab (The People of the Book), underlining how according to the Holy Qur’an, the People of the Book also includes Muslims and that in reality there is only one Book sent by God in ‘different editions’, essentially containing the same message.

He stressed the point that there is One God, One Religion, One Book and One Humanity. The presentation was very well received by an engaging audience. Before the event, Dr Shomali had a meeting with some of the university’s professors and the principal. The staff of the university and members of the Muslim Shi‘a community shared lunch together. During the Q&A, there was a request to plan for a third event to be held in the future.

The next stop on Dr Shomali’s visit to Canada was the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

His last visit to this university was in March last year (See islam today issue 35 p. 4) . The topic of this public lecture was advertised by the organisers as an opportunity to converse with an Iranian Shi‘a Muslim cleric, therefore questions were broad, ranging from the Shi‘a theological position to Iranian politics all the way through to interfaith dialogue. In a separate session, Dr Shomali was also invited to participate in classroom discussion on interfaith dialogue.

On Friday 3rd of March, Dr Shomali was asked to give a speech in the chapel for staff and students of the university as part of their religious mass. Dr Shomali had the opportunity to expand on the meaning and concept of ‘light’ in the Qur’an.

On Sunday 5th, Dr Shomali was invited to address worshippers during the education hour at the Mennonite church attended by Professor Harry Huebner where he introduced few concepts on Christians – Muslims Unity. Dr Shomali took the opportunity to present his understanding of ‘God’s Plan’ for the future. This was a very engaging and interesting session. Dr Shomali also held a meeting with the heads of CMU summer school, where he has been invited to teach a module on Peace resources in Christianity and Islam

at the Canadian School of Peace (CSOP). Another objective of Dr Shomali's visit to the CMU was to discuss plans for the forthcomings 7th round of Muslim Shi‘a and Christian Mennonite dialogue which will involve a delegation of Shi‘a scholars from the Seminary of Qum Iran.

During his trip to Canada Dr Shomali also visited the local Shi‘a community in Winnipeg, Toronto, London and Montreal. In Toronto, he delivered a lecture for the community at the Masumeen Islamic Centre of Brampton on the 7th March. The theme of the talk was on community building and practices, delving further into the concept of a Social Wilaya in practical ways. This topic shall be addressed in more detail in future issues of islam today. Dr Shomali also had a meeting with the KLC students where he discussed the first part of Dua of Makarim al-Akhlaq (Noble Traits of Character).

Dr Shomali also visited a Mormon Church in Hamilton.

This was followed by a further visit to London, Ontario, where Dr Shomali was invited by the Western University Thaqalayn Muslim Association to give a talk on current issues faced by Muslims. Later he spoke at the local AlMahdi Islamic Center on ‘The Waiting for al-Mahdi (atf)’.

His final engagement was in Montreal for another interfaith meeting with members of the Christian Mormon Church in which a number of topics where discussed and presented by both sides.

On Saturday 11th, Dr Shomali met members of the Shi‘a community in Montreal where he delivered lectures centered around a commentary of the well-known supplication Makarimul Akhlaq (The Honourable Morals).

On Sunday 12th, Dr Shomali met KLC students from Montreal and Ottawa and continued the discussion on Dua of Makarim al-Akhlaq.

April 2017

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Life & Community

Hawza in a Nutshell Lessons on Akhlaq

by Ezra Hashme

Psychological egoism

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mother left behind two sons, a mule, a cow and a small plot of land under the supervision of her elderly uncle. He was very poor and barely had enough food for himself, but despite all this, he promised to look after the boys.

The elderly man tried his best but as the boys were a bit older, he passed away, and the boys were left to fend for themselves. The eldest, Yahya, decided that they should sell the land; he would take the mule and his younger brother Harun should take the cow. They would start a new life in opposite parts of the city and the one who succeeded would help the other.

Harun agreed, probably because he had no other choice.

Yahya worked hard and it paid off. His life took a fortunate turn when he found a job with a fishmonger. He saved enough money to exchange his mule for a horse. With the horse, he could make money by delivering important documents and parcels across the city. Meanwhile, the younger brother was not so lucky. His cow dried up leaving him with no means of income. He decided to take the cow to the butcher and the butcher in return gave the boy some money to make ends meet until he found a job.

Years later Yahya became very rich; he got married and was blessed with a daughter and a son. He became so successful that people would relate his story to their children so as to inspire them to work hard. News reached Harun about his brother’s wealth and out of embarrassment; he decided not to meet Yahya.

Harun worked hard as a cobbler but he would only ever have enough to feed himself and his barren wife. Many years later their paths crossed and Yahya instantly recognised his

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younger brother who looked very old and had already developed a hunchback. Harun didn’t recognise the wealthy man staring at him and now hugging and kissing him. He introduced himself to Harun, who took a step back, flabbergasted. Yahya offered to help his younger brother but Harun refused, saying he was content with his life.

Both grew old and died, one got a much higher place in heaven whilst the other barely made it to heaven. Yahya asked why his brother got a higher place, when he prayed more than him, gave more charity than him and even offered to help him when he looked like he was in need. The reply was when Yahya prayed he prayed for himself, when he gave charity he gave for himself and when he offered to help he did it because he didn’t want people to judge him. On the other hand, all Harun prayed for was for Yahya’s prayers and dreams to come true and because of this selfless act, he had a higher place.

In recent months we’ve discussed the role of intention and what makes an action good. In class, Sheikh Shomali raised a very important question; to whom should these good actions belong? Do they belong to the individual and what that individual represents? This would mean that the person performing an action is only doing it from an egoistic point of view. So whatever one does is only for his/her own gain.

Or should the good action be performed only for the gain of others? This means that for an action to qualify or be deemed good it should be performed for the benefit of others; this would make the individual an altruist. Finally, the good actions could be a combination of the two depending on the situation.

Dr Shomali said that according to some Islamic

philosophers human beings perform actions only because of self-love. They argue that no matter what we do after careful examination it becomes clear that we do it out of self-love.

Even if we want to gain proximity to God we do it only for our self-interest because we want to reach the highest place in paradise. Even a mother who is looking after her children does it because those children belong to her and again it is out of self-love. The mother will not love another child to the same degree as she would her own. What about martyrs? They give up everything to gain something greater in the next world.

is unmatched; it’s an example of pure selflessness. We’ve heard many stories where people, both believing and nonbelieving, have put themselves at great risk to save someone else, sometimes even animals.

Sheikh Shomali said we have to distinguish between two things. One is the desire the benefits for ourselves and the other is the desire for benefits for others. We gain interest in something not just because it can benefit us but because it could benefit others around us. This distinction puts a lot of selfless acts into perspective, the love of a mother for her child and the love of Prophets and Imams for their According to this viewpoint, it is impossible for human community.  beings to do something unless they find it beneficial for themselves; this is called psychological egoism in the west.

After listening to this I felt a little uneasy because no matter how hard we try we will always end up being selfish. What is the difference between psychological egoism and selfishness? People who are selfish are not really doing good for themselves. For example, imagine there are two thirsty people with one cup of water. The selfish one takes the ...according to some Islamic water and quenches his thirst but if the person had acted philosophers human beings with psychological egoism, he would have given the water away because he would be thinking of gaining something perform actions only because greater, ranging from self-satisfaction to a place in paradise. of self-love. They argue that Sheikh said some of us only experience the joy of taking but no matter what we do after there is joy in giving.

We, humans, are always calculating. Those that are selfish are short sighted and thrive on quick fixes such as for example brushing debris under the carpet instead of cleaning it up properly. Those who are really interested in self-development act for the long-term goal, to clean the house using the vacuum cleaner and take the time to clean thoroughly for the benefit of everyone living in that house.

We are generous and kind in this world so we can gain more both here and in the hereafter.

Sometimes when we perform an act we don’t think about our self-interest. A mother or father wakes up in the middle of the night to tend to their child; they don’t calculate or think tactically on how they can benefit from this action.

They simply do it. In this world a mother’s love for her child

careful examination it becomes clear that we do it out of self-love. Even if we want to gain proximity to God we do it only for our selfinterest because we want to reach the highest place in paradise.

Dr Shomali

April 2017

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To Read and What To Read

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Appreciation of reading books is something that needs to be cultivated in children, especially in today’s digital world. Batool Haydar suggests a number of practical points for Muslim parents

t may seem odd to those of us who grew up before the turn of the century, but reading has become a foreign experience for many of the children and youth in the new age where almost all things are internet-based. For those of us keen to inculcate the habit of reading in our children, content and quality becomes the challenge we have to deal with.

In a changing world, we need to keep up and approach the culture of reading with a different perspective so that we can equip future generations with whatever they need to preserve their sense of self and identity.

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Why Read?

“Once you learn to read, you will forever be free." - Frederick Douglass For many new parents, the lure of ‘edutainment’ and the ease of its application is enough to make them think that reading is a transferable skill. We tend these days to equate anything connected to technology as being ‘intelligent’. When our children learn how to use a mobile phone before they can speak, we celebrate and boast of this achievement as if it is a sign of how clever they are. In actual fact, mobile technology is

designed so that even an illiterate person can manage their way through it, so for a child to figure it out – especially after seeing their parents use it all day, every day – is an extremely obvious consequence.

Research has shown that so-called educational videos and apps do not really accelerate or even help a child’s intellectual progress. In fact, this passive mode of info-dumping may even cause a regression in some areas of development.

Reading, on the other hand, does something amazing to the human brain. It actually encourages growth and actively opens up channels of

imagination and comprehension.

A child watching a TV screen and one reading a book may at first glance seem to be sitting quietly doing similar activities, but what is going on inside their heads is vastly different.

The first child is being ‘fed’ information and absorbing it without question; one might call it being brainwashed. The second is engaging actively with the text, being asked to visualise description, imagine voices and faces and come to fresh conclusions with every turn of the page.

Teaching your child to be a reader could be the best gift you could ever give them. One that will last them a lifetime and open up countless worlds and experiences for them that they may otherwise never have had.

What To Read?

“It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading.” - Katherine Patterson

There is an old concept in computer technology called GIGO i.e. Garbage In Garbage Out. It applies quite aptly to reading. While there are many who come from the school that believes that it doesn’t matter what you read as long as you do read, the kind of books you read influence your ideas and often your principles as well.

Those of us who are book lovers will fondly remember childhood favourites and how we wanted to be like our literary heroes, living their lives and imitating their habits.

We form alliances and connect with characters over years and decades and our adult selves are oriented towards the general ideals that we have come to admire from these books. We empathise with their experiences and form biases based on their likes and dislikes.

In a way, we attach ourselves to them as we should perhaps have attached

ourselves to true role models we have in the history of our faith. And this is why what we expose our children to at a young age is extremely important.

It may be tempting to teach them all about the ‘classics’ – whether it be the Brothers Grimm and Lewis Carroll in childhood, or Dickens, Thackery and Makepeace as they grow older, it pays to remember that most of these early writers were quite embedded in their faith and they wrote with strong Christian principles in mind. While morals are arguably universal and timeless, the environments in these stories form visions in the imagination of the reader that are in line with the preference of the author.

That lack of an ‘Islamic atmosphere’ in literature has prompted Muslim writers to pen books for children, youth and adult genres and while the latter groups have fewer publications, there is plenty of fantastic reading available for children. From topics of history to akhlaq to exploring the Qur’an, we have no excuse not to introduce Islam to our children from infancy in an interesting and fun way. (In this issue of islam today a selection of Islamic books for children has been recommended, to start off or add to your library!)

The Best of Books “Few things leave a deeper mark on the reader, than the first book that finds its way to his heart." - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

As we celebrate International Children’s Book Day and look to introduce our children to reading, let us not forget that as Muslims, our first and foremost goal in doing so is to allow them to build bonds with the wealth of literature we have in our possession.

The only – and best – way we connect with our Creator is by reading His Word. Often we get so caught up in tales of fiction and adventure that we

find it hard to disconnect from them and turn to the stories and amazing experiences of all the Prophets, including our own Prophet Muhammad(s).

An uncomfortable, but true, the fact is that many of our youth cannot internalise the Qur’an because they have become too used to secular literature. The stories of the Prophets or Imams – especially those involving miraculous feats - feel as fantastic to them as those of secular super-heroes and they simply cannot ‘imagine’ them as real events.

A possible reason for this is that we tend to introduce children to fairy tales and stories of wonder and leave the ‘deeper’ texts for when they grow older. The ideal would be to do them opposite: introduce a child to the habit of reading the Qur’an, Nahj alBalagha and other Islamic-themed literature from an early age so that their truths and realities are defined by these. When they grow older and begin to read secular texts, they will then always be able to distinguish that these are ‘lighter’ reading of a secondary quality.

If you don’t have access to Islamic books for your children, simply pick any book available and infuse an Islamic aspect into it by how you read it out to them. A simple ‘Mashallah’ (God has willed it) or ‘Alhamdulillah’ (all praise to God) added to a common, familiar story will add a subtle reminder for both you and your child.

Remember, it is important to make your children readers, but equally - if not more - important to make them discerning readers. Teach them to read books that will encourage them to question, to think, to deduce and then sit back and watch them discover themselves and in the process, hopefully, discover their Creator.

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Art Being in the moment....

With literature being the theme this month, I hope each article will encourage you to discover your own literal expression. Exploring spoken word, theatre, classic literature and more, this is an invitation to step into imagined worlds, traverse politically charged ideas and create new ones. Writing can be used as a means of catharsis; a way to express ourselves and heal. And at the very least, literature has the ability to enrich our lives and offer us a greater sense of unity simply by sharing our stories.

In the Spotlight

Inspire

Firdos Ali

Layla Rodrigues

“I just love words. As a child, I was an avid reader. I was quite lazy; I used to write stories in my head. So I’d hold the plot in my head and the following day I’d add to it and add to it, till I had books! My teachers were every encouraging they all said I had a gift for it and I just found it the easiest way to communicate."

As a British playwright born in Somalia and of Yemeni heritage, Firdos Ali is, at the very least, interesting. As a child, Ali learnt English, Arabic and Urdu and French in an Indian school based in the Middle East affording her a rich cultural experience that makes a unique basis for her writing.

Ali writes plays that centre on the black, British Muslim experience and her first play ‘Struggle’ is in keeping with this, telling the story of a Somaliland woman campaigning against Muslim hate crime whilst being headhunted by MI5.

Her writing is raw, edgy and gritty in a way that reflects her unapologetic nature to tell it like it is. Ali's youthfulness also brings a fresh and dynamic viewpoint to the table,offering us, as a viewer, a chance to step into the world we may otherwise never know. Ali says she was motivated to write plays that told the stories of the world which she inhabited, the world which was unrepresented in the mainstream and to all intents and purposes, invisible.

With plays under her belt, Ali has managed to change that reality and encouraged a more liberal perception of her narrative and others like it. Ali has made a name for herself in literary circles and created a space for greater dialogue between cultures on the world stage.

“I think being black British and Muslim, there was just so much bubbling inside me that I just felt I couldn’t go ranting and raving around socially, at work… the stage is the perfect place to make people laugh and feel uncomfortable and also it is a chance to shed some light on certain communities in Britain…"

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It is not very often that I leave the art to speak for itself. But, there is an exception to every rule. Layla Rodrigues is a woman after my own heart. Her poetry resonates with me deeply and reminds me of the narratives woven through the experiences of my peers in bygone years. If I were to describe succinctly how her work moves me, it would be through the metaphor of a seed. It is laden with potential which only proves itself, with patience, over time.

“Just Breathe” . . . . . . . Just breathe because in the midst of this pain there is a reason to live Just breathe and allow anxiety to leave your mind Just breathe because today is not the day the world ends . it's time to find you live for today don't grieve about the worries of tomorrow Instead, lift your hands up And scream Ya Allah hold me for surely he will answer you for surely he will provide for you, food, clothing and shelter For He is Al Razzaq He is the giver of gifts The One who loves His creation And is full of mercy For He is Ar-Rahman He will take away your sorrow For He is Al-Jabbar Just breathe You come from a lineage of lionesses dig deep and find the strength that has been passed on through generations Feel the pain but don't allow it to consume you don't allow it to destroy you Turn to Al Malik For He is in charge of everything Just breathe

My Favourite Things

Engage

Mariama Ba. My favourite piece of fictional writing is by the Senegalese writer Mariama Ba. ‘So Long a Letter’, written in 1979 was her first novel and takes the form of a long letter written by the protagonist, Ramatoulaye Fall, to her best friend Aissatou Ba. The story, based around the death of Ramatoulaye's husband, is a study of the lives of Muslim women in Senegal at the beginning of its independence from colonial rule. It is a study rich with cultural context, moral quandaries and errant life choices.

We start at the point where following her husband's death, Ramatoulaye is observing her iddah [period after divorce or death of husband when a woman cannot remarry]. It is during this time, through her writing, that she recounts the major events in their lives together in a cathartic attempt at resolution. Whilst her lifelong friend Aissatou has emigrated to America, Ramatoulaye has chosen to remain, mothering twelve children and living in a polygamous marriage. In the two hundred pages of her letter, Ramatoulaye ponders over her life so far and on where she must now journey to. I was struck by the metaphor that death and life meant that both parties were travelling in opposing directions.

Whilst her deceased husband had left this world, Ramatoulaye was now to enter it more prominently. Ba's writing, although translated from the original written in French, is rich and poignant relaying her thoughts with depth and honesty. It is also interesting how the life stories of Ramatoulaye and Aissatou journey from similarity to difference and back again.

The novel won the first Noma Prize for Publishing in Africa in 1980 and remains a seminal text.

focus on the things that are amazing around you breathe for your children for they need you Just breathe because Al-Wadud stands with you You see Al-Wakeel has never deserted you Al-Muhsi is just testing you so that Al-Hadi can bring about what is better for you Just breathe Allow Ar-Rashid’s plan to unfold Just try to hold on We have been told that, As-Salam is with the sabiroon So be patient and be resilient Just breathe For surely with hardship comes ease Copyright - L.S. Rodrigues http://www.lsrodrigues.co.uk

Bunker Without Borders Bunker Without Borders is a weeklong festival of theatre that reflects the everyday world around us through art and performance.

The venue for this avant-garde string of performances is the Bunker, a unique 110-seater studio theatre situated underground in London Bridge.

For this event, the Bunker is partnering with playwright Firdos Ali, and artists Mahad Ali and Rabiah Hussain.

Firdos Ali will be presenting two plays during this festival 'The Wrong Way' and 'How I Feel'.

4 - 8 April Bunker Theatre 53a Southwark Street SE1 1RU. For more info visit bunkertheatre.com

Do try this at home Creative writing

Writing as a means of communicating is something we are encouraged to do more each day. With text messaging and social media, even those who don't write for a living or deem themselves to be adequate writers will share their words potentially with thousands of readers, writing thoughts or feelings that will live on far longer than the experiences from which they originate.

Writing in this way can also be used as a way of helping us to know ourselves better and to reflect on things more deeply and rationally.

At the top of a plain piece of paper write the words ‘I am...' Now write a list of words below it which you feel most honestly describe you. These must be your chosen words, not those of others. Perhaps you disagree with how others see you, or you have never thought about yourself in this way. What you may find from the simple prompt ‘I am’ is that words from your unconscious pop into your mind, words that you would never otherwise choose. Words Moriam Grillo is an international that express how you truly feel. award winning artist.She holds Batchelor degrees in photography & If nothing much happens the film and Ceramics and is currently first time you do this then that studying for a masters in Art Therapy. Moriam is also founder of is fine. Life is a process and it the Butterfly Project. may take several attempts to uncover how you truly feel about yourself. Enjoy.

April 2017 11

Faith

“To know Me is...

The worship of God, being a real connection with the spiritual dimension, is the actual purpose of human existence, explains Abbas Di Palma.

G

od’s creation is marvellous. Water, minerals, plants, sky, mountains, rivers are all part of a whole and unique system in which we live in. According to a religious perspective, this creation is not limited to its physical aspects and beauties but in it are secrets and worlds to be discovered by the faithful.

political ideologies often resulted from the secularisation of previous theological notions or systems.

Consequently, such ideologies postulate a representation of a human world in which an effective connection with other worlds and dimensions has been lost.

Often, human aims and ideas stagnate at the material, or at most psychological, level making celestial realms inaccessible and closing in this way the doors of a higher understanding and bliss.

Some people, however, do not limit themselves by the boundaries of their physical condition and are not keen to accept a compromise with ‘space and time’. They want to see beyond and to transcend historical and social phenomenon so as to witness that mysterious world announced by the prophets and saints. In other words, we are pointing to the true spirituality whose traces are not clearly visible, neither in the classical annals nor in mere rational thought, as it is the very ‘experience of man’.

In any case, as a matter of fact, the unseen spiritual world indicated by the religious scriptures cannot be denied. This issue has been at the centre of many heated and controversial debates for centuries where each side brought different pieces of evidence to support its view. The believer, however, may choose to undertake another route to explore God’s creation and this would happen by walking through the Path of Faith by using tools such as humility, intimacy and worship.

Indeed we often witness the limitations of spirituality as applied in different social contexts.

Human, social and

Finding enjoyment in worship detaches the human being from his physical conditions and makes him taste a paradisiacal sweetness that does not belong to this world. This fact has been proven not only by the words and actions of holy personalities but also by the direct experience of ordinary believers.

Unfortunately, many people have spent many years engaging themselves in outwardly devotional disciplines without directly experiencing this joy and sense of happiness. Such lack of feeling may have been caused by the absence of certain important premises, factors and etiquettes that are to be kept in mind in relation to our worship.

First of all, we should not compare worship to a mere exercise of concentration. Concentration may be a part of worship but it is not its finality because to focus on concepts or words in some cases may represent a form of distraction from the One to whom our worship is directed. There is a fundamental element in worship that is to be distinguished from the

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. to worship Me” different forms of exercises and concentration. Mere concentration may improve our capability of meditation on an object but may not necessarily be classified as real worship. Divine vigilance and attention cannot be forcefully vehiculated towards something although it may be intensified towards what it is already directed to. If a person does not find pleasure in worship, he should first realise that for him, God’s presence is not found, and he should look for a solution to that problem, being aware that love and attraction for Him cannot be forced. His ideal state should be like that of a lover admiring the loved one without focusing on what he is saying to him, although words of love would naturally flow from his tongue.

Furthermore, the heart should be conscious of the importance of worship. The more our awareness of the importance of worship is present, the more intensified should be our devotional actions. A natural consequence of such awareness will be to dedicate a specific time for worship in which any other worry or preoccupations are not taken into consideration.

There is no doubt that performing a daily prayer or reciting the Qur’an while thinking of finishing that worship prevents spiritual ascension. The time of worship should be allocated only with the intention of divine satisfaction and nothing else. It is for this reason that all scholars agree that worship without appropriate intention is invalid under all circumstances. More precisely it can be said that the core of worship is that same intention which brings the consequent predisposition of mind and movements of the body.

Some good-hearted people may not be extremely keen on the act of worship. In fact it is true that different people have different tendencies; some emphasise charity works, some focus on morality, others on the maintenance of justice, all elements that reflect God’s beauty and majesty on earth, but it is through worship that man can reflect divine beauty and majesty in the angelic sphere as well to the point that even the angels may become subservient to

Him as it is mentioned in some religious literature. It is the real scope of His Creation as the Qur’an says: “I have not created the spirits and the humans except to worship Me.” (51:56).

Also, since according to some traditions ‘to worship Me’ means ‘to know Me’, it may be concluded that God can be fully known only through worship. The limbs of the body and the mental inferences are limited factors that cannot lead by themselves to the ultimate knowledge of God. The predisposition of the heart is the essential ingredient to really knowing Him by being the actual bridge between the finite and infinite aspect of our existence. Hujjatul-Islam Abbas Di Palma is an Italian convert, graduated from the Hawza Ilmiyya ofLondon. He holds a MA in Islamic Studies and lecturs at The Islamic College London.

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Interfaith

‘Suffering and divine love’: the way to redemption Is human suffering just a brute fact? Or can divine love redeem? Discusses Frank Gelli

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he novelist Somerset Maugham had trained as a doctor.

In his autobiography, The Summing-Up, he confesses that, as a Christian, he had been taught the redemptive value of suffering. His experience of working in medical wards persuaded him that such a view was wrong. He saw how suffering stunted and impoverished people, mentally and physically. He did not perceive any spiritual elevation, any inner refinement

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or meaning brought on by much voluntary and involuntary suffering. anguish and pain. That sad realisation Maugham’s patients had not freely partly led Maugham to lose his faith in chosen to suffer. They had not of their own free will embraced their pain as means to redemption. It came on them The teaching of the Christian as a necessity imposed by physiological Church is that suffering may conditions over which they had no have a redemptive quality, control. That is not the case with Jesus the supreme and normative Christ. The teaching of the Christian example being, that of the Church is that suffering may have a sacrifice of the Cross. redemptive quality, the supreme and a benevolent and loving God. normative example being, that of the There is a difference however, between sacrifice of the Cross. A supernatural

it is distinctive of the Shi‘a tradition that it crucially focuses on the martyrdom of Imams like Ali, Hassan and Husayn. Here suffering takes on a more profound meaning and purpose. Husayn particularly is seen as victorious at Karbala despite undergoing a cruel and excruciating death at the hands of his unrighteous enemies.

event willed by God as indispensable to the salvation of humanity, to which Jesus freely submitted.

Accordingly, article 31 in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer states that: ‘The Offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption, propitiation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world’. And the Catholic Catechism affirms that it is ‘love to the end that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation’.

Doctrines apart, at the level of popular spirituality many worshippers have focussed on the Passion of Christ to the radical point of wanting to share in his sufferings. St Francis of Assisi’s example is especially impressive. We are told that at the end of his life the Saint received on his flesh the stigmata – bleeding marks corresponding to those left on Christ’s body by the nails and spear at his Crucifixion. In the Philippines today there are cases of believers who literally have themselves nailed to a Cross, just before Easter, in order to share in Christ’s agony.

Beyond such extremes, a sick and faithful person can, thanks to the grace conveyed in the Sacrament of Anointing, receive the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ’s Passion. In this way suffering is no longer a brute fact of human mortality. It acquires a new, deeper and richer meaning by becoming a participation in the redeeming work of Jesus – at least according to Roman Catholic theology. Protestants do not recognise such a sacrament as belonging to the Gospel so they would not agree with this.

It is well-known how Islam denies the reality of the Crucifixion. Also, the

Qur’an, Chapter al-Najm, verse 38, seems to say that no person can bear the sins or burden of another. In that sense, Islam’s Holy Book rejects the whole Christian theological idea of Atonement. All Muslims appear at one about that. On the other hand, it is distinctive of the Shi‘a tradition that it crucially focuses on the martyrdom of Imams like Ali, Hassan and Husayn. Here suffering takes on a more profound meaning and purpose. Husayn particularly is seen as victorious at Karbala despite undergoing a cruel and excruciating death at the hands of his unrighteous enemies. Every year during Muharram, in the rites of Ashura, devout Shi‘a Muslims commemorate the sacrifice of Hussayn and his companion with the utmost sorrow and passion. Some commentators have seen a parallel between the Shi‘a position concerning the spiritual benefits of innocent suffering and the Christian view, despite the obvious differences in doctrine.

of sacrificing my life for others.’

Where is the abuse in that?

In 1941, a prisoner in the Nazi Concentration Camp of Auschwitz, the Franciscan priest Maximilian Kolbe, volunteered to die in the place of another prisoner, a stranger who had been sentenced to death by Hitler's SS. Maximilian – canonised by Pope John Paul II – is one of the 20th century martyrs depicted in statues above the West Door of Westminster Abbey. His example shows how a righteous, innocent person can choose to lay down his life for another. But, what about redemption? How can St Maximilian Kolbe’s sacrifice redeem people at large, apart from the single prisoner whose life he saved?

A tentative answer might be that even amongst the inhuman horrors of a Nazi death camp love – a selfless, selfsacrificial, God-inspired love - can sprout up and flourish. Such divinelybased love is linked to redemption.

Because it is a love capable of rescuing humanity from pessimism, from despair, from the discordant, cacophonous, satanic lying voices that constantly whispers that life has no meaning, that Two writers, Rita Nakashima Brock and genuine, altruistic love is impossible, Rebecca Ann Parker, have slammed the that there is no God. doctrine of the Atonement. They speak both as feminists and as Unitarians – If divine love cannot redeem, cannot the latter being a marginal sect which save people from sin and evil, what else rejects the Incarnation and the can? Resurrection. They accuse the Christian view concerning redemption and selfsacrificial love as importing family violence and child abuse, a caricature of the Church’s teaching! A medieval Revd Frank Julian Gelli is an Anglican priest and cultural theologian like Abelard would respond critic, working on religious that the example, the message of the dialogue. His last book ‘The Atonement is truly moral. You look at Prophet and the Priest', is available on Amazon Kindle. the Cross and properly react: ‘How much does God love me! So I must love others myself, to the point, if necessary, April 2017

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Scotland: Giving Unity Wings An open lesson on Christian-Muslim dialogue at the University of Glasgow, brought about by a deep friendship between the Sophia University Institute and the Islamic Centre of Great Britain

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he University of Glasgow was founded in 1451. On 27 February, in this prestigious place, which educated seven future Nobel winners and heard Albert Einstein demonstrate his theory of relativity, the Focolare Movement and the Islamic Society Ahl Al Bait coordinated an evening lecture on interfaith dialogue and unity.

The evening was entitled “Unity of God and Unity in God.” One of the guest speakers was Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the International Institute of Islamic Studies at Qum, Iran; Dr Shomali is currently Director of the Islamic Centre of England. The other guest speaker was Dr Paulo Frizzi, lecturer in Theology and the Practice of Interreligious Dialogue at the Sophia University Institute in Loppiano, near Florence, Italy, where he coordinates the Sophia Global Studies Research and Training Centre.

On February the 28th, Dr Shomali delivered the ‘Time for Reflection’ in the Scottish Parliament.

The friendship between Sophia University Institute and Dr Shomali is long-standing. Last summer they began a joint project of dialogue and research which brings together Christian and Muslim scholars and academics. The project is entitled Wings ofUnity.

Dr Frizzi explained, “I presented the

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methodology and culture that the Sophia Institute promotes, whereby we work with an academic approach that is integrated and where experience and practice are placed alongside the theory. For example, a course on interreligious dialogue is taught by three of us from different academic backgrounds and experiences, and yet we try to develop a common programme through reciprocal listening: it’s a sort of a journey of unity in which we co-teach the lessons and the students play a leading role.”

“Wings of Unity, provides a physical

space for dialogue. On the one hand students can deepen their understanding of what ‘unity of God and in God' means, clarifying elements of difference and those held in common; on the other, they can explore the ways in which unity can be tangibly lived, thereby healing wounds and resolving differences.

Too often interfaith initiatives only touch on the questions of the few, without a tangible impact. We are living in delicate times, and we have to take into account the transition towards an uncertain new world order, where greater interconnectivity and

interdependence sit alongside painful divisions that fracture the unity of society. Globalisation has probably failed in its attempt to build sustainable communities, as multinational institutions fail to guarantee a safe space where cultures and religions can meet without the risk of losing themselves.

This may be true, but on the other hand there is experience, commitment and dialogue surging up which, in contrast, enriches neighborhoods and unifies communities. It begins deep down and helps us all think once again of unity amid diversity. As Pope Francis states in Evangelii Gaudium: “Dialogue happens in a world which is not a pyramid (where some are at the top over many others), nor a sphere (without any distinguishable sides), but instead is multifaceted, where all parts converge together while maintaining

their own individuality.”

The next day, Dr Shomali shared the following thoughts with the Members of the Scottish Parliament: “If we reflect

on how religions developed, we realise that one question has always been present: ‘How can we keep people together, convincing them that, if we

stay in the circle, we are better off?’ The concept of identity caused us to distance ourselves from each other, in as much as we expressed not ‘who we are’, but rather ‘who we are not’ – a model of identity based on fear and exclusion. If it ever worked in the past, it was because the world was quite segmented, without great opportunities to meet as people of different faiths, ethnic groups or cultures. This is no longer the case in a world in which identity is more fragile and nuanced.”

“We need a new understanding based on what we can offer and what we can appreciate in others. To relate is essential. I cannot be a good Muslim or Christian – or a good Iranian or Scot –

if I don’t know how to relate with others and include them in my identity.

The very concept of identity, therefore, needs a rethink. The human body has different organs, each with its own function. None of these, moreover, survives on its own.”

Dr Shomali concluded: “When I read the Qur'an, I see that this is God’s plan. In his creation and revelation, God showed us the way toward unity.”

Courtesy of:

http://www.focolare.org/gb/news /2017/03/16/scotland-giving-unity-wings/

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Places

Travel Gui de to

Musl i m Europe With travel writer and European Muslim heritage specialist Tharik Hussain

A

ccording to Cypriot Christian mythology, the stunning Larnaca Salt Lake was formed by Saint Lazarus when he was thirsty and denied grapes by a mean-fisted local woman. The biblical figure famously resurrected

by Jesus is said to have cursed the woman’s vineyard, which once stood where the lake is, by saying “I bless this place to always produce salt.”

But it isn’t to find a companion of Isa that Muslims come to this serene little spot in southern ‘Greek’ Cyprus.

Nestled in a lush green oasis of palms, on the lower western bank

Th e ‘Aun t’ of Musl i m Europe

of the lake sits the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. ‘Hala’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘khala’, to mean maternal aunt, and Sultan is used to honour the ‘aunt’ allegedly buried next to the mosque. For this is no ordinary aunt.

Umm Haram bint Milhan is believed to have died here around 647AD/27AH after falling off a horse or mule and breaking her neck. She had arrived on the island with one of the first expeditions of Muslims into European territories. According to Sunni Muslim scholars, Umm Haram was a maternal aunt of none other than the Prophet Muhammad(s).

Exactly how is unclear, but the two popular theories being that either she was his aunt through radaa’ah (breastfeeding) or that Umm Haram was, in fact, his father or grandfather’s maternal aunt.

The current mosque dates from the early 19th century Ottoman period. However, the grave is believed to have been rediscovered in the 17th century by a group of dervishes who would come to the serene banks of the salt lake in search of seclusion. These dervishes were led to the grave by Umm Haram herself in visions where she appeared to them.

“After these visions, they made a request to the Ulama, the scholars

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of the time. They said ‘we are having such a spiritual experience with so and so claimed (in the visions). Would you be able to identify this?” The scholars went through the archives and looked into the books, and found the documents telling about Umm Haram’s place of burial in Cyprus … explains Shakir Alemdar, Imam of the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque and Representative of the Grand Mufti of Cyprus in the Republic of Cyprus.

The tomb lies directly behind the wall of the mosque where the mehrab is, facing towards Makka.

Imam Alemdar’s quaint little mosque, with its distinct pencil-like minaret and large dome, no longer functions like a mosque, though. Listed with the Cypriot government as an ancient monument as opposed to a place of worship, the mosque has the opening hours of a tourist site. This means during the day it welcomes visitors of all faiths who wander about the pretty little complex admiring the wudu fountain, former guesthouses, cemetery and the famous shrine. Then at 6pm, the gates are locked. No evening or early morning prayers are ever performed here.

If the traditions are true and the little sand coloured mosque on the edge of Larnaca Salt Lake is indeed the site of the first known Muslim grave in Europe, it would make the shrine one of the most important sites of European Muslim heritage on the continent. It would also be the earliest physical evidence that Islam has been in Europe since the very first generation of Muslims. Whatever the case, says Imam Alemdar, the Muslims of Cyprus have always treated the mosque and the shrine with the utmost reverence.

“I’ll never forget my grandmother’s mother, her name was Amina. She said ‘every year we used to come here on donkey back, bringing cheese, olives, olive oil, bread for them (residents of the mosque) as a present’. And they used to leave three o’clock in the morning and they used to reach here 11 o’clock, 12 o’clock this time. So it was about an eight hour journey for them.” And she said it was the most important part of their lives to be able to do this every year. It was like a small hajj for them, a small pilgrimage for them to be able to come and visit the tekke (shrine) of Umm Haram, and pay their respects and do their prayers and go back to their villages afterwards . . . 

Where in the world:

The Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque is located east of Cyprus’ premier airport, Larnaca. The salt lake it sits on and comes right up to the airport’s perimeter. You simply need to take the conveniently named ‘Tekke Road’ off the B4 highway next to the airport.

In and out:

Numerous airlines fly direct from London to Larnaca airport. The most frequent carriers are British Airways and Easyjet.

Top tips:

This important site is ideal as a stopover excursion. The mosque is a short drive from Larnaca airport and can easily be combined with a trip to the Middle East, for example, stopping here only briefly. This way you are not paying specifically for a holiday to Cyprus. If you do go for this, be sure to allow at least four hours or so. A lengthier stop will let you see the sight at a more leisurely pace.

Tharik Hussain spends much of his

time travelling across Europe in search of the continent's fourteen centuries of Muslim history. You can follow his work at www.tharikhussain.co.uk"

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poster

Wings of Unity, Part One:

Unity of God and Unity in God Lectures delivered by

Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali at Sophia Institute University, Loppiano, Italy th 8 - 10th July 2016 Available from:

Islamic Centre of England 140 Maida Vale London W9 1QB Tel: +44 20 7604 5500

email: info@ic-el.com

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April 2017

International Children’s Book Day

F

or more than three decades now, International Children’s Book Day has been celebrated globally on Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday (2nd April).

Activities are held in schools and public libraries and include writing competitions, announcements of book awards and events with authors of children’s literature. The aim of this day is to encourage a love of reading in children. The day is sponsored by a different national branch of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together by supporting the production of quality writing and translation of children’s literature and better distribution of books and media. IBBY Russia is the sponsor for International Children's Book Day 2017.

This year islam today has again chosen a list of Islamic children’s books as possible reading options for Muslim families.

Up to 4 years ofage

At The Masjid (Learning Series)

By Umm Tariq Illustrated by Heather Greenwood Compass Books (201 0)

Despite the growth of good quality children’s Islamic books, there exists a gap for the very young. 'At The Masjid' seeks to fill that gap with their pack of 4 hardback books. These include: Colours at the Masjid, Opposites at the Masjid, Shapes at the Masjid and Numbers at the Masjid. Each teaches these concepts using colourful pictures of objects they seen at the masjid, such as 1 masjid, which has 2 doors, 3 pairs of shoes, and 4 taps for making wudhu. This book would be ideal for actually taking to the local masjid and helping the children find the objects in the books!

To Catch a Bug

By Nabeel Akbar Illustrated by Anam Ahmed Distributed by Kube Publishing (2007)

A good ‘Muslim’ children’s book does not have to be overt in teaching a principle, or be overly packed with Islamic

concepts. It is for children to read books with our common phrases, and see pictures where the hijab is the norm… To Catch a Bug fits this bill perfectly. It is a beautifully simple and subtle book, about a girl who is fascinated with bugs (therefore breaking gender stereotypes also!). She innocently tries to catch bugs, respecting God’s creatures as she does, as a surprise for mummy… Needless to say, mummy is definitely surprised! Interspersed with phrases such as ‘Bismillah’ and ‘Alhamdulillah’, this short and sweet tale illustrated with vivid full colour pictures is sure to entertain young ones… and the ending will be sure to make them laugh!

Ahmad has to go Potty

By Umm An-Nu’man Darussalam

There are so many resources out there to help our children go through the dreaded potty training stage, but have you ever seen a children’s book geared towards Islamic potty training? Here it is! Ahmad is still in pull ups, but is old enough to know when he is wet and doesn’t like the feeling.

His mum decides it’s time to get some big boy underwear, but while they’re in the store, Ahmad has to go potty!

Children will learn a lot as they hear about his mother taking him through the steps of reciting the dua and washing him with a bottle of water, all the while relating to him as a child who is scared of falling in the toilet and is more concerned with the design of the big boy underwear he is going to get. A great addition to the potty training kit!

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3-8 years

Princess Aziza and the Purple Orchid

By Benny Rhamdani Published by Ali Gator

This is one of a series of princess stories with a wonderful twist! Unlike your usual princess stories, which often result in them having to be rescued by the prince, these princesses are based on the attributes of God, the ‘Asma ul Husna’ (99 Names of Allah). princess Aziza is based on ‘The Mighty’, and she has a dilemma. She needs to find a purple orchid to help her sick mother, but is she strong enough to face the challenges she will come across? Will she be able to find it in time to help her mother? The added element of sacrifice really just adds to the lessons in this book, and is also beautifully illustrated, bringing the story to life.

My Dad’s Beard

By Zanib Mian Illustrated by Laura Ewing Sweet Apple Publishers (201 4)

‘My Dad’s Beard' is everything you would want from a picture book, and more. The illustrations are clear and strong, and will appeal to young ones straight away. The text on each page changes format – sometimes it is as if it has come straight from a computer screen, other times it is formed like magnets on a fridge! The book focusses on the dad’s beard, and why it is so cool (because you can pretend a teeny cat can live in it of course!) But for me, the best part was the end, where dad says he is copying the greatest man that ever lived by having a beard. This subtle point is bound to have the children asking who that is, which can lead into a wonderful discussion about the Prophet Muhammad(s)! It is a great way to both teach, and entertain and I am sure this will be a bedtime favourite.

5-9 years

Princess Siyana’s Pen

By Zainab Merchant Sun Behind The Cloud Publications (201 5)

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With beautiful colour-rich illustrations and a gripping storyline to boot, this picture book is sure to captivate young and old readers alike. The story follows the tried and tested formula of many fairy tales, and so in essence will be familiar to children – however, there are morals and values infused within every page, adding that oh-sospecial Islamic essence. Princess Siyana is a captivating main character, who charms as well as leads through example and character; her bravery and courage make her a great role model for all our children, but our daughters in particular. Shargor is the typical evil villain, with a plot to gain power and riches, impoverishing others as he does. And I love the touch of the sidekick, Pepe the parrot, who adds light humour to it all! It is clear that Zainab has drawn on her own experiences to write this story, which makes it all the more personal and endearing. As the story progresses, several concepts are touched upon in a subtle way – talking to God through the heart as well as the pen, hijab and the importance of inner beauty, trusting in God, kindness, helping others and forgiveness, among others. All in all, with these concepts weaved into an adventure story with remarkable characters, Princess Siyana makes an ideal book for children’s bookshelves.

Lost and Found Cat The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey

By Dough Kuntz and Amy Shrodes Illustrated by Sue Cornelison Random House Children’s Books (201 7)

In this day and age, we face the dilemma of wanting to educate our children about the dire situation of refugees and encouraging them to care and help, without wanting to overwhelm or scare them. Books are a perfect way to do this. ‘Lost and Found Cat' is one such book which shares an unforgettable true story of survival and hope. When life in Iraq becomes too hard for Kunkush the cat and his family, they risk everything to travel thousands of miles to find a safer home. Their journey takes them over mountains, through forests and across the sea but he gets lost in the chaos when their boat lands in Lesbos, Greece. Luckily, some volunteers rescue him and want to reunite him with his family – but will they be found? The soft and colourful pictures bring this tale of love and survival to life.

Snow White An Islamic Tale

By Fawzia Gilani Illustrated by Shireen Adams The Islamic Foundation (201 3)

The classical fairy tale is retold with a beautiful Islamic twist. It starts with a merchant’s wife reading the Qur'an and making a dua for a daughter who is as patient as Job, amongst other things, and a year later, giving birth to a baby girl. She is raised learning about Islam, science, language and more and is given the gift of a Qur'an. Snow White’s mother dies and her father remarries, and then he too dies, leaving Snow White with her vain and wicked stepmother. When her stepmother’s jinn reveals that Snow White is the ‘fairest of them all’, she starts plotting against her. The huntsman is ordered to take her to the forest and kill her, but a dua of Prophet Nuh’s softens the heart of the huntsman and she lives… the story continues with these precious little gems throughout, allowing young boys and girls to enjoy this time-old tale of flight, friendship and forgiveness and gain so much in the process also.

seem as if Dar Al Ilm has more in store for him than he had ever imagined.” My 9 year-old loved this book and devoured it in a few hours – we look forward to the sequel.

12+ years

The Genius of Islam - How Muslims made the Modern World

By Bryn Barnard Random House (201 1 )

While Islam is unfortunately negatively framed in today’s world, it is undeniably ‘one of the world’s great religions, one of history’s most important civilisations and one of the foundational cultures of the West’. So says Bryn Barnard, author of 'The Genius of Islam', and in his book, he shares some of the most important contributions Muslims have made to society. Among many, this includes a paper empire, new math, architecture, not to mention an agricultural revolution. This book, full of facts and dates, is a great way to equip our growing children with information to make them proud to be Muslim.

7-12 years

House of Ibn Kathir

By S. N. Jalali Blackstone House Ltd (201 3)

Boarding school stories grip young readers in a unique sort of way – with the majority of children not going to boarding schools, it provides an insight into a totally different world; indeed, some of the greatest series have been based in boarding schools; Harry Potter, The Worst Witch and Malory Towers to name a few. Alhamdulillah, now here is one based on a boarding school for boys… “It’s Yusif’s first time away from home. The Dar Al Ilm Academy seemed to be the ideal place for him to pursue his studies and achieve one of his lifelong ambitions – to memorise the Qur’an, or so his parents had decided… However, just when he thought he was settling in, Yusif finds himself with more on his hands than he had bargained for. When mysterious events start happening around the school, it begins to

Our warm thanks to Sister Shaheen Merali from the Children’s Islamic Library in London

Shaheen Mirali, runs the Children’s

Islamic Library in London. The aim is to familiarise children with Islamic concepts as well as develop a love for this amazing religion through the wide range of books, toys, videos, and DVDs. She is also the founder of Buzz Ideazz, a company that provides ideas and products to help raise a generation of enthusiastic and dedicated young Muslims.

For more info: http://www.childrensislamiclibrary.com/ http://www.buzzideazz.com

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Children Corner

B ook Readi n g

Dear Children, Assalam Alaikum

I

don't need to tell you how important playtime is for children. Children should be encouraged to play and have a joyful time. You have to make use of your childhood, playing and sometimes creating a mess. You need to experiment, but you also need time to study. If you don't do well in one subject at school you should try again and again until you get better.

As an adult, I can now say how important it is for all children to have a chance to go to school, learn and do the best they can. If you work hard now, you can guarantee a good future for yourself. These days most children have computer games at home. When we were kids, there were no such things, so we were outdoors playing; riding bicycles‌and when we finally came indoors we looked forward to listening to stories, told by our parents or grandparents.

They would tell us about their experiences and remind us what would happen if they were naughty. Things were much simpler. These days’ kids are more familiar with how to use computers and play digital games than holding a book in their hands and reading from it.

This month, Ghazaleh Kamrani, our illustrator is reminding us of a very important thing that

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children should do. If you look at image 1, you will see two little brothers, they both love computer games. But the younger boy is also interested in books. His father is reading a story to him. Look at him, he is laughing away while his brother is totally absorbed in his computer game. He looks angry and frustrated. Perhaps he is losing to the computer. It is a pity that he does not look happy.

Image 2 shows that while he is playing on the computer, he notices his brother and father having a lovely time reading the story from the book. Although he does not want to leave the game, he is wondering what they are reading that is so enjoyable.

Finally, image 3 shows his curiosity got the better of him so he decides to abandon his computer game and go and listen to the interesting story his father was reading. Now he is laughing too and I am glad he did it.

The book is a wonderful friend, and if given a chance, it can entertain you much more than any computer games. The book can make you laugh, can tell you stuff that you never knew, can take you to imaginary places, where you can become the hero of the story. This month, give a book a chance. Let it take you somewhere wonderful. ď Ź Illustrator Ghazaleh Kamrani

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What & Where Through March Tafseer of the Holy Qur'an Conducted by: Shaykh M S Bahmanpour Venue: Islamic Centre of England, 140

Maida Vale, London W9 1QBMore Time: Every Friday starting at 7.30 PM Tel: 0207 604 5500

Creative Kufic Calligraphy Course with Joumana Medlej

In this non-traditional calligraphy course, we will return to the original source of Arabic calligraphy, the Kufi family of styles, and study it with a modern design approach.

The course will culminate in a final project where the student chooses a word or phrase and creates their own composition for it.

Venue: Arab British Centre, 1 Gough

Square, London, EC4A 3DE Time: Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (6 Weeks + 4 hours final project – 16 Hours) Fee: £210

British Museum Gallery Talks Light and Islamic art Speaker: Hilary Lewis Ruttley, independent

speaker.

Date: 1st April

Unwrapping Islamic art

Speaker: John Reeve, independent speaker.

Date: 5th April Venue: Room 34, British Museum Time: 13:15–14.00PM

Free, just drop in More Info:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/e vents_calendar/

This can lead to suspicion and fear. This conference offers an opportunity to understand our Muslim neighbour - to dispel the myths.

Presenter; Dr. Chris Hewer is a Christian

Theologian who is also an expert on Islamic Studies and Christian – Muslim relations.

Organiser: Coleraine Churches Forum and Causeway Coast and Glens Venue: Coleraine Methodist Church Hall, 14 Queen Street, Coleraine, BT52 1BE Time: 10:00 – 16:00 BST The event is offered free of charge, but there will be a request for donations to help cover some of the expenses.

Venue: The Porter Gallery, V&A Museum,

Islam: Faith and Culture

Islam is a universal faith, which inspires the lives of a billion followers in the world today. Muslims have a great diversity in language, art and culture. Their societies, however, share a firm monotheistic tradition that permeates all aspects of Muslim practice and civilization. The course aims to illuminate a variety of issues that underscore the vitality of Islam and its social impact. It provides a guide to understanding the role of Islam in private and public spheres using a variety of educational interactive means.

Mr Richard Weyers, Deputy Registrar, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Tutors: Dr Basil Mustafa M.Sc (Leeds), Dr Talal Al-Azem BA (Michigan), Sheikh Ibrahim Mohammad Amin Imam, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Mr Amre Aiad Director, MAK + Partners Ltd Venue: Marston Road, Oxford, OX3 0EE Time: 9.30AM - 5.PM Fees: £45 (with lunch) £32 (without lunch) Open to public (18+) Course Director:

1 April Seeking to Understand Islam as a Christian

To a large extent the media shapes the non-Muslim view of Islam. Due to most media coverage there is a lack of accurate knowledge and understanding about Islam.

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lasting impact of John Lockwood Kipling (1837-1911), an artist, teacher, curator and influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. Lockwood Kipling was a social campaigner for the preservation of the Indian crafts, a craftsman whose terracotta panels can still be seen on the exterior of the V&A and an illustrator of books by his son, the renowned writer Rudyard Kipling.

This exhibition uncovers the history of the V&A’s collections through the life of Lockwood Kipling who played a significant role in shaping the foundation collection.

Highlights include paintings of the Indian section of the Great Exhibition, designs and illustrations for books, and furniture designed for royal residences Bagshot Park and Osborne.

Until 2 April Lockwood Kipling: Arts and Crafts in the Punjab and London

Exhibition: Explore the life, work and

Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL Time: Open daily 10.00 to 17.45 Admission free More Info:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/whatson/

3 April IMES Seminar Series: Early Iranian and Arab Shi`i Discussions of Leadership Between Late Antiquity and Early Islam Organiser: School of Literatures,

Languages and Cultures Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Speaker: Prof. Andrew Newman (Edinburgh) Venue: 16-22 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD Time: 5.15 PM

Abrahamic Texts Group

Jews, Christians and Muslims are invited to join us as we discuss texts from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, the Qur'an and later traditions on the subject of Satan.

Presenters: Rabbi Janet Burden, Revd Laurence

Hillel, Sayyid Yousif Al Khoei and Siddika Gulamhusein Venue: London Inter Faith Centre, St

Annes & St Andrews Church, 125

Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG Time: 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM Contact: Laurence Hillel 07801 286819 8 & 9 April Seminar: Muslims Write Now!

The 'Muslims Write Now!!' Author Development programme seeks both young adult (ages 12+) and adults who are emerging writers who want to write books for children or young adults. This includes those who are starting from scratch or may already have an idea or first draft.

The 'Muslims Write Now!!' is an innovative online training and interactive in-person seminar that provides the tools needed to create a full outline for your book.

The time is overdue for Muslims to be able to create high-quality content about Muslims, from Muslims. The development of creative writers is one of the most important means for presenting a strong, vibrant voice for Muslims.

This is a program model created by Whitestone Foundation .

Sign up online and get started on the online course immediately. First three lessons are available - FREE now. Get started so you can finish before the inperson seminar in April.

For questions or more information ,

info@thewhitestone.org

email us at

1 4 April Al-Ayn UK: Breakfast and Dua Nudba

Al-Ayn Charity Foundation invites you to their upcoming event 'Breakfast and Dua Nudba', an opportunity to remember the Imam of our time(aj) with a recitation of Dua Nudba, and to support the orphans while enjoying breakfast with good company.

Your ticket purchase will make a difference to the lives of over 40,000 orphans supported by Al-Ayn (Iraq).

Venue: Oakington Manor, Oakington Manor Drive, Wembley, HA9 6NF Time: 9:30AM Ticket Price : £15, Under 5s: £3 Book your ticket : www.breakfast.alayn.co.uk Telephone: 020 3719 5221 Email: office@alayn.co.uk

24 & 25 April Short Courses on Primary Sources of Islam: Nahj al-Balaghah Topic: The image of the Qur’an in Nahj alBalagha h Tutor: Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali Date: 22nd April Time: 15:00-18:00 Topic: Imam Ali’s Theory of Justice Totur: Prof Ali Paya Date: 25th April Time: 18:00-20:00 Venue: The Islamic College, 133 High

Road, Willesden, London NW10 2SW More info: shortcourses@islamiccollege.ac.uk

Registration is mandatory but no Fee is required.

Tel: 020 84519993

From 25 April Introduction To Islam

The Islamic College’s new short courses aim to introduce Islam, Islamic beliefs, traditions, cultures and some of the contemporary issues the Muslim world has been facing, This course is open to all and previous knowledge is not required.

Muslim Cultures & Civilisation Tutor: Amir De Martino Date and time: Tuesdays 18:30-20:00 – 25

April to 30 May 2017 Registration is mandatory but no fee is required.

To register please email:

shortcourses@islamic-college.ac.uk Venue: The Islamic College, 133 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2SW Website: https://www.islamiccollege.ac.uk/study/short-courses/

Room: KLT Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM More info:

https://www.soas.ac.uk/art/islac/

29 April Everything you always wanted to know about ancient Mesopotamia

British Museum Curator Irving Finkel introduces the world of ancient Mesopotamia – the land between the two rivers (the Tigris and the Euphrates), now part of modern Iraq. Irving explores what Mesopotamia is, what we should look for and why it matters. This talk is the first in a new series giving a beginner's introduction to themes and cultures across world history.

Venue: BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum Time: 14.00–15.00PM Tickets: £5 Members/Concessions £3 Phone: (0)20 7323 8181 More info: http://www.britishmuseum.org/

2 May The Commander: Fawzi al-Qawuqji and the Fight for Arab Independence 1 91 4-1 948

Lecture by Professor Laila Parson's on her latest book. Revered by some as the Arab Garibaldi, maligned by others as an intriguer and opportunist, al-Qawuqji manned the ramparts of Arab history for four decades. In Qawuqji’s life story we find the origins of today’s turmoil in the Arab Middle East.

Organiser: London Middle East Institute Venue: Paul Webley Wing (Senate House)

Wolfson Lecture Theatre Time: 5:45 PM - 7:00 PM Contact email: vp6@soas.ac.uk Tel: 020 7898 4330/4490

26 April From Literature to Palaeography. Two Centuries of Research on Islamic Calligraphys Speaker: Dr Nourane ben Azzouna,

University of Strasbourg Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Disclaimer: islam today does not necessarly endorse or recommend any of these events. Their contents and individuals or groups involved in them. We are not responsible for changes to times, fees or venues. Further information should be sought direclty from the organisers.

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