islam today - Issue 27 / May - June 2015

issue 27 May/June

The self-determining world system of Islam

ĂŠ -ISSION -OTHERHOOD ĂŠ &REE SPEECH AND )SLAM THE DILEMMA FOR -USLIMS ĂŠ 4HREE PARENT BABIES RIGHT OR WRONG

vol.3 2015

Editorial team -AY *UNE 2 )SSUE 2 6OL

BI MONTHLY MAGAZINE

islam today magazine intends to address the concerns and aspirations of a vibrant Muslim community by providing readers with inspiration, information, a sense of community and solutions through its unique and specialised contents. It also sets out to help Muslims and non-Muslims better understand and appreciate the nature of a dynamic faith.

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!LI #ARLENTINI "ATOOL (AYDAR &RANK *ULIAN 'ELLI (ARUN 9AHYA *ULIA +HADIJA ,AFENE 2ASHID 2OSE 2EZA -URSHID 3ABNUM $HARAMSI 9ASSER !HMED

Back Cover 1URANIC VERSES RELATED TO THE HOLY MONTH OF 2AMADHAN

Publisher: Islamic Centre of England 140 Maida Vale London, W9 1QB - UK

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Disclaimer: Where opinion is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily coincide with the editorial views of the publisher or islam today. 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.

From the Editor

21 5

!N IDENTITY BASED ON SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY

6

/UTSIDERS TO ÂNORMALITYÃ

(ERITAGE Tiraz with fish motif - Silk

Life & Community 4HE PLACE TO BE

Society’s norms can sometimes add pressure to the lives of individuals. Sabnum Dharamsi discusses the experience of an adopted child and her struggle with self-esteem

The Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia

10 -ISSION -OTHERHOOD Not being able to have children has a great effect on the mental wellbeing of women. Talking to some women who have gone through this experience, Batool Haydar shares their stories and experiences

Cover 22

4HE SELF DETERMINING WORLD SYSTEM OF )SLAM Not responding well to the social needs of the community we live in will bring chaos and failure for Muslims says Yasser Ahmed

14 3PEARHEADING CHANGES IN THE "LACK COMMUNITY

Rashid Rose asks why Black communities around the world, specifically in the UK, USA and the Caribbean are apparently at the bottom of the commercial, economic and social ladder and what is being done to redress this problem

Opinion 26

Julia Khadija Lafene reflects on the meaning of freedom of speech for Muslims and how best they can respond to mockery and insult

Art 18

3TORY TELLING One to one with Aysa Ali

&REE SPEECH AND )SLAM À THE DILEMMA FOR -USLIMS

Faith 30

4HE ABUNDANCE OF THE HOLY MONTH OF 2AMADHAN With the holy month of Ramadhan starting at the beginning of summer this year, Harun Yahya reminds us of its special features and the effect it has on believers across the world

20 0HOTOGRAPHY Newsha Tavakolian

32 7HY ) AM NOT A 2EVERT Converts, Embracers, Reverts, Submitters, …are some of the terms used by those who embrace Islam. Ali Carlentini discusses the importance of using the right one

Conference: Wittgenstein and Interreligious Communication

Interfaith 34

4HREE PARENT BABIES RIGHT OR WRONG

BRISMES Annual Conference: Liberation

As the British government passes a law on three-parent babies, Frank Gelli takes a look at the differing views within the religious establishment

Health 38 "ABIES TO BE CREATED FROM THREE PEOPLE

Advances in genetic manipulation have opened new possibilities to remove genetic diseases. Laleh Lohrasbi examines the procedures involved in creating a three-parent baby

What & Where 42

,ISTINGS AND %VENTS Commentary (Tafseer) of the Holy Qur’an

Education, Extremism and Criticality – Conference

‘What does being Welsh mean to me?’

Muslim-Jewish Panel Series: Modern Jewish and Islamic philosophy The Super Hero Run 2015 -Islamic relief

Texts to Live by - Love and compassion

School digital session- Digital Islam

Sukuk Summit 2015 - ‘Globalising Sukuk Beyond Traditional Markets, Structures & Asset Pools’ The Kaaba and the Kiswa

Minorities and Popular Culture in The Modern Middle East: Representation and Participation Advanced Ibn Taymiyya Study Weekend

Symposium on Religious Conversion

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Glossary of Islamic Symbols The letter (s) after the name of the Prophet Muhammad(s) stands for the Arabic phrase sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, meaning: “May God bless him [Muhammad] and grant him peace”.

The letter (a) stands for the Arabic phrase ‘alayhis-salaam, ‘alayhas-salaam (feminine) and ‘alayhimus-salaam (plural) meaning respectively: (God’s) Peace be with him/ her/ or them.

From the

Editor

!N IDENTITY BASED ON SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY

A

S WE PUBLISH OUR -AY *UNE ISSUE THE POLITICAL ESTABLISH MENT IN "RITAIN IS FIRING ITS LAST SHOTS IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT THE LAST FEW UNCONVINCED AND UNDECIDED VOTERS 7ITH THE NATION BECOMING MORE AND MORE DISILLU SIONED WITH POLITICS AND POLITICIANS

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TASK TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLING STATIONS !S FOR THE "RITISH -USLIM ELECTORATE THE DILEMMA IS NO LONGER ABOUT VOTING OR NOT VOTING 4HE -USLIM PRESENCE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA IS TOO IMPORTANT TO DISREGARD (OWEVER SCEPTICAL ONE MAY BE THE IDEA THAT -USLIMS ARE ACTIVE VOTERS MAY BE A SUFFICIENT REASON FOR THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT TO CONSIDER THEM AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR REQUESTS

$ISAPPOINTMENT WITH PARTY POLITICS OVER THE YEARS HAS TURNED -USLIM VOTERS INTO A FLOATING ELECTORATE WHICH UNDERSTANDS THE CONCEPT OF STRATEGIC VOTING AND IS NO LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR PARTY 7HILE ALL MAJOR PARTIES HAVE TRIED TO PLAY THE Â-USLIM CARDÃ BY PUTTING UP -USLIM CANDIDATES IN CONSTITUENCIES WITH SIGNIFICANT -USLIM POPULATIONS

THE REALITY IS THAT THIS NO LONGER WORKS

AND -USLIM GRASS ROOTS POLITICAL ACTIV ISTS HAVE BEEN ASKING THE COMMUNITIES TO BASE THEIR DECISIONS ON CANDIDATES WHO ARE WILLING TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO AT LEAST A FEW PLEDGES PUT FORWARD BY -USLIM COMMUNITY MANIFESTOS 4HE GROWING POLITICAL MATURITY OF THE -USLIM COMMUNITY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH AN INCREASING -USLIM PRESENCE WITHIN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF THIS NATION WHICH

IS NOT ONLY ABOUT GENERAL ELECTIONS BUT ILLUSTRATED BY THE MANY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS AT LOCAL LEVELS 4HE HISTORY OF -USLIMS HAS MANY EXAM PLES OF PEACEFUL INTEGRATION IN AREAS WHERE THEY MIGRATED AS MERCHANTS TO ESTABLISH ECONOMIC VENTURES WITH COMMERCIAL OUTPOSTS &ROM 3OUTH %AST !FRICA TO 3OUTH %AST !SIA THE STORY OF THE )SLAMIC PRESENCE TELLS US OF COMMU NITIES OF -USLIMS THAT HAD SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED WITH THE LOCAL POPULATION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR GROWTH IN MANY WAYS -USLIM TRADERS PROVIDED THE LINK BETWEEN NEW AREAS OF COMMERCE AND THE GREAT EXPANSE OF THE )SLAMIC WORLD WITH ITS RICH CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES

IN WHICH WE LIVE AND TO FACE UP TO THE CHALLENGES FOR THE SAKE OF OURSELVES

FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SOCIETY AT LARGE

WE MUST START TO BELIEVE IN OUR ABILITIES AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS COMMUNITIES 7E MUST FULFIL OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

CULTURES AND FELLOW CITIZENS ENRICHING OURSELVES WITH NEW EXPERIENCES WITH AN OPEN MIND AND ABOVE ALL SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY !ND ON THE NOTE OF SPIRITUALITY LET ME TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU ALL A SPIRITUALLY FRUITFUL SEASON DURING THE REMAINING DAYS OF THE AUSPICIOUS MONTH OF 3HABAN AND THE MUCH AWAITED HOLY MONTH OF 2AMADHAN Ê

)N THE COVER STORY OF THIS ISSUE 9ASSER !HMED DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF )SLAM AS A WORLD SYSTEM BUILDER AND OF ITS ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF TIME AND PLACE (E ARGUES THAT FAR FROM BEING A RIGID SYSTEM IT WAS )SLAMÃS FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ENABLED IT TO CONTINUE ITS PEACEFUL EXPANSION )SLAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ESTABLISHING NEW POLITIES AND ENABLED THE )SLAMIC CIVILISATION TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND EVEN AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF IMPERIAL POWER STRUCTURES TO WHICH IT REMAINED MARGINALLY SUBORDINATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY 9ASSER !HMED ENCOURAGES US TO REFLECT ON OUR PAST BUT ABOVE ALL TO FOCUS ON WHAT HELPED )SLAM TO ESTABLISH A WORLD SYSTEM THAT ROSE ABOVE NATIONAL BOUNDARIES 4O THIS ) WOULD ADD THAT FOR AN ACTIVE AND CONFIDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE SOCIETY

5

Outsiders to

‘normality’

Sometimes society’s norms can add pressure to the life of individuals. Sabnum Dharamsi discusses the experience of an adopted child and her struggle with self-esteem

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W

EATHER BEATEN AND SOMEWHAT DISHEVELLED

2UBINAÃS HIJAB SEEMED TO FLY INTO MY COUNSEL LING ROOM BEFORE SHE DID 0EOPLE DIFFER IN HOW THEY ARE ON THEIR FIRST APPOINT MENT SOME TRUST ME STRAIGHT AWAY

OTHERS STRUGGLE TO FIND THE WORDS THAT THEIR HEARTS NEED TO SAY "UT 2UBINA JUST BLURTED IT OUT Å-Y FAMILYÃS NOT NORMALöÆ ) ASKED HER TO TELL ME WHAT SHE MEANT À ) WAS WONDERING WHAT MADE HER USE SUCH NEGATIVE SOUNDING TERMINOLOGY 2UBINA EXPLAINED SIMPLY Å)ÃM ADOPTED Æ #OUNSELLORS HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MANY DIVERSE ISSUES AND FAMILY STRUCTURES 3OMETIMES PEOPLE IMAGINE ) WORK WITH THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL ASPECTS OF LIFE "UT THATÃS NOT TRUE -OST PEOPLE LIKE 2UBINA COME WITH ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD PROB ABLY RELATE TO /F COURSE EVERY FAMILY IS DIFFERENT WITH ITS OWN IDENTITY VALUES AND HISTORY 4HERE IS NO SINGLE NORMAL WAY TO BE "UT ) KNEW EXACTLY WHAT 2UBINA MEANT (ER FAMILY WAS DIFFERENT !ND ) HEARD IN HER EXPRESSION A COMBINA TION OF FEAR AND DEFIANCE !ND BEHIND THAT FEAR AND DEFIANCE ARE MANY LAYERS OF TRUTH AND STRUGGLE ) AM SHARING 2UBINAÃS STORY WITH YOU DETAILS OF COURSE CHANGED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY BECAUSE ) WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW PARADOXICALLY IT IS SOCIETYÃS VIEWS THAT OFTEN CREATE THE DAMAGE RATHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL ) ALSO WANT TO CHALLENGE THE CONCEPT THAT NOT BEING NORMAL IS A NEGATIVE THING ) WANT TO CELEBRATE THE NOT NORMAL FAMILY 3O WHAT DO ) MEAN WHEN ) SAY SOCIETYÃS VIEWS DO THE MOST DAMAGE !ND WHAT

AFTER ALL IS NOT Somewhere NORMAL 3OMEWHERE IN OUR PSYCHES WE CARRY AN IDEAL ISED IMAGE OF FAMILY À MAYBE TWO PARENTS WHO

STAY TOGETHER CHILDREN EVERYONE LOVING AND CARING MAYBE ALSO AN EXTENDED FAMILY !LTHOUGH THESE PERCEPTIONS À KNOWN IN PSYCHOLOGY AS NORMATIVE VIEWS À SEEM SURFACE DEEP THE TOPIC OF CASUAL CONVERSATIONS THEY DEFINE WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND DISCOURAGE BEHAVIOUR OUTSIDE THESE NORMS &OR EXAMPLE IF EVERY WOMAN IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS ÂSUPPOSEDÃ TO GET MARRIED IN THE SAME CULTURE IT FEELS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO OTHER WISE 7HILST THESE NORMS ARE NOT BAD IN THEMSELVES THEY CAN HAVE A DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT FOR SOME 2UBINA WITH ALL HER DEFIANCE AND ENERGY WAS BEING CRUSHED

BY THE SHAME OF NOT FITTING IN WITH SOCI ETAL EXPECTATIONS "Y AGE 24 SHE HAD THE STRONG FEELING BACKED UP BY SOME PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF BEING JUDGED BY SOCIETY TO BE SOMEHOW LACKING 7E ALL NEED ACCEPTANCE AND SHE WAS POWER LESS TO CHANGE THE FACT OF HER ADOPTION )TÃS COMMON FOR THE LABELS THAT SOCIETY PLACES UPON PEOPLE WHO DONÃT FIT ACCEPTED NORMS TO BECOME INTERNALISED À MEANING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT CARRY THAT SHAME AND GUILT WITHIN TRYING TO BE EVEN HARDER TO BE LIKE ÂA NORMAL FAMILYÃ COVERING UP THEIR VULNERABILITIES AND MASKING THEIR FEELINGS TO OTHERS )TÃS EASY TO SAY ÂJUST BE YOURSELF BUT WHEN BEING YOURSELF IS CONSTANTLY QUESTIONED

WHEN BEING YOURSELF REQUIRES TIME TO WORK OUT THATÃS NOT EASY 4HIS WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE FOR 2UBINA /VER TIME SHE BEGAN TO TRUST ME TO SHARE HOW INADEQUATE SHE FELT AND HOW UNWORTHY !NY PROBLEMS IN HER LIFE SHE DISPARAGINGLY ASCRIBED TO HER BEING ADOPTED FEELING A DEEP INSECURITY THAT SHEÃD BE REJECTED $EEPER DOWN SHE FELT LIKE SHE SHOULDNÃT HAVE BEEN BORN .O ONE SAID SHE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR BEING ADOPTED BUT SHE CLEARLY SAW WHY

in our psyches we carry an idealised image of family – maybe two parents who stay together, children, …

Although these perceptions … seem surface GHHS WKH\ GH±QH ZKDW LV DFFHSWDEOH DQG discourage behaviour outside these norms.

THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE THAT SHE WASNÃT PROBLEM IS THAT UNSURPRISINGLY 2UBINAÃS FAMILY FRIENDS RESPONDED TO HER TEENAGE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING ENTIRE FAMILY HAVE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS REBELLIONS DIFFERENTLY TO HER PEERS )T WAS OF THESE DOUBTS 4HEY TRY HOLDING FIRM

AS IF BECAUSE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN /UR THOUGHTS MATTER AND HER AND HER MOTHER FAILED IT THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DIDNÃT MATTER ANYWAY À PRETTY 7HETHER THEY COME OUT IN MUCH ALL THE ADULTS AROUND BODY LANGUAGE IN CONVER HER GAVE OFF THE VIBE THAT IT SATIONS OR THE WAY THESE Our thoughts matter and they make a WAS A LONG SHOT TO START WITH THOUGHTS GET CRYSTALLISED difference. Whether they come out in body !ND 2UBINA PARTLY BELIEVED IN THE MEDIA OR POPULAR AND SOMETIMES STILL BELIEVES language, in conversations, or the way these CULTURE THEY CARRY WEIGHT THIS HERSELF WHICH IS WHY thoughts get crystallised in the media or 3IMILAR SOCIETAL PRESSURES SHEÃS SOMETIMES SO SCARED OF EXIST IN A SINGLE PARENT popular culture, they carry weight.

FAILING SCARED THAT SHE WILL BE FAMILY IN FAMILIES WITH FOUND OUT AS A FRAUD "EHIND STEP PARENTS OR FAMILIES WITH THE MASKS SHE PRESENTS TO THE MULTIPLE WIVES INDEED WHAT WORLD TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM EVER SOCIETY DECIDES ISNÃT THESE IMPLIED SLIGHTS SHE NORMAL À SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THOSE BUT FEEL ERODED AND ASHAMED À SOME REALLY THINKS THAT THERE REALLY IS NO ONE ÂNORMSÃ HARDLY FIT ANYONE !ND THEY HURT TIMES EVEN WITH EACH OTHER 7HAT HURT OF CONSEQUENCE 4HAT IS A HUGE BATTLE %VEN WHEN WE DO NOTHING

BY FORGETTING 2UBINAÃS PARENTS MOST OF ALL WAS THE TO FIGHT BOTH WITHIN HERSELF AND WITH TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO DONÃT FIT IN WE WAY THE RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF ADOPTION THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHERE THE MESSAGES SEND POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT ÂTHOSEÃ WOULD CONSTANTLY BE DEBATED RATHER SHE RECEIVES ARE INSISTING ÂDONÃT BOTHER

FAMILIES ARE NOT WELCOME !S A SINGLE THAN JUST BE ACCEPTED AND THE IMPLICITLY DONÃT TRY YOU WONÃT AMOUNT TO MUCH Ã PARENT ONCE SAID TO ME Å)ÃM NOT A UNIT

PATRONISING MESSAGES THAT WHAT 2UBINA /R THAT HER SUCCESSES IN REALITY BELONG SO )ÃM NOT INVITED Æ 3O WHY DO WE DO HAD DONE WAS AMAZING AS IF TO CONFIRM TO HER ADOPTED PARENTS !ND THE THIS TO EACH OTHER 7HY DO PREJUDICES

8

ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT HAVE SUCH CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES #AN WE NOT JUST IGNORE THEM !S HUMAN BEINGS WE ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT THREATS TO OUR SURVIVAL MAKE QUICK DECISIONS AS NEEDED AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THIS IS BY REACTING INSTINCTIVELY AND PROTECTIVELY AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE SAME AS US 3OCIETY REINFORCES WHAT IS USUAL AND WHAT IS NOT USUAL &OR BETTER OR WORSE THESE PROVIDE READY FRAMEWORKS FOR US TO LIVE IN BUT WE ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE THESE NORMS SO THAT WE CAN EVOLVE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY (OW 2ATHER THAN SLEEP WALKING THROUGH OUR LIVES WE NEED TO REFLECT MORE TO MAKE ACTIVE CHOICES AROUND HOW WE THINK AND ACT !S !LLAH SAYS โ And the blind man and the seer are not equal, neither are those who believe and do good works (equal with) the evil-doer. Little do you reflect!โ (40:57-58)

"UT THEREร S ANOTHER SIDE TO 2UBINA THAT ) WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU 3HE HAS AN INNER STRENGTH A FEROCIOUSLY INDE PENDENT STREAK AND A CLEAR SENSE OF JUSTICE 4HE MORE SHE ACCEPTS WHO SHE IS THROUGH THERAPY THE MORE HER POTEN TIAL IS REVEALED TO HERSELF (ER SKILLS AND HER ZEST FOR LIFE ARE KICKING IN WITH A VENGEANCE 3HE COULD BE ANYTHINGรถ !S WITH MANY OF US HER WEAKNESSES ARE THE PATHWAY TO HER STRENGTHS SOMETIMES SHEร S SO SCARED OF FAILING THAT SHE WORKS REALLY HARD AND MAYBE HER OWN PAIN SENSITISES HER TO SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE FOR OTHERS "UT THEREร S SOMETHING IN HER ร THAT fitri INNER TEMPLATE THAT INSTINC TIVELY KNOWS HER WAY TO 'OD GIVEN GOODNESS ร THAT IS INCREDIBLY MOTIVATED 3HEร S BEGINNING TO SEE AND PROVE TO HERSELF THAT SHE WAS BORN FOR A REASON

AND THAT THOUGH HER PATH THROUGH LIFE HAS NOT BEEN A WELL TRODDEN ONE ITร S GOT MEANING AND VIBRANCY 7HATร S MORE HER DIFFERENCE GIVES HER DISTINCTIVE PERSPEC TIVES ร SOMETHING PRECIOUS SHE BRINGS

TO LIFE IN THE WAY SHE IS 7HEN SHE SAYS ร ) LOVE MY MUMร YOU HEAR HER WORDS RESONATE WITH THE POWER OF SOMEONE WHOร S NEVER TAKEN THAT FOR GRANTED &ACILITATING ร NOT NORMALร FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO CELEBRATE THEIR POTENTIAL IS A TWO WAY PROCESS )T IS AN ACT OF FAITH TO WORK WITH DIFFERENCE "UT WITH THAT COMES THE CAPACITY THAT ร NOT NORMALร FAMILIES CAN OFFER ร A LIFE ENHANCING SPIRIT THAT REVEALS WHAT BEING HUMAN IS ALL ABOUT โ And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colours.

Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.โ (30:22) ร

Sabnum Dharamsi is a therapist and co-founder of Islamic Counselling Training.

9

Miss

Mothe

Not being able to have childr mental wellbeing of women. Ba of some women who have gon

10

sion:

erhood ren has a great effect on the Batool Haydar shares the stories ne through this experience

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T

HE STATUS OF A WOMAN IN )SLAM IS OFTEN DIRECTLY LINKED TO HER ROLE AS A MOTHER Â(EAVEN LIES UNDER THE FEET OF A MOTHERÃ IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND OFT QUOTED TRADITIONS FROM THE 0ROPHET -UHAMMAD S 7HAT HAPPENS THEN IN THE CASE OF -USLIM WOMEN WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOS SIBLE TO BEAR CHILDREN

TIMES

A COUPLE ARE IN DENIAL AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING NATURAL METHODS WHEN THEY COULD HAVE SPENT THAT TIME SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP INSTEAD )NFERTILITY IS MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED WHEN A COUPLE HAS TRIED TO HAVE A CHILD FOR ONE YEAR WITHOUT SUCCESS ! THIRD

FROM THE MOMENT THEY FEEL THEY MAY NEED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Ã 3AMIRA SAYS Â3OCIETY WILL ALWAYS BLAME THE WOMAN AND GIVE HER ALL SORTS OF PRAYERS AND SUGGESTIONS WHILE THE MEN RARELY EVEN GET ASKED ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CONSIDER THAT THEY MAY BE THE CAUSE Ã

Â)NFERTILITYÃ IS PERHAPS THE MOST HURTFUL /NCE A COUPLE DOES FIND OUT THAT THEY WORD ANY WOMAN LOOKING FORWARD TO NEED MEDICAL INTERVENTION

HAVING A FAMILY OF HER OWN THE CHALLENGES ONLY INCREASE CAN EVER HEAR 9ET THERE IS 7HETHER THEY DECIDE TO GO A GROWING PERCENTAGE OF DOWN THE PATH OF CONTINUING 2QFH D FRXSOH GRHV ±QG RXW WKDW WKH\ QHHG COUPLES WHO HAVE TO FACE THIS TO TRY FOR CHILDREN SHOULD BE REALITY 7HETHER THE CAUSE IS medical intervention, the challenges only A PRIVATE DECISION BUT OFTEN GENETIC OR EXACERBATED BY OUR increase. Whether they decide to go down FAMILY AND COMMUNITY GET EVER CHANGING ENVIRONMENT INVOLVED EVEN THOUGH THEIR the path of continuing to try for children AND LIFESTYLE THE CHALLENGE INTERVENTION IS NOT SOLICITED REMAINS THE SAME HOW DO should be a private decision, but often The Pressure to ReproCOUPLES ESPECIALLY WOMEN family and community get involved even duce DEAL WITH THE STIGMA OF BEING though their intervention is not solicited.

UNABLE TO MEET THE MOST .EW WIVES OFTEN TRANSITION BASIC EXPECTATION OF SELF AND SEAMLESSLY FROM THE PHASE SOCIETY OF RECEIVING CONGRATULATIONS Do We Need Help?

AND BEST WISHES ON THEIR OF THE TIME THE CAUSE CAN BE TRACED MARRIAGE TO LADEN QUESTIONS ABOUT 3AMIRA NOW IN HER FORTIES TRIED FOR NINE TO THE WOMAN A THIRD OF THE TIME TO WHEN TO EXPECT ÂGOOD NEWSÃ !S MONTHS YEARS WITH HER HUSBAND TO CONCEIVE THE MAN AND IN THE REMAINING CASES Â!CCEPTING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE MAY TURN INTO YEARS WITH NO VISIBLE REPLY THERE IS NO TRACEABLE REASON Â"OTH THE BE A PROBLEM IS KEY Ã SHE SAYS 3OME TO THEIR QUERIES THERE TENDS TO BE A HUSBAND AND WIFE NEED TO GET TESTED

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SHIFT TOWARDS OFFERING PRAYERS AND WELL INTENTIONED ADVICE ON HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING A CHILD

IT WOULD JUST MAKE ME MAD Ã SAYS )NSIYA Â3OMETIMES THEY WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE ÂAT LEAST YOU CAN AFFORD TO GO ON HOLIDAYS BECAUSE YOU DONÃT HAVE KIDSöÃ TRUST ME

) WOULD RATHER NEVER GO ON A HOLIDAY

BUT HAVE A CHILD Æ

QUESTION BEFORE LEADING THEM TO A STRONGER FAITH )NSIYA SAYS Â!T FIRST ) THOUGHT IF ) PRAYED A LOT IT WOULD ALL GET BETTER AND THINGS WOULD WORK OUT "UT AFTER TRYING SO MANY TIMES ) STARTED QUESTIONING MYSELF 7AS IT ME 7AS THERE SOMETHING ) WAS DOING THAT WAS STOPPING MY PRAYERS ) TURNED BITTER OVER TIME AND STOPPED ASKING FOR A BABY

BECAUSE ) THOUGHT NOBODY WAS LISTENING ANYWAYS Ã

)NSIYA SPEAKS WITH INDIFFERENCE AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF HEARING ALL KINDS OF COMMENTS BUT THE JOURNEY TO EMOTIONAL STABILITY HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE Â!T Seeking Out The Sense ONE POINT ) DIDNÃT KNOW IF ) WANTED A )NEVITABLY IT IS THE WOMEN WHO HAVE TO CHILD FOR MYSELF OR JUST TO GET THOSE AROUND ME TO SHUT UP 0EOPLE MAY THINK THEY ARE BEING KIND OR HELPFUL

Inevitably, it is the women who have to BUT HONESTLY NO COMMENT IS BETTER THAN MAKING A bear the burden of both personal grief STUPID OR POTENTIALLY HURTFUL and societal stigma. In cases where there COMMENT Ã SHE SAYS

LV D VWURQJ FXOWXUDO LQ²XHQFH LQYROYHG WKLV

3HE IS QUICK TO ADD Å/VER TIME ) ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT ) WILL BE CHILD FREE AND ) NOW LOOK AT IT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW THAT 'OD KNOWS ) AM STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS ) AM THANKFUL FOR THIS EXPERI ENCE BECAUSE IT TAUGHT ME TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AND RELATION SHIPS DIFFERENTLY ) FEEL ) CAN DISCERN BETWEEN TRUE LOVE AND SELFISHNESS

3AKINA AND HER HUSBAND stigma can be confused with religion and SPENT THIRTEEN YEARS TRYING women end up feeling that they are not only DIFFERENT WAYS NATURAL AND MEDICAL 4HEY FINALLY SETTLED incomplete as women, but also as Muslims ON ADOPTING HER BROTHERÃS SON Â#OMMUNITY PRESSURE HAD A VERY NEGATIVE EFFECT ON ME Ã SHE SAYS Â) STOPPED In His Hands ATTENDING PROGRAMMES AT THE MOSQUE BEAR THE BURDEN OF BOTH PERSONAL GRIEF Â)N (IS (AND IS !LL 'OODÃ 26 IS A AND IMMERSED MYSELF INTO MY WORK 4HE AND SOCIETAL STIGMA )N CASES WHERE PHRASE OF GREAT COMFORT FROM THE 1URÃAN ONLY SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ) KEPT WERE WITH THERE IS A STRONG CULTURAL INFLUENCE AND A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR TRUST IN FRIENDS WHO WERE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION INVOLVED THIS STIGMA CAN BE CONFUSED 'ODÃS DECISIONS 7HILE PARENTHOOD IS AND THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD WITH RELIGION AND WOMEN END UP FEELING A GREAT BLESSING WITH UNIQUE STATUS IN WHAT ) WAS GOING THROUGH AND ALLOWED THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY INCOMPLETE AS )SLAM IT IS LIKE MANY OTHER BLESSINGS ME TO VENT WHILE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT WOMEN BUT ALSO AS -USLIMS WITHIN THE FAITH IT IS NOT GRANTED TO ) SO BADLY NEEDED Ã 4URNING TO 'OD FOR ANSWERS OR TO MAKE EVERYONE AMONG THE FAITHFUL 5NDERSTANDING AND RESPECT SEEM TO BE FAMILIAR NEEDS FOR WOMEN WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CHALLENGE OF INFERTILITY .OORA WHO ALSO CHOSE TO ADOPT AFTER A DECADE SAYS Â0EOPLE WITH BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES AND PAIN OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN ) WISH THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERATE WHEN TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO CANÃT Ã 3HE ADDS THAT PITY OR SYMPATHY IS NOT WHAT IS NEEDED BUT COURTESY GOES A LONG WAY Â-OST WOMEN ARE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED THE MOST BASIC RIGHT OF A WOMAN THAT OF BEING A MOTHER DONÃT TRIVIALISE IT BY SAYING YOU KNOW HOW THEY FEEL 9OU DONÃT Ã 4RYING TO MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER BY MAKING LIGHT OF IT IS ALSO A MISTAKE Â7HEN MOTHERS WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT NAUGHTY CHILDREN OR TOO MANY CHILDREN

SENSE OF THE SITUATION IS A NATURAL RESPONSE BUT BECAUSE OF LACK OF OPEN MORAL SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS OR SCHOLARS THE JOURNEY TO FINDING INNER PEACE IS NOT ALWAYS A SMOOTH ONE &ATIMA + WHO HAS SIX YEAR OLD TWINS

CONCEIVED AFTER 11 YEARS OF TRYING IS GRATEFUL THAT MODERN MEDICINE HAS HELPED HER DREAM OF MOTHERHOOD COME TRUE Â)T WAS HARD TO GET HERE THOUGH Ã SHE SAYS Â4HE FINANCIAL STRAIN OF REPEATED TESTS HAVING TO UNDERGO INVASIVE PROCE DURES DEALING WITH THE INSENSITIVITIES OF THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SOMETIMES MADE YOU FEEL LIKE A SPECIMEN RATHER THAN A PERSONËALL OF THESE WERE HARD TO HANDLE Ã 4HE WORST PART WAS GETTING THE RESULTS SHE ADDS ÂTO SIT AND WAIT EVERY TIME WAS EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTING AND ONLY FAITH IN 'OD KEPT ME GOING AFTER EVERY NEGATIVE RESULT Ã 4HE JOURNEY FOR OTHERS MAKES THEM

4HE LACK OF ABILITY IS NOT A CRITERION FOR JUDGEMENT ON THE PART OF 'OD AND SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF OURS EITHER 4HIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT COUPLES SHOULD STOP TRYING FOR CHILDREN IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO (OWEVER THE RESULT OF THOSE EFFORTS WILL ALWAYS DEPEND ON 'OD Â(AVE FAITH HOPE TRY FOR AS LONG AS YOU FEEL ABLE TO Ã SAYS 3AMIRA ÂBUT ALWAYS KNOW THAT 'OD IS THE "EST OF 0LANNERS AND BE READY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER (E DECIDES .O DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROCEDURE CAN GUARANTEE YOU A CHILD Ã *All names have been changed. Ê

Batool Haydar is a wordsmith who has written many articles and blogs

1

Spearheading changes in the

Black community Rashid Rose DVNV ZK\ %ODFN FRPPXQLWLHV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG VSHFL±FDOO\ LQ WKH 8.

86$ DQG WKH &DULEEHDQ DUH DSSDUHQWO\ DW WKH ERWWRP RI WKH FRPPHUFLDO HFRQRPLF and social ladder and what is being done to redress this problem

14

15

A map drawn in 1375 CE shows a trader on camelback coming to the great leader of the Islamic Mali Empire, Mansa Musa. He is holding a huge gold nugget.

,OOKING BACK AT THE GLORIOUS TIMES IN !FRICA THIS PROUD NATION NEEDS TO RE IDENTIFY ITSELF &RAGMENTATION OF THE "LACK COMMUNITY INTO SEVERAL IDENTITIES HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR DISCONNECTION FROM THEIR HISTORICAL CULTURAL HERITAGE 4HE MISIDENTIFICATION OF THIS ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE HAS PRODUCED A NARRA TIVE OF DISEMPOWERMENT WHICH PARTIALLY ACCOUNTS FOR THEIR LOW SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS

T

HE EMERGENCE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THE ADVENT OF #APITALISM SAW SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN ECONOMIC PRAC TICES 4HEY TRANSFORMED THE MANNER IN WHICH GOODS WERE PRODUCED AND SOLD 4HIS PROCESS HAS BEEN EVOLVING EVER SINCE 4HE PREMISE OF THIS SYSTEM IS BUILT AROUND A STRONG CONSUMER MARKET OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND 5NFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE HAS BENEFITTED FROM THIS ECONOMIC SYSTEM ESPECIALLY "LACK COMMUNITIES IN THE 5+ AND AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING THE 53! AND THE #ARIBBEAN Self-identification

4HE ORIGIN OF THE LACK OF ECONOMIC ORIENTATION AMONG "LACKS MAY BE FOUND IN THE MISIDENTIFICATION OF THIS COMMUNITY 4HE ISSUE OF SELF IDENTIFICA TION OF "LACKS IN THE 7EST IN GENERAL

NEEDS TO BE SEEN FROM A SOCIO POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE ! HIGH

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4HE QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS COMMU NITY SHOULD BE REFERRED TO AS !FRICANS

7EST )NDIANS OR !FRO #ARIBBEANS 4HESE TERMINOLOGIES HAVE BEEN DEVISED

BY SOCIAL ENGINEERS TO CATEGORISE THE 7ESTERN "LACK AND TO PLACE HIM IN A GROUP OTHER THAN HIS OWN 4O DISTINGUISH 7ESTERN "LACKS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE THEY ARE BORN AS !FRICANS IS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DILEMMA 7ESTERN SOCIOLO GISTS DO NOT WANT TO CONTEMPLATE 4HE ARGUMENTS SUCH AS Âwe were not born in Africa and hence are not African’ IS UNREASONABLE /THER GROUPS DONÃT SUFFER FROM THIS IDENTIFICATION DILEMMA BECAUSE THEY ARE IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR MOTHERLAND 4HE #HINESE )NDIANS OR ANYONE BORN OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN ARE STILL IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR MOTHERLAND AND WHERE THEY ARE BORN IS IRRELEVANT PERCENTAGE OF "LACKS BORN IN THE 7EST ! MAJOR EXAMPLE OF THIS MIS IDENTIFI BELIEVE ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES WOULD CATION IS IN THE CASE OF THE #ARIBBEAN NOT LEAD TO ANY TANGIBLE CHANGES 4HIS "LACKS 2EFERRING TO "LACK #ARIBBEANS PERCEPTION CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO LACK OF AS 7EST )NDIANS IS THE BIGGEST FORM OF CONFIDENCE DEPENDENCY AND TRIVIALITY MIS IDENTIFICATION EVER 7HEN %URO WHICH MAY BE THE RESULT OF A LONG PEANS ARRIVED IN THE #ARIBBEAN THEY HISTORY OF "LACK SLAVERY AND THE NEGATIVE THOUGHT THEY HAD REACHED )NDIA IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THAT PERIOD ON EAST AND IDENTIFIED THE NATIVE INHABIT THE LIVES OF THEIR ANCESTORS )N AN EFFORT ANTS AS )NDIANS 7HEN THEY REALISED TO GAIN SOME ECONOMIC INSPIRATION

THEY WERE STILL IN THE WEST THEY RENAMED "LACK PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK BACK AT LIFE THE LAND THE 7EST )NDIES TO DISTINGUISH IN !FRICA BEFORE THE %UROPEANSÃ ARRIVAL IT FROM )NDIA IN THE EAST )T WAS MOSTLY 2OBIN 7ALKER IN HIS BOOK ‘Everyday life DURING THE 1 TH AND 18TH CENTURIES THAT in early West African Empire’ PORTRAYS "LACK !FRICANS WERE BROUGHT AS SLAVES !FRICANS AS MASTERS OF TRADE AND COMMERCE 4HE GREAT !FRICAN +ING -ANSA -USA ) THE RULER OF THE -ALIAN In an effort to gain some economic %MPIRE 1 12 1 inspiration, Black people should look back at #% IS SAID TO BE life in Africa before the Europeans’ arrival.

THE RICHEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED

TO THE 7EST )NDIES HENCE THE TERM 7EST )NDIANS )NDIANS FROM )NDIA WERE ONLY LATER BROUGHT INTO THE LAND DURING THE "RITISH %MPIRE 4HE )NDIANS ENVISAGE THEMSELVES AS NON 7EST )NDIAN AND RIGHTLY SO BECAUSE THE TERM 7EST )NDIAN IS MAINLY USED TO DESCRIBE !FRO #ARIBBEANS IN THE WIDER SOCIO POLITICAL CONTEXT 4HE SITUATION OF THE "LACK COMMUNITY IN THE 5+ IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE "LACKS IN THE 7EST )NDIES !FTER 7ORLD 7AR )) "LACK #ARIBBEANS WERE ALLOWED INTO THE 5+ TO ADDRESS MANPOWER SHORTAGES AND AID RECONSTRUCTION 5NTIL RECENTLY THE !FRO #ARIBBEAN COMMUNI TIES IN THE 5+ AND ALSO IN THE 53! WERE NOT SERIOUSLY ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN ECONOMICS MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING )NSTEAD THEY WERE TAUGHT TO FOCUS ON THEIR ATHLETIC AND MUSICAL ABILI TIES 4HEY WERE LED TO BELIEVE ECONOMIC SUCCESS WAS NOT FOR THEM AND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY WAS DIFFERENT THEY WERE INSTEAD REDIRECTED TO BE THE PRIMARY CONSUMERS IN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM 4HE ABSENCE OF ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

BY THE "LACK COMMUNITY IS VERY MUCH IN EVIDENCE TODAY &OR EXAMPLE THE ARTIFICIAL HAIR INDUSTRY IS A GROWING INDUSTRY AND IT IS USED BY MORE "LACKS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP YET NOBODY IN THE "LACK COMMUNITY ACTUALLY OWNS ANY PRODUCTION COMPANY OR MASS MARKETS THESE PRODUCTS 4HE PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND THE OWNERSHIP OF PRODUCTS ARE ESSENTIAL IF THE ISSUE OF POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION OF "LACK PEOPLE IN THE WEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED /THER COMMUNITIES

THE !SIANS #HINESE 0ERSIANS AND THE !RABS HAVE ALL ENJOYED A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR

Things are changing

!S A RESULT OF A POOR ECONOMIC DEVELOP MENT IN THE "LACK COMMUNITIES IN THE 5+ MANY GROUPS HAVE EMERGED TO TRY AND RECLAIM "LACK ECONOMIC POWER 4HE INITIATIVES PUT TOGETHER BY THE !FRO #ARIBBEAN -USLIM &EDERATION SPEAR HEADED BY TWO -USLIM CONVERTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE "LACK ECONOMIC GROWTH 4HIS ORGANISATION BELIEVES IN

4HESE TWO ORGANISATIONS ARE AMONG THE FIRST IN THE 5+ TO ATTEMPT TO BRING DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER FOR A SINGLE COMMON OBJECTIVE 4HEY CLAIM TO BE BONDED BY THE BELIEF IN ONE 'OD AND ARE NOT DISTRACTED BY THEO LOGICAL DOCTRINES AND INTER ISLAND ORIGIN DOGMAS !MONG THE "LACKS #HRISTIANS OR -USLIMS RELIGIOUS DOGMATISM IN THE VARYING GROUPS HAS CREATED A MAJOR

Fragmentation of the Black community into several identities has contributed to their disconnection from their historical cultural heritage. [This] … has produced a narrative of disempowerment which partially accounts for their low socio-economic status.

ECONOMIC SUCCESS THROUGH THE IMPLE MENTATION OF )SLAMONICS A TERM COINED

BY THE ORGANISATION TO DESCRIBE A SYSTEM BASED ON )SLAMIC ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES )N COOPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE !FRICAN #ARIBBEAN -USLIM !LLIANCE THEY HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES 4HEY BELIEVE A LONG HISTORY OF FUNDRAISING FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES AND THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS HAS ALLOWED SOME GROUPS TO LOOK DOWN AT THE "LACK COMMUNITY WITH A MEASURE OF CONTEMPT ALLOWING THEM TO ASSUME THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESNÃT HAVE THE AMBITION OR DESIRE TO GENERATE ITS OWN REVENUES (OWEVER THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN EXIST BUT NEED TO BE COORDINATED

OBSTACLE UNDERMINING THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF THESE THEM AND HAS INHIBITED THEM FROM SHOWING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL %CONOMICS GIVE COMMUNITIES RECOGNITION AND CREDIBILITY AND CAN ALSO ELEVATE THEM TO POSITIONS OF POLITICAL POWER 0ROFESSIONALISM AND DISCIPLINE ARE REQUIRED TO RECONSTRUCT THE MINDSET OF THE "LACK COMMUNITY )T IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS GROUP TO BE FINANCIALLY INDE PENDENT AND START PRODUCING MORE AND CONSUMING LESS Ê

Rashid Rose is Co-founder of the Afro-Caribbean Muslim Federation

1

Art Editor Moriam Grillo

Story-telling One to one with Aysa Ali

โ Some of the sahaba (Prophetโ s companions) went to the King of Persia to convey the message of Islam.

And when they went before the King, he laughed at them and sent them away with a large chest as a gift, but the chest was filled with dirt and earth.

One of the sahaba became very angry and said โ how dare he!โ The other said โ no, donโ t worry. This is a sign. In no time, we will have this land.โ !SYA !LI !SYA !LI IS AN %NGLISH ACTRESS AND STORYTELLER &ORMERLY %LEANOR -ARTIN

!SYA STUDIED $RAMA AND %NGLISH ,ITERATURE AT "RUNEL 5NIVERSITY BEFORE COMPLETING HER POST GRADUATE STUDY AT -OUNT 6IEW 4HEATRE 3CHOOL !SYA IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF +HAYAAL 4HEATRE #OMPANY A MULTI AWARD WINNING ORGANISATION DEDICATED TO EXPLORING AND SHARING -USLIM WORLD LITERATURE +HAYAAL MEANING IMAGINA TION IN !RABIC IS THE VEHICLE WHICH !SYA USES TO CONVEY STORIES OF VIRTUE WHICH SHE BELIEVES CONNECTS THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY BRINGING HEARTS TOGETHER THROUGH A SHARED STORY THAT IS RECOG NISED UNIVERSALLY REGARDLESS OF FAITH OR CULTURAL BACKGROUND ) MET WITH !SYA TO DISCUSS HER WORK AND FIND OUT WHY THEATRE AND THE POWER OF STORY IS SO RELEVANT TO OUR LIVES IN THE 21ST CENTURY What prompted you theatre company?

to

start

a

) WAS A TRAINED ACTOR BEFORE CONVERTING TO )SLAM IN 1996 AND GETTING MARRIED -Y HUSBAND HAD WANTED TO START A THEATRE COMPANY FOR SOME TIME BEFORE WE MET SO IT ALL CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY 4HE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS DECISION WAS TO BRING TO THE FORE THE WEALTH OF -USLIM LITERATURE TO ADDRESS A DESPERATE NEED WITHIN THE -USLIM COMMUNITY FOR CULTURAL CAPITAL "Y THAT

) MEAN TO ESTABLISH A CREATIVE WAY TO HAVE A WHOLESOME DIALOGUE WITH SOCIETY

18

THROUGH CULTURE 4HROUGH +HAYAAL 4HEATRE #OMPANY WE TRY TO CELEBRATE THE RICH HERITAGE OF -USLIM LITERATURE )N RECENT YEARS A VERY DOCTRINAL DOGMATIC )SLAM HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO BREED WHICH HAS FORGOTTEN THE ESSENTIAL STORY )SLAM )T IS THROUGH STORY WE NEED TO CONVEY THE BEAUTY OF OUR FAITH AS IN FACT THE 0ROPHET WAS COMMANDED TO DO SO /UR FAILURE TO DO SO HAS RESULTED IN THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES WE SEE TODAY

IN "RITAIN HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT SPACE IT STILL IS TODAY )Tร S WHERE THINKING TAKES PLACE AND IDEAS ARE SHARED )N THE 5+ PEOPLE CONGREGATE IN SPECIFIC SPACES THE CHURCH THE PUBLIC HOUSE

THE THEATRE THESE ARE PLACES WHERE THOUGHTS ARE SHAPED )DEAS AND PHILOSO PHIES FILTER INTO SOCIETY AT LARGE FROM THESE SPACES

4HE THEATRE SCENE IN "RITAIN DOES SEEM TO HAVE A SECULAR LEANING THATร S PROB ABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENTรถ )Tร S INCREDIBLE TO THINK THEN HOW THE ROOT MEANING OF THAT WORD HAS BEEN SO EASILY FORGOTTEN 4HEA FROM THE 'REEK MEANING 'OD

AND 4RE MEANING (ALL LITERALLY THE (ALL OF 'OD

4HEATRE IS A LIVING SPACE IT BRINGS TOGETHER A COMMUNITY AND THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL ADVANTAGE IT HAS OVER THE MEDIUM OF FILM IN THE CONVEYANCE OF STORY ,IVING OUR )SLAM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS A 3UNNAH AFTER ALL 7HEN YOU ARE SAT IN A THEATRE THE PERFORMER WILL CONNECT WITH YOU PERSONALLY CONVEYING THE STORY NOT ONLY THROUGH THE SPOKEN WORD AND IMAGE BUT THROUGH THE HEART

THE UNSPOKEN NOT HEAD BASED POWERFUL ENERGY OF THE HEART

(ISTORICALLY THE THEATRE PARTICULARLY

/N ANOTHER LEVEL THE THEATRE SPACE ITSELF

Why theatre as a means of artistic expression?

PRESENTS US WITH A PERFECT METAPHOR BY WHICH WE CAN UNDERSTAND OUR REALITY 4HE 0ROPHET -UHAMMAD S SAID Å-AN IS ASLEEP WHEN HE DIES HE WILL AWAKE Æ )N OTHER WORDS IF YOU DO NOT REALISE WE ARE SLEEPING NOW WE WILL BE IN FOR A TERRIBLE SHOCK WHEN WE ARE FORCED TO AWAKEN /R TO USE THE METAPHOR OF 4HEATRE

IMAGINE IN THIS LIFE YOU WERE PERFORMING IN A PLAY .OT BEING AWARE OF THIS REALITY WOULD BE DEEPLY SHOCKING WHEN THE CURTAIN FINALLY COMES DOWN Why is story so important?

7E ARE ALL STORIES 4HE 0ROPHET WAS COMMANDED TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE 0ROPHETS TO BRING PEOPLE TO )SLAM (E WAS A STORYTELLER BEFORE HE WAS A STATESMAN 3TORIES ARE THE MEANS BY WHICH WE HEAL 4HEY CAN OF COURSE BE THE MEANS BY WHICH WE DECEIVE WHICH IS WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE TELL THE RIGHT STORY ONE OF WISDOM AND TRUTH 4HROUGH THE METAPHORS IN STORY WE CAN SEE A PROBLEM OR SITUATION AND FIND OUR WAY THROUGH IT BY SEEING IT LAID OUT FOR US 4HIS IS WHY WE DREAM 7E ARE SEEING OUR PROBLEMS IN METAPHORS AND SYMBOLS "UT THE ABILITY TO READ THESE STORIES AND SYMBOLS HAS BEEN LOST TO US )N NOT ENGAGING WITH STORY IN NOT ENGAGING WITH THE HEART OF OUR )SLAM

BUT ONLY ENGAGING IN AN ADHERENCE TO LAW AS A PRACTICE OF DOS AND DONÃTS WE HAVE LOST THE HEART OF A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE BASED ON VIRTUE AND WISDOM 'OD IN THE 1URÃAN IS ALWAYS ASKING US TO REFLECT ON (IS SIGNS 3TORIES PROVIDE A SHIELD TO SEE A TRUTH THAT MAY BE PAINFUL TO SEE 7E CAN USE THEM TO CONVEY A POINT TO SOMEONE WITHOUT CHALLENGING HIM OR HER DIRECTLY -USLIMS HAVE MADE THE ERRONEOUS CONCLUSION THAT THE 7EST CREATED ITS POWER THROUGH SCIENCE

COMMERCE AND ENGINEERING THIS ISNÃT TRUE 4HE REAL POWER IS THE SOFT POWER OF STORY How does story relate to Islam and the Qur’an?

AND ITÃS BEEN COMPLETELY MISREAD WHEN ITÃS JUST SEEN AS A SERIES OF LAWS !ND THE SYMBOLIC REFERENCE TO HISTORIC STORIES WITHIN THE 1URÃAN RESONATES VERY CLEARLY TODAY 7E SHOULD BE ENGAGING WITH THE STORIES IN THE 1URÃAN AS A CONTEMPORARY MESSAGE 4HE SACRED LANGUAGE IS A LANGUAGE WHICH IS BEYOND THE HEAD AND OPENS UP TO YOU WHEN YOU ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AND CHOOSE TO SEE IT !SYA !LI HOLDS STORYTELLING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE 5+ SHARING THE POWER OF STORY DREAM AND VIRTUE WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES FAITHS AND BACKGROUNDS

'OD SAYS IN THE 1URÃAN AGAIN AND AGAIN ÂTHERE ARE SIGNS FOR THOSE WHO REFLECT &OR THOSE WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE Ã 'OD MAKES A METAPHOR 4HIS IS SACRED LANGUAGE 3ACRED SYMBOL 4HIS SACRED SYMBOL WILL RESONATE IN THE HEART OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET 2EGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR HEADS IT WILL RESONATE BECAUSE THEY ARE OF THE Â/NE 3ELFÃ 3O IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS LANGUAGE IF YOU KNOW WHAT SACRED METAPHOR IS THEN YOU KNOW YOU WILL REACH HEARTS 4HE 1URÃAN IS EVERYTHING IN THAT RESPECT

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Photography Newsha Tavakolian

4AVAKOLIAN HIGHLIGHTS AND CONFIRMS THE BEAUTY AND REVERENCE OF THE OCCA SION AND BRINGS IT TO THE FORE 7E SEE YOUNG GIRLS DELIGHT IN THE FRATERNITY OF A JOINT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE BEGINNING OF THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES WHERE PRAYER FASTING AND GIVING CHARITY WILL BE A CONSTANT PRACTICE IN THEIR LIVES !NOTHER OF HER WORKS Â-OTHER OF -ARTYRSÃ IS ALSO VERY LUCID IN ITS NATURE AND ONE CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL FOR HER SUBJECTS WHO SIT WITH IMAGES OF THEIR LOST SONS PLACED OVER THEIR HEARTS

SONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE )RAN )RAQ WAR IN THE 1980ÃS AND MOTHERS WHO HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THE AGONY OF OUTLIVING THEIR CHILDREN 4HEIR PAIN IS PRESENTED THROUGH THE INCONGRUOUS JUXTAPOSITION OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN HOLDING ONTO THE MEMORY OF N ADOLESCENT YOUNG BOY

.EWSHA 4AVAKOLIAN IS AN )RANIAN SELF TAUGHT DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER WHO BEGAN WORKING PROFESSIONALLY IN THE )RANIAN PRESS AT THE AGE OF 16 4AVAKOLIAN HAS CREATED A VAST CATALOGUE OF IMAGES DEPICTING THEMES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED THE LIVES OF HER -USLIM SUBJECTS 3HE IS PARTICULARLY KNOWN FOR FOCUSSING ON THEMES THAT AFFECT WOMEN )N MUCH OF HER WORK 4AVAKOLIAN REPRE SENTS THE VOYEUR INVITING HER AUDIENCE TO PARTAKE IN AN OBSERVATION OF HER PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES "UT IT IS NOT HER STAGED WORKS THAT INTEREST ME 4HE ÂPORTMANTEAUÃ IMAGES FOR ME ARE STAID AND CONTRIVED 7HAT EXCITES ME ARE HER PHOTOGRAPHS OF EVENTS AS THEY HAPPEN (ER SERIES Â4HE $AY ) "ECAME A 7OMANÃ IS A JOYFUL PORTRAYAL OF TRANSITION INTO

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4AVAKOLIAN HAS WON SEVERAL AWARDS FOR HER PHOTOGRAPHY WHICH HAS BEEN EXHIBITED INTERNATIONALLY 3HE HAS ALSO BEEN CHOSEN AS THE FIFTH LAUREATE OF THE #ARMIGNAC 'ESTION 0HOTOJOURNALISM !WARD !S A RESULT HER WORK WILL BE EXHIBITED IN 0ARIS IN -AY 2015 AND A NEW PHOTO BOOK OF HER WORK WILL BE LAUNCHED ADULTHOOD AND A COLLECTIVE HONOURING OF THE MOMENTOUS OCCASION A TIME IN LIFE WHEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ONEÃS ACTIONS FORMALLY BEGINS 7HILE OFTEN UNKNOWN AND UNACKNOWLEDGED IN MOST CULTURES THROUGH A SELECTION OF IMAGES

4AVAKOLIAN IS A COFOUNDER OF THE WOMENÃS PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTIVE 2AWIYA WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2011 3HE LIVES AND WORKS IN 4EHRAN

Heritage

4IRAZ WITH FISH MOTIF 3ILK &ATIMID %GYPT 10TH 11TH CENTURY &ATIMID 969 11 1 #% ARTS ARE A BLEND OF )SLAMIC 2OMAN 'REEK AND #HRISTIAN STYLES DEMONSTRATED BY THIS SILK TIRAZ INSCRIPTION BEARING TEXTILE

4HE FISH ARE CREATED IN A PLAYFUL STYLE

WITH THE LARGER ONE BLOWING BUBBLES 4HE TALISMANIC POWERS OF THIS IMAGE SURVIVED INTO THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

IN THE OLD 'RAECO 2OMAN LANDS OF %GYPT AND 3YRIA WHERE THIS TIRAZ WAS MADE

The place to Be

Laila Saab: Muslim Communities of Venezuela Through May 2015

WAS NOT PRODUCED FOR BATTLES OR WARFARE 4HEY WAS IN FACT

PRIMARILY PRODUCED AS EXPRES SIONS OF SOCIAL STATUS ACCES SORIES IN CEREMONIAL GATHERINGS AND AS DIPLOMATIC GIFTS 4HEIR DECORATIVE NATURE REFLECTS THE FINEST WORKMANSHIP IN GEMSTONE SETTING INTRICATE CALLIGRAPHIC INSCRIPTION WITH GOLD AND SILVER INLAY AS WELL AS IN THE ART OF METALLURGY 4HESE ARMS AND ARMOUR WERE THE PRIDE OF SOCIETY

AND WERE ALWAYS PORTRAYED IN THE EPIC NARRATIVE OF THE CULTURE AS WERE THE FAMED MINIATURE PAINT INGS 4HE MINIATURE PAINTINGS THEMSELVES HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF )SLAMIC ARMS ILLUSTRATING THE TACTICS AND STRATEGIES THAT ATTEST TO THE PRE EMINENCE OF -USLIM WARFARE

The Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia

&OUNDED IN 1998 THE )SLAMIC !RTS -USEUM OF -ALAYSIA IS THE TOP ART DESTI NATION IN THE COUNTRY AND A LEADING ART VENUE IN !SIA #ONSISTING OF TWO FLOORS OF PERMANENT GALLERY SPACE AND TWO SPECIAL GALLERIES FOR TEMPORARY EXHIBI TIONS THE MUSEUM SERVES AS A UNIQUE CULTURAL SPACE 4HIS EXHIBITION SECTION DIFFERS FROM MOST ART SPACES AS THE GALLERIES ARE HOUSED IN A VAST OPEN AREA WITHOUT THE INTRUSION OF SPATIAL DIVISION 4HIS PERMITS UNINTERRUPTED MOVEMENT FROM ONE EXHIBITION SPACE TO THE NEXT )T ALSO INSPIRES A SENSE OF CONTINUITY AND FLUIDITY A QUALITY DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE )SLAMIC SPIRIT 4HERE ARE TWO EXHIBI TIONS TO WHICH ) WISH TO DRAW ATTENTION

,AILA #HEMEKH 3AAB IS A 6ENEZUELAN PHOTOGRAPHER EXHIBITING A BROAD RANGE OF HER WORK AT THE MUSEUM THIS SUMMER 4HIS BODY OF WORK CONVEYS THE EVERYDAY LIVES OF A LONG ESTABLISHED -USLIM COMMUNITY IN 6ENEZUELA 3AAB USES HER MEMBER STATUS TO EXTRACT A CLOSER VANTAGE POINT GIVING HER INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE A CANDID VIEW OF )SLAM THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REMAIN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 3AABÃS WORK OFTEN CONFRONTS IDEAS AROUND CULTURAL IDENTITY

HIGHLIGHTING THE PLIGHT OF ETHNIC MINORI TIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT OF GREATER REPRESENTATION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITHIN THE SOCIO POLITICAL AND CULTURAL STRANDS OF SOCIETY AT LARGE ‘Symbol of Power and Beauty: The Art of Muslim Warfare’ Through August 2015

)SLAMIC !RMS AND !RMOUR REPRESENTS SOME OF THE FINEST AND MOST EXQUISITE FORM OF ART PRODUCED IN THE )SLAMIC WORLD $ESPITE POPULAR MISCONCEP TIONS MUCH OF THE WEAPONRY ON SHOW

/VER 00 ARTEFACTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBITION OFFERING A STIMULATING JOURNEY THROUGH THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE )SLAMIC WORLD ! PART OF THE EXHIBITION IS A NEW ACQUISITION FOR THE MUSEUM OF THIS ,APIS LAZULI HILTED DAGGER

SIGNED BY Â!BBAS 'HULAM 3HAH

18TH CENTURY )RAN

Moriam Grillo is an international artist. She holds Bachelor degrees in Photography & Film and Ceramics, her current projects include a commission for the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham.

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The self-determining world system of Islam

22

Looking back at Islamic civilisation Yasser Ahmed explains how understanding historical processes is fundamental in helping Muslims to produce a more authentic narrative on Islam and of important role it continues to play in the world History

2

T

HERE ARE )SLAMIC TRADITIONS ATTRIBUTED TO THE 0ROPHET STATING THAT A TIME WILL COME WHEN )SLAM BECOMES STRANGE AND UNRECOGNISABLE TO THE PEOPLE -AYBE WE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN SUCH TIMES 4HE DISTORTION ALLUDED TO ABOVE CAN BE BOTH THE RESULT OF OUR IGNORANCE AS WELL AS THE MANIPULA TIVE REPORTING GENERATED THROUGH THE PRISM OF A BIASED MEDIA 7E DONÃT NEED TO BE GENIUSES TO UNDERSTAND THAT IMAGES CAN BE CONSTRUCTED AND PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC TO FORM SPECIFIC NARRATIVES

AND THAT TODAY THANKS TO THE PERVASIVE POWER OF THE MEDIA THE IMAGE OF )SLAM AND -USLIMS IS MORE SCULPTED AND SHAPED THAN ANY OTHER

WORLD HAS PRODUCED A SIMPLISTIC UNDER STANDING THAT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORICAL RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL AND KNOWLEDGE BASED HERITAGE THAT SUCCESS FULLY PRODUCED GREAT )SLAMIC CIVILISA TIONS )SLAM EMERGED WITH THE ABILITY TO BUILD AND RE CREATE A NEW WORLD SYSTEM AND A CIVILISATION THAT INCLUDED BOTH )T IS INDEED AN ARDUOUS TASK FOR AN EXISTING KNOWLEDGE FROM THE (ELLENISTIC ORDINARY INDIVIDUAL TO GET A TRUE UNDER CIVILISATION OF THE 7EST AS WELL AS THE STANDING OF )SLAM AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR 0ERSIAN )NDO CIVILISATION OF THE %AST 3O EVIDENT IS THIS PROBLEM IN THE 7EST 'EOGRAPHICALLY )SLAM EMERGED IN A THAT RECENTLY THE SUPREME LEADER OF CENTRAL POSITION BETWEEN THE (ELLENIC THE )SLAMIC 2EPUBLIC OF )RAN !YATOLLAH OR %UROPEAN TRADITION OF THE !NATOLIAN

'REEK AND )TALIAN PENINSULAS

AND THE POST #UNEIFORM The misportrayal of Islam in today’s world )RANO 3EMITIC TRADI TION BETWEEN THE has produced a simplistic understanding that .ILE AND /XUS FROM takes no account of its historical, religious, 3YRIA TO +HORASAN and cultural and knowledge-based heritage THE NORTHEAST that successfully produced great Islamic )RANIAN HIGHLANDS 4HE )SLAMIC CIVILISA civilisations.

TION DID INEVITABLY CONNECT BOTH OF THESE ANCIENT +HAMENEI FELT IT NECESSARY TO SEND A WORLDS !S MANY HISTORIANS OF THE )SLAMIC PUBLIC MESSAGE TO THE YOUTHS OF THE WORLD HAVE NOTED )SLAM WAS CENTRAL TO 7ESTERN WORLD EXHORTING THEM NOT TO THE EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN WORLD ÂALLOW THIS DYNAMIC AND EFFECTIVE REALITY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS )T BECAME )SLAM IN TODAYÃS WORLD TO BE INTRO THE GATHERING POINT FOR THE MEETING DUCED TO YOU THROUGH RESENTMENTS AND AND DIFFUSION OF IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES PREJUDICESÃ AND TO GO INSTEAD DIRECTLY TO PHYSICAL AS WELL AS CULTURAL OF ALL KINDS ÂITS PRIMARY AND ORIGINAL SOURCESË THE )SLAMIC CIVILISATION HAD SPECIFIC PROPER 1URÃAN AND THE LIFE OF ITS GREAT 0ROPHETÃ TIES THAT FACILITATED THIS PROCESS 4HE MISPORTRAYAL OF )SLAM IN TODAYÃS 7HEN SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS

24

OF THE IMPERIAL POWERS OF %UROPE BEGAN TO STUDY )SLAM IN AROUND 1800

THEY DID IT IN AN EFFORT TO SEPARATE IT FROM ITS HISTORICAL POSITION IN HISTORY 4HEY STRUGGLED TO PRODUCE A NARRATIVE OF %UROPEAN SUPERIORITY AND DISTINCTIVENESS 4HE OBJECTIVE WAS TO PRESENT THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS IN %UROPE AS SOMETHING UNIQUE NOT POSSIBLE IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE %ASTERN ONE WHICH INCLUDES )SLAMIC LANDS 4HEY BELIEVED THAT THE %ASTERN WORLD WAS INCAPABLE OF CRITICALLY ANALYSING ITS PAST )N ORDER TO CONSTRUCT ITS NEW IDENTITY IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR %UROPE TO UNDERPLAY THE 3EMITIC IDENTITY OF #HRISTIANITY WHICH WOULD HAVE INEVI TABLY CONNECTED THEM TO THE WORLD OF THE %AST %UROPEÃS ROOTS WERE TO BE FOUND INSTEAD IN ITS (ELLENIST PAST !NCIENT 'REECE WITH ITS HUMANISTIC HERITAGE WOULD BE THE REFERENCE POINT A CIVILISATION THAT HAS GIVEN THE WORLD THE Â0OLISÃ THE CITY STATE WITH ITS CONCEPT OF CITIZENSHIP AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS IN SHORT

DEMOCRACY !CCORDING TO THIS VIEW NO OTHER CIVILISATION EAST OF %UROPE WAS CAPABLE OF SUCH ÂSUPERIORÃ DEVELOPMENT )TS DEVELOPMENT GRADUALLY EXTENDED TO THE ECONOMIC FIELD AND WOULD MANIFEST ITSELF ALSO AS AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM

KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS #APITALISM

DESTINED TO DOMINATE THE MODERN WORLD 4HE WORLD OF )SLAM HOWEVER IN SOCIOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL STUDIES WOULD BE PORTRAYED AS INCAPABLE OF PRODUCING INSTITUTIONS THAT COULD MATCH THE 7EST HENCE ITS GRADUAL DECLINE 4HIS WAS THE NARRATIVE THAT WAS DEVELOPED AT THE TURN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY WHEN WESTERN COLONIALISM WAS AT ITS PEAK 4HIS VIEW LARGELY ACCEPTED AT POPULAR LEVEL WAS TO BE CHALLENGED FROM WITHIN WESTERN ACADEMIA -ARSHALL ' 3 (ODGSON D 1966 REFUTED THE ENTIRE ABOVE CONSTRUCT ARGUING THAT THE MONO THEISTIC RELIGIONS OF 7EST !SIA *UDAISM

#HRISTIANITY AND :OROASTRIANISM HAD ALREADY ÂDEVELOPED A MORAL CRITIQUE OF THE INHERITED POWER OF STATE OFFICIALS AND MILITARY ELITESÃ (ODGSON CHALLENGED ADHERENTS OF %UROCENTRISM (IS RESEARCH HAD PROVED TO HIM THAT EVEN FURTHER BACK IN THE 3OUTH !SIAN AND %AST !SIAN CIVILISATIONS A SIMILAR CRITIQUE OF THE HEREDITARY AUTHORITY OF MILITARY ELITES COULD ALSO BE FOUND !CCORDING TO (ODGSON IT IS UPON THIS LEGACY THAT )SLAM WOULD BUILD ITS SOCIETIES )SLAMIC SOCIETIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS BEING FLEXIBLE WITH POLITICAL LEGAL AND ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS THAT ENCOURAGED TRADE AND COMMERCE ON A GRAND SCALE WITHIN A TOLERANT AND CERTAINLY MULTI ETHNIC ENVIRONMENT 4HIS GREAT APPEAL MEANT THAT WITHIN CENTURIES OF )SLAMÃS EMERGENCE FROM !RABIA THE RELIGION THAT HAD ATTRACTED DESERT "EDOUINS ALSO BECAME THE FAITH OF AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL BASED SOCIETIES IN )NNER %UROPE AND !SIA AND ACROSS ALL THE LANDS TRAVERSED BY THE ANCIENT COMMER CIAL ROUTE OF THE 3ILK 2OAD )T LINKED THE -EDITERRANEAN WITH #HINA AND )NDIA

AS WELL AS WITH THE )NDIAN /CEAN WORLD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THERE "Y THE 10TH CENTURY )SLAM HAD ALSO REACHED INNER 7EST !FRICA AND TRAVERSED THE SOUTH 3AHARA DESERT BELT KNOWN AS THE 3UDAN

MIDDLE OF THE !BBASID PERIOD A -USLIM MERCHANT COULD RECEIVE AN )/5 IN "AGHDAD AND COLLECT IT IN 3AMARKAND 7HAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT GEARED UP TO PRODUCE A WORLD SYSTEM WAS NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON THE PRESENCE OF SINGLE UNIFIED IMPERIAL POWER

"Y THE MIDDLE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY WHEN THE !BBASID RULERS PERFORMED ONLY A CEREMONIAL ROLE MAJOR -USLIM IMPERIAL STATES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE -EDITERRANEAN WORLD IN PLACES SUCH AS )RAN 3OUTH !SIA #ENTRAL !SIA AND SUB 3AHARAN !FRICA /TTOMAN 3AFAVID

-UGHAL 5ZBEK AND 3ONGHAI EMPIRES SURPASSED THE EMERGING )BERIAN EMPIRES OF THE DAY AND OUTSHONE THE SMALLER DYNASTIC When social scientists and researchers of STATES OF 7ESTERN %UROPE )N ADDITION

the imperial powers of Europe began to )SLAM WAS ACTIVELY study Islam in around 1800, they did it in WINNING CONVERTS an effort to separate it from its historical BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THESE position in history. They struggled to EMPIRES IN 3OUTH produce a narrative of European superiority EAST !SIA 3OUTH and distinctiveness.

EASTERN %UROPE AND ELSEWHERE

,AND OF THE "LACKS 4HE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTRALITY OF THE LANDS OF )SLAM GREATLY EXPANDED THE SIZE OF THE INTERCOMMUNICATING ZONE ALL ACROSS !FRICA %UROPE AND !SIA )N ECONOMIC TERMS THE FLOURISHING OF )SLAMIC COMMER CIAL INSTITUTIONS PROVIDED THE FACILITIES FOR GREAT COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES )N THE

4HE WORLD OF )SLAM INCLUDED COMPLEX URBAN STRUCTURES WITH NEW MODES OF SOCIAL ORGANISATION NO LONGER BASED ON CLASSICAL AND SIMPLISTIC FEUDAL MODELS 4HESE REQUIRED SOPHIS TICATED SOCIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS THAT REFLECTED THE COMPLEXITY OF HUMAN SOCIETY ON THE GROUND 4HE IDEA THAT A NEW Â)SLAMIC STATEÃ CAN BE CARVED OUT OF NOTHING AND MAINTAINED ON A PRIMITIVE

UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIETY IS A DEMAGOGIC ABERRATION STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE )SLAMIC WORLD SYSTEM 4ODAY BOTH WESTERN #APITALISM AND )SLAM REPRESENT THE MAIN TWO CONTEM PORARY WORLD SYSTEMS AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO FUNCTION AND SURVIVE INDEPENDENTLY OF AN EMPIRE WITH )SLAM HAVING BEGUN ITS PROCESS OF ADAPTATION BEFORE THE RISE OF #APITALISM 4HE )SLAMIC WORLD SYSTEM IS NOT BASED ON ECONOMIC FACTORS BUT IN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY SYMBOLISED AND EMPHASISED IN THE BELIEF SYSTEM RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

COMMON WISDOM KNOWLEDGE AND BROAD DISCOURSE THAT CUTS ACROSS BORDERS 4HE -USLIM COMMUNITY IN THE 7EST NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF ITS RICH HERITAGE AND HISTORICAL ABILITY 4HE REDISCOVERY OF OUR PAST DOES NOT NEED TO FOCUS ON IMPERIAL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT WHICH ARE AFTER ALL SECONDARY TO SUCCESS BUT ON ITS WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE 7ESTERN -USLIMS MUST REDISCOVER THE TRUE INTEL LECTUAL )SLAMIC TRADITION AND CONFORM TO IT TO BECOME A BEACON OF LIGHT IN A WORLD DEVOID OF WISDOM AND MIRED IN CONFUSION ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE AND BETWEEN SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL Ê

25

Free speech and Islam

the dilemma for

Muslims -XOLD .KDGLMD Lafene UH²HFWV RQ WKH PHDQLQJ RI IUHHGRP RI VSHHFK for Muslims and how best they can respond to mockery and insult

26

T

HE HORRIFIC MURDER OF &RENCH JOURNAL ISTS HAS PROMPTED ME TO REFLECT ON THE MEANING OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR -USLIMS AMONG THEMSELVES AND IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NON -USLIMS &IRSTLY WHAT IS ÂFREEDOM OF SPEECHÃ !RE )SLAMIC TEACHINGS ON THIS SUBJECT COMPATIBLE WITH 7ESTERN IDEAS !ND HOW SHOULD -USLIMS REACT WHEN THIS FREEDOM IS USED TO MOCK AND OR INSULT WHAT THEY HOLD TO BE SACRED ! SIMPLISTIC DEFINITION OF ‘freedom of speech’ IS THAT EVERYONE CAN GIVE THEIR OPINION PUBLICLY ABOUT ANY TOPIC AND CAN DO SO IN ANY WAY THEY LIKE INCLUDING USING MOCKERY SATIRE OR INSULTS TO GET A POINT ACROSS ) RECENTLY HEARD A ""# REPORTER MAINTAINING THAT FREEDOM TO INSULTS IS PART OF DEMOCRACY )N THE 7EST THIS DATES BACK TO THE 2EFORMATION WHEN 0ROTESTANTS REBELLED AGAINST THE OVERBEARING POWER OF THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH )N THE 18TH CENTURY INTEL LECTUALS LIKE 6OLTAIRE IN &RANCE LED THE CRITICISM AGAINST THE AUTOCRATIC POWER OF THEIR RULERS AND THE HYPOCRITICAL PRIESTHOOD CULMINATING IN THE VIOLENT &RENCH 2EVOLUTION 4HOMAS 0AINE WROTE A TREATISE ON THE RIGHTS OF MAN WHICH GREATLY INFLUENCED THE !MERICAN REBELLION AGAINST THE "RITISH CROWN 4HE IDEA OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH WAS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF THE CITIZEN IN OPPOSITION TO THE TYRANNY OF THEIR RULERS !S ESTABLISHED RELIGIOUS BODIES WERE PART OF THIS RULING ELITE THEY WERE ALSO PILLORIED AND SATIRISED &REEDOM TO CRITICISE GRADU ALLY BECAME A VALUED PART OF SECULAR TRADITION AS CITIZENS WERE ABLE TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS WITHOUT FEAR OF ARBITRARY ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT (OWEVER THIS FREEDOM IS NOT AND CAN NEVER BE ABSOLUTE 3OME TYPES OF INSULT ARE LIBELLOUS AND SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF LIBEL )N TIMES OF CONFLICT AND WAR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS OR PEOPLE SYMPATHETIC TO THE ENEMY WERE IMPRISONED &OR EXAMPLE DURING THE 3ECOND 7ORLD 7AR .AZI SYMPATHISERS WERE PROSCRIBED )N MODERN "RITAIN ONE CAN BE PROS ECUTED OR AT LEAST OSTRACISED FOR RACIST HOMOPHOBIC STATEMENTS OR INCITEMENT TO RELIGIOUS OR RACIAL HATRED ESPECIALLY ANTI 3EMITISM "UT IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO MOCK OR CRITICISE OR EVEN INSULT RELIGIOUS FIGURES WHO ARE NO LONGER LIVING 4HIS IS EVEN REGARDED AS ÂA BIT OF FUNÃ 4HE FILM Â,IFE OF "RIANÃ WAS A SATIRE ON THE LIFE OF *ESUS #HRIST WHICH OFFENDED MANY #HRISTIANS EVEN IF MOST IGNORED IT !LSO IN PRACTICE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS VERY MUCH DOMINATED BY THE MEDIA WHOSE EDITORS CONTROLLERS CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT TO PUBLICISE AND WHAT TO IGNORE 3O THE GENERAL PUBLIC BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE ÂFREEÃ TO SAY AND BELIEVE WHAT THEY LIKE ARE IN FACT BEING MANIPULATED &OR EXAMPLE THE MEDIA HAVE OFTEN CHOSEN TO PLAY DOWN ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST -USLIMS ABROAD SUCH AS 0ALESTINE "URMA

2

#HECHNYA AND #HINA OR HAVE JUST MENTIONED THEM IN PASSING ON STATIONS WHICH THE GENERAL PUBLIC DO NOT WATCH OR LISTEN TO

$ VLPSOLVWLF GH±QLWLRQ RI ©IUHHGRP RI VSHHFKª LV WKDW everyone can give their opinion publicly about any topic and can do so in any way they like including using mockery, satire or insult to get a point across.

)N -USLIM COUNTRIES THE TRADITION OF FREELY CRITI CISING THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DEVELOPED TO THE EXTENT IT HAS IN THE WEST SINCE MOST GOVERNMENTS HAVE SUPPRESSED IT "UT THERE IS A LONG TRADITION OF QUESTIONING AND DISCUSSING RELIGIOUS ISSUES #RITICISING OR MOCKING RELIGIOUS FIGURES HAS TAKEN THE FORM OF SATIRICAL STORIES OR ALLEGORIES SUCH AS -ULLAH .ASREDDIN BUT HAS NEVER EXTENDED TO MOCKERY OF 'OD OR THE 0ROPHETS

ESPECIALLY NOT THE 0ROPHET -UHAMMAD S ) BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE MOST -USLIMS STILL HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF THE SACRED 4HEY MAY MOCK MULLAHS IMAMS AND ULAMA BECAUSE THESE ARE MEN AND MAY BE HYPOCRITICAL POWER HUNGRY IN LEAGUE WITH A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT ETC BUT THE HOLINESS OF THE !LMIGHTY AND INTEGRITY OF HIS 0ROPHETS ARE NEVER IN DOUBT (OWEVER THE (OLY 1URÃAN IS QUITE CLEAR THAT CALLING THE 0ROPHET S MAD OR A LIAR OR SOOTHSAYER IS UNACCEPTABLE 3O A -USLIM MAY QUESTION 'OD OR THE 0ROPHETS BUT .%6%2 INSULT THEM /N THIS POINT

28

-USLIMS CANNOT AGREE WITH THE 7ESTERN FREE FOR ALL #HRISTIANS AND PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS ONCE BELIEVED THE SAME AND MANY STILL DO

3O IF WE -USLIMS ARE UPSET BY MOCKERY AND INSULTS TOWARDS WHAT WE HOLD MOST SACRED HOW CAN WE REACT !S WE HAVE SEEN A MINORITY OF -USLIMS BELIEVE IN USING VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS CLAIMING THAT IN DOING SO THEY ARE CARRYING OUT THE INJUNCTIONS OF THE (OLY 1URÃAN TO TAKE ACTION BY FORCE IF THERE IS NO LEGAL RECOURSE )N FACT THEIR ACTIONS ARE ALSO FUELLED BY RAGE AGAINST THEIR HELPLESSNESS 4HEIR ATTACKS GIVE THEM A FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT 4HE MAJORITY OF -USLIMS ARE RIGHTLY HORRIFIED AND FEARFUL FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY FROM THE INEVITABLE BACKLASH !T THIS MOMENT

THOUSANDS OF -USLIMS ARE TRYING TO FLEE TO THE WEST BECAUSE OF WARS BARBARITIES AND POVERTY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES 3OME OF THESE HAVE BEEN PROVOKED BY 7ESTERN COUNTRIES BUT WE STILL NEED TO RECOGNISE THAT IN THE MAIN WE HAVE ACTUALLY BENEFITTED FROM FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MAY PRACTICE OUR RELIGION WITHIN

THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN

In Muslim countries the tradition of freely criticising the government has not developed to the extent it has in the west since most governments have suppressed it. But there is a long tradition of questioning and discussing religious issues.

,ET US LOOK AT OUR ORIGINAL TEACHINGS ON THIS SUBJECT &IRSTLY THE (OLY 1URร AN EMPHATI CALLY STATES THAT ร THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION SPIRITUAL PATHS ร .O ONE CAN BE FORCED TO FOLLOW ANY RELIGION !LSO WE ARE SPECIFICALLY TOLD THAT DIFFERENT TRIBES AND NATIONS WERE CREATED ร SO THAT WE MIGHT KNOW EACH OTHER ร 49 1 7E ARE TOLD TO SPEAK TO OPPONENTS IN A GENTLE WAY AND NOT PROVOKE THEM ร 7HEN THE IGNORANT ADDRESS YOU

REPLY TO THEM ร 0EACEร ร 25 6 4HE 0ROPHET S REACTED TO INSULT WITH DIGNITY AND OFTEN FORGIVENESS (E DID HIS UTMOST TO COME TO AN ACCOMMODATION WITH HIS OPPONENTS AND DID NOT RISE TO PROVOCATION -OST OF THEM HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN WHILE HIS NAME AND LEADERSHIP IS STILL ALIVE IN THE WORLD !S FOR MOCKERY OF 'OD (E NEEDS NO DEFENCE OR VENGEANCE FOR EVERY ONE OF US WILL EVENTUALLY FACE DEATH WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT )T IS TRUE THAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO SELF DEFENCE BUT MURDERING CIVILIANS IS NEITHER LEGAL ACCORDING TO 3HARIAH NOR APPROPRIATE )NSTEAD OF SHOWING PEOPLE THE NOBILITY OF ORIGINAL

)SLAM IT HAS THE VERY OPPOSITE EFFECTรถ 7E NEED TO CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE FOR OPPRESSED -USLIMS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD WITHOUT USING COUNTER PRODUCTIVE VIOLENCE AND EDUCATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SELF RELIANT SELF RESPECTING AND ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE TRUE TEACHINGS &OLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE 0ROPHET S IS THE BEST WAY OF SHOWING PEOPLE IN THE WEST THE TRULY )SLAMIC WAY OF REACTING TO INSULT -OST OF THEM ARE IGNORANT OF THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THEM THAT )SLAM IS NOT A VIOLENT RELIGION 7E DO ALSO NEED TO EXAMINE OURSELVES ARE WE LIVING UP TO THE GREAT EXAMPLE GIVEN TO US ร Julia Khadija Lafene graduated in Modern History from Oxford University. Since embracing Islam she has studied Islamic psychology and selfknowledge.

29

The abundance of the holy

month of Ramadhan

With the holy month of Ramadhan starting at the beginning of summer this year, Harun Yahya reminds us of its special features and the effect it has on believers across the world

A

S IT DOES EVERY YEAR THE ENTIRE -USLIM WORLD IS PREPARING TO WELCOME THE KING OF THE TWELVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

THE HOLY MONTH OF 2AMADHAN !S 'OD REVEALS IN THE 1URÃAN THE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN IS A BLESSED ONE AND A MEANS FOR EVERY HEALTHY PERSON TO TRAIN THE BODY AND LOWER SELF THROUGH THE OBLIGATION OF FASTING 2AMADHAN IS THE NINTH MONTH OF THE (IJRI CALENDAR (OWEVER IT DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO ANY OF THE MONTHS OF THE 'REGORIAN

0

CALENDAR 4HE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN IS A (IJRI MONTH THE TIMING OF WHICH IS BASED ON THE LUNAR CALENDAR 2AMA DHAN FALLS ON A DIFFERENT MONTH EVERY YEAR )N FACT ACCORDING TO THE 1URÃAN

THE MONTH IS THE SAME EVERY YEAR BUT IT HAS TO BE CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR AND NOT THE SOLAR ONE 4HE (IJRI CALENDAR FOLLOWS THE PHASES OF THE -OON 5NDER THE 3OLAR CALENDAR

EVERY MONTH FALLS ON THE SAME DAYS EVERY YEAR (IJRI MONTHS HOWEVER DIFFER EVERY YEAR )N THE (IJRI CALENDAR WHICH

IS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF THE -OONÃS ORBIT OF THE %ARTH THE SAME MONTH MAY SOMETIMES FALL IN SUMMER AND AT OTHER TIMES IN WINTER 4HE MONTHS ARE NOT FIXED 4HAT IS WHY THE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN AND THE TIMING OF THE FAST DIFFER EVERY YEAR (IJRI MONTHS ARE SHORTER THAN 'REGORIAN ONES 5NDER THE (IJRI CALENDAR A YEAR LASTS 54 DAYS AND 8 HOURS 7HEN THE -OON HAS REVOLVED AROUND THE %ARTH TWELVE TIMES ONE (IJRI YEAR HAS BEEN COMPLETED 5NDER THE 'REGORIAN CALENDAR HOWEVER THE TIME

OBSERVANCES AND RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE &ASTING A divine transformation takes place in IS AN INDIVIDUAL Muslims in the month of Ramadhan. Disputes OBSERVANCE THAT DUH UHVROYHG FRQ²LFWV OHVVHQ DQG PXWXDO TRAINS THE LOWER SELF AND ENCOURAGES aid and solidarity, and therefore goodness, EMPATHY ON THE all increase.

SUBJECTS OF HUNGER AND WANT AS WELL AS REFLECTION ON MANY ISSUES 4RAINING THE IT TAKES THE %ARTH TO REVOLVE AROUND THE BODY WITH HUNGER AND THIRST IS A MEANS 3UN 65 DAYS AND 6 HOURS IS TAKEN OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND INSTILLING FAITH AS ONE YEAR 5NDER THE (IJRI CALENDAR

IN THE HEART 4HAT ASPECT IS ACTUALLY THE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN STARTS 11 CONCEALED IN THE ROOT OF THE WORD 2AMA DAYS EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE 'REGORIAN DHAN 4HE WORD 2AMADHAN DERIVES CALENDAR EVERY YEAR 4HAT IS THE REASON FROM THE WORD ÂAR RAMADÃ MEANING ÂTHE FOR THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF THIS MONTH RAIN THAT FALLS BEFORE THE AUTUMN AND !ND THAT IS THE REASON WHY -USLIMS CLEANSES THE EARTH Ã 4HINKING OF THE DO NOT ALWAYS FAST IN THE SAME MONTH

WORD 2AMADHAN IN THAT SENSE WE CAN BUT IN DIFFERENT MONTHS AND SEASONS )T SEE THAT IT IMPLIES A SOURCE OF BLESSING TAKES APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS FOR THE IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE RAIN WASHES MONTH OF 2AMADHAN TO FALL AT THE SAME AWAY IMPURITIES AND NOURISHES NATURE

TIME AGAIN SO FASTING FEEDS AND DEVELOPS THE SOUL The Qur’an being sent down in the ! DIVINE TRANSFORMATION TAKES PLACE IN month of Ramadhan -USLIMS IN THE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN ‘The month of Ramadhan is the one $ISPUTES ARE RESOLVED CONFLICTS LESSEN

in which the Qur’an was sent down as AND MUTUAL AID AND SOLIDARITY AND THERE guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs FORE GOODNESS ALL INCREASE 4HE SPIRIT OF containing guidance and discriminaBROTHERHOOD COMES TO THE FORE AND ACTS OF LOVE AND COMPASSION ARE COMMON tion. (Qur’an 2: 185) 'OD REVEALS IN PLACE 4HE POOR AND NEEDY ARE ENRICHED THE 1URÃAN THAT IT WAS SENT DOWN IN

BY THE EVENING MEAL TENTS THAT ARE SET THE MONTH OF 2AMADHAN )T TOOK 2 UP AS ACTS OF CHARITY BY INSTITUTIONS AND YEARS FOR THE WHOLE OF THE 1URÃAN TO BE INDIVIDUALS 3INCE THEY ARE FASTING MANY REVEALED EITHER IN VERSES OR SOMETIMES PEOPLE ALSO AVOID BEHAVIOUR THAT WILL IN WHOLE CHAPTERS 4HAT HAPPENED BE DISPLEASING TO 'OD SUCH AS COMMIT MORE OR LESS DURING THE 12 YEARS OF THE TING SINS OR GOSSIPING AND BACKBITING -AKKAN PERIOD AND 11 YEARS OF THE 0EOPLEÃS DESIRE TO REFLECT ON GOODNESS -EDINA PERIOD 4HE VERSES REVEALED AND GOOD DEEDS GROWS 4HROUGH FASTING

DURING THE -AKKAN PERIOD CONCERN THEY THINK ABOUT MANY THINGS THEY HAVE SUCH MATTERS NEVER CONSIDERED BEFORE ! FEAR OF 'OD AS LIFE DEATH

AND THE HEREAFTER THEREFORE GROWS IN ARTICLES OF SUCH PEOPLE AND THEY DRAW CLOSER TO THE FAITH THE RECK FAITH 3OME OF THEM MAY EVEN BECOME God reveals in the Qur’an that it was sent ONING PARA MORE DEVOUT AND HONEST NOT ONLY DURING DISE AND HELL down in the month of Ramadhan. It took 2AMADHAN BUT ALSO AFTERWARDS )N THAT 4HOSE FROM RESPECT 2AMADHAN IS A MONTH OF PLENTY 23 years for the whole of the Qur’an to be THE -EDINA AND GOODNESS Ê revealed, either in verses or sometimes in PERIOD DEAL WITH SOCIAL whole chapters. That happened more or less ARRANGEMENTS during the 12 years of the Makkan period AND MORAL and 11 years of the Medina period.

Adnan Oktar, also known as Harun Yahya, is a RULES TOGETHER Turkish author and an Islamic creationist WITH RELIGIOUS

1

Why I am not a

Revert As Islam’s power of attraction brings new people to the faith, Ali Carlentini argues against using terminologies of selfLGHQWL¹FDWLRQ WKDW DUH XQFRQYHQWLRQDO FRQIXVLQJ DQG LQDFFXUDWH

2

R

EVERTS 3UBMITTERS %MBRACERS

AND .EW -USLIMSË ARE SOME OF THE TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE WHO HAVE COME FROM A DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND HAVE ACCEPTED )SLAM AS THEIR FAITH 7HILE THESE TERMS MAY REPRESENT ONE OR MORE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ÂNEWÃ BELIEVER THEY ARE BY NO MEANS SELF EXPLANATORY AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT REQUIRE FURTHER EXPLANATION &OR A LONG TIME THOSE WHO CROSSED THE THRESHOLD FROM ONE RELIGION TO ANOTHER WERE SIMPLY KNOWN AS CONVERTS AND ANYBODY WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT IT DESCRIBES THOSE WHO CHANGED THEIR RELIGION OF BIRTH FOR ANOTHER )N MY OPINION THIS IS A TERM PERFECTLY SUITED FOR THIS PURPOSE ) AM NOT SURE WHEN THE USE OF THE TERM REVERTS STARTED TO BE USED BUT ) CAN CONFIRM THAT IT IS A RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT GROWING IN POPULARITY AND USED AS A SELF DEFINING TERM AMONG CONVERTS WHO FEEL THAT IT BETTER DEFINES WHO THEY ARE 4HE GENERAL ARGUMENT FOR ITS USE IS BASED ON AN )SLAMIC THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATION ACCORDING TO WHICH ALL OF 'ODÃS CREATION SUBMIT TO (IS 7ILL BE IT NATURE ANIMAL KINGDOM PLANETS ËETC (UMANS ARE SUBMITTING BY DEFAULT TO 'ODÃS LAW FROM THE TIME THEY ARE BORN TILL THEY DEVELOP THE POWER OF INTELLECT AFTER WHICH THEIR SUBMISSION WOULD BE DETERMINED BY A PERSONAL ACT OF VOLITION 3O UNTIL THEN WE ARE NATURALLY ALL -USLIMS SUBMIT TERS TILL OUR PARENTS OR OUR ENVIRONMENT TURN US INTO SOMETHING ELSE #ONSE QUENTLY OUR REALISATION THAT WE WANT TO BE -USLIMS AFTER HAVING LIVED ACCORDING TO OTHER MODES OF LIVING REPRESENT A RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL PRIMORDIAL STATUS OF NATURAL BELIEVER 4HIS RETURN HAS BEEN TERMED REVERSION FROM WHICH THE TERM REVERTS IS DERIVED 5NDOUBTEDLY THE TERM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK ICE

If we take into consideration that one of the general meanings of WKH ZRUG ©FRQYHUWª LPSOLHV FKDQJH in character, form, or function, ZH FDQ VHH KRZ LW ±WV ZLWK WKH overall experience of changing one’s faith. The key point here is ©EHFRPLQJª

WHEN HAVING TO EXPLAIN TO OTHERS WHO WE ARE

BY GIVING THE ABOVE EXPLANA TION "UT IN ALL HONESTY ) AM NOT FULLY CONVINCED OF THIS ARGUMENT 7HILE ) AGREE THAT THE WHOLE OF CREATION SUBMITS TO (IS ,ORD EXPRESSING ITS SUBMISSION IN A MULTIPLICITY OF FORMS WE HAVE TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS AND THE REST OF CREATION -Y VOLUNTARY ACT OF EMBRACING )SLAM DOES NOT IMPLY THAT ) AM RETURNING OR REVERTING TO MY ÂORIGINAL WAYÃ 4HE DETAILED PRACTICES THAT ) OBSERVE NOW AS A -USLIM WERE NEVER PART OF MY LIFE BEFORE CONVERSION 4HE WAY ) PRAY THE WAY ) FAST THE WAY ) PERFORM MY PILGRIMAGE TO -AKKAH AND MANY OTHER ACTIONS WHICH ARE NOW PART OF MY FAITH ARE ENTIRELY NEW TO ME 4HEREFORE THE IDEA OF REVERSION AS A RETURN TO A FORMER CONDITION MAY BE IDEALISTICALLY APPEALING BUT INACCURATE 4HE TERM REVERTS MAY BE MORE SUITED TO DESCRIBING BORN -USLIMS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEIR FAITH AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIVES AND WHO REDISCOVER IT LATER IN LIFE "UT EVEN IN THIS CONTEXT IT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OF NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IDEA OF ÂREVERTINGÃ TO SOMETHINGÃ INDICATING A RETURN TO SOMETHING ÂUSUALLY BAD OR LESS SATISFACTORYÃ SEE #AMBRIDGE ONLINE DICTIONARY )F WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERA TION THAT ONE OF THE GENERAL MEANINGS OF THE WORD ÂCONVERTÃ IMPLIES CHANGE IN CHARACTER FORM OR FUNCTION WE CAN SEE HOW IT FITS WITH THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF CHANGING ONEÃS FAITH 4HE KEY POINT HERE IS ÂBECOMINGÃ 4HE PROCESS OF BECOMING A -USLIM INVOLVES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVI TIES LEADING TO IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION 7HILE WE RETAIN OUR ORIGINAL CHARACTER OUR IDENTITY WILL UNDERGO A TRANSFORMA TION WHICH DEPENDING ON OUR PREVIOUS LIFESTYLE CAN AT TIMES BE QUITE RADICAL ! CONVERT GOES THROUGH A GRADUAL PROCESS OF CHANGE BY ÂBECOMINGÃ PART OF )SLAM AS A RELIGION

BY UNDERSTANDING ITS LAWS ITS RITUAL OBSERVANCES AND ITS FORMS OF WORSHIP &URTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THIS CHANGE IS PROVIDED BY THE INTER ACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF VALUES AND NORMS OF THE -USLIM PEOPLE AMONG WHICH CONVERSION TAKES PLACE 4HIS PROCESS OF IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION DOES

NOT TAKE PLACE BY REVERTING BACK TO A POINT IN SOMEONEÃS PAST IT REQUIRES A PERSONAL COGNITIVE EFFORT THAT INVOLVES THE GRADUAL ABSORPTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS THROUGH STUDY LEARNING AND EDUCATION 4HIS IS A PROGRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION 3INCE THE TERM ÂREVERTÃ DOES NOT ADD ANYTHING EXTRA TO OUR IMMEDIATE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO CHANGE THEIR FAITH BUT RATHER CREATES CONFUSION IN THE MINDS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE ) SUGGEST WE REFRAIN FROM USING IT AND CONTINUE TO USE THE CONVENTIONAL WORD ÂCONVERTÃ THAT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBES A PERSONÃS TRANSITION FROM ONE FAITH TO ANOTHER )T GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT SUCH DEBATE ON THE USE OF VARIOUS TERMS TO DEFINE OURSELVES AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE EMBRACED )SLAM IS IMPORTANT ONLY IN THE CONTEXT OF DISCLOSING TO OTHERS A BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE COME FROM WITHIN THE RICH KALEIDOSCOPIC ETHNICITY OF )SLAMIC COMMUNITIES )N ORDER FOR OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSAL CHARACTER OF THE MESSAGE OF )SLAM WE NEED TO SHOW AND VALUE THE DIVERSITY OF ORIGINS THAT EXIST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY 7HILE SOME ETHNICITIES ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH )SLAM (such as Arabs, Persians, Turks….) AS A CONSE QUENCE OF A LONG HISTORICAL INTERACTION

NEW CONVERTS ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM A WESTERN BACKGROUND REPRESENT A TANGIBLE CONSTANT EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF ATTRACTION OF )SLAM )N THIS CONTEXT AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING THE PROCESS OF ‘indigenisation’ / ‘localisation’ OF )SLAM CONVERTS OCCUPY A SPECIAL POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE RE EVALUATED AND STRATEGICALLY CONSIDERED EMPHA SISING THE IDEA FOR THEM NOT TO NEED LESSLY CHANGE CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS THAT DO NOT INFRINGE )SLAMIC PRINCIPLES 4HE OUTCOME OF THE PROCESS OF CHANGES AND CONVERSION WILL PRODUCE OUR PRIMARY IDENTITY WHICH IS -USLIM 4HIS COMES BEFORE ANY OTHER ATTRIBUTE

BUT OUR IDENTITY IS MADE UP OF LAYERS THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR DIVERSE JOURNEY TO )SLAM AND OUR CULTURAL PROV ENANCE WHICH DESERVE TO BE ACKNOWL EDGED AND CELEBRATED JUST AS IT IS DONE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WITH HUMBLENESS AND THANKFULNESS TO 'OD WHO HAS SHOWN US THE WAY Ê

Interfaith

Three-parent

babies:

right or wrong?

The possibility of having babies carrying the genetic DNA of three individuals is now a legal reality. Frank Gelli explains the current debate within the religious establishment on three-parent children

4

W

E HAVE ALL BEEN BORN FROM TWO PARENTS OUR FATHER AND OUR MOTHER

BUT SOON SOME CHILDREN WILL BE BORN FROM THREE PARENTS !RE WE WITNESSING A MOMENTOUS SHIFT IN THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE "RITAIN IS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO PASS LEGISLATION ALLOWING THE TECHNIQUE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION "ABIES SO CONCEIVED WILL CARRY $.!

BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM THREE DIFFERENT PERSONS À A FATHER A MOTHER AND A FEMALE DONOR 4HE AIM SEEMS GOOD AND LAUDABLE TO PREVENT BABIES BEING BORN WITH SEVERE AND WELL NIGH INCURABLE GENETIC DISEASES 7HAT IS THE PROBLEM THEN 7HERE IS THE HARM 3OME OBJECT ON GROUNDS OF PRUDENCE OR SAFETY &OR EXAMPLE BEFORE THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE ON THE ISSUE THE #HURCH OF %NGLAND SAID THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ÂSUFFICIENT STUDY OR INFORMED CONSULTATION INTO THE ETHICS SAFETY AND EFFICACYÃ OF THE PROCEDURE IN QUESTION $R $AVID +ING DIRECTOR OF (UMAN 'ENETICS !LERT SPOKE OF ÂUNNECESSARY TECHNIQUESÃ (E ALSO RAISED THE SPECTRE OF A POSSIBLE UNDESIRABLE FUTURE WITH ÂEUGENIC DESIGNER BABIESÃ BEING CREATED /THER OBJECTIONS ARE MORE FUNDAMENTAL 2OMAN #ATHOLIC "ISHOP *OHN 3HER RINGTON STRONGLY CONDEMNED A PRACTICE THAT ÂCOMPLETELY DESTROYS AND DISTORTS THE NATURAL PROCESS OF FERTILITYÃ .OT ALL RELIGIOUS VOICES ARE OPPOSED

HOWEVER 0ROFESSOR 3AAD !MER FROM ")-! "RITISH )SLAMIC -EDICAL !SSO CIATION BELIEVES THE TECHNIQUE IS BOTH MEDICALLY HELPFUL AND SAFE *ESUIT 0ROFESSOR *ACK -AHONEY AN EXPERT ON

2QH VWDQGDUG REMHFWLRQ RIWHQ LQYRNHG DJDLQVW QHZ VFLHQWL±F RU PHGLFDO SURFHGXUHV such as three-parent babies is the so-called ©VOLSSHU\ VORSHª 7KH LGHD LV WKDW LI \RX DOORZ such technology you may start an irresistible, fatal slide into something undesirable or VLQLVWHU OLNH ©GHVLJQHU EDELHVª

5

BIOETHICS ALSO CLAIMS THAT SCIENTISTS ARE SATISFIED THAT THE PROCEDURE IS SAFE (E ALSO MAINTAINS THAT THEOLOGICALLY SPEAKING THIS IS NOT A CASE OF HUMAN BEINGS ÂPLAYING 'ODÃ 2ATHER HE ARGUES

IT IS A MATTER OF USING ÂOUR 'OD GIVEN INTELLIGENCEËTO CONTINUE 'ODÃS CREATIVE WORK BY CARING FOR 'ODÃS NEEDY HUMAN CREATURESÃ /NE STANDARD OBJECTION OFTEN INVOKED AGAINST NEW SCIENTIFIC OR MEDICAL PROCE DURES SUCH AS THREE PARENT BABIES IS THE SO CALLED ÂSLIPPERY SLOPEÃ 4HE IDEA IS THAT IF YOU ALLOW SUCH TECHNOLOGY YOU MAY START AN IRRESISTIBLE FATAL SLIDE INTO SOMETHING UNDESIRABLE OR SINISTER LIKE ÂDESIGNER BABIESÃ 0ROFESSOR -AHONEY DISAGREES 3LOPES DO NOT NEED TO BE SLIPPERY IN THE SENSE OF FATALLY PRECIPI TATING YOU INTO A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION

HE SAYS 4HUS HE QUOTES PHILOSOPHER -ARY 7ARNOCK WHO OBSERVED THAT ON ANY SLOPE ÂWHETHER YOU CAN KEEP YOUR FOOTING OR NOT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU

6

ARE WEARING SKIS OR HARPOONS Ã "UT $R +ING RESPONDS BY NOTING THAT EXPERI ENCE TEACHES THAT PEOPLE WHO SEEK TO REASSURE YOU ABOUT SLIPPERY SLOPES ÂARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO A FEW YEARS LATER PUSH US TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND THE ONE AFTER THAT !ND SO IT GOES ON !ND THEY CALL IT PROGRESS Ã 4O AVOID BRINGING ABOUT A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO LIKE BABIES COMMISSIONED TO ORDER ÂWE MUST DRAW THE LINE HEREÃ HE URGES -ITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE IS VERY RARE BUT ALSO VERY GRAVE 4HE MOST COMMON AND VITAL PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY AFFECTED ARE THE BRAIN THE HEART THE LIVER AND THE KIDNEYS 0ARENTS WITH CHILDREN BECOMING ILL ANY TIME BETWEEN BIRTH AND THE AGE OF TEN ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PAIN AND THE SUFFERINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION EVENTUALLY ENDING IN EARLY DEATH OF THEIR OFFSPRING )T WOULD BE A VERY CALLOUS AND HARD HEARTED INDI VIDUAL WHO WERE TO PROHIBIT A TREATMENT WHICH WOULD SPARE PARENTS AND ABOVE

ALL THEIR FUTURE PROGENY THE DISTRESS AND AGONIES CONNECTED WITH THESE DISEASES 3O IT WOULD APPEAR LIKE A STRAIGHTFOR WARD MATTER OF ACHIEVING A GREAT MORAL GOOD THE REMOVAL OF HUMAN SUFFERING OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED À WITH A RELATIVELY HYPOTHETICAL OR EVEN NON EXISTENT COUN TERBALANCING EVIL *OSEPHINE 1UINTAVALLE FROM #/2% A COMMITTEE CONCERNED WITH REPRODUCTIVE ETHICS WHOLEHEARTEDLY BACKS WORTHY MEDICAL EFFORTS SEEKING CURES FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES (OWEVER SHE OBSERVES THAT BECAUSE THE MITOCHON DRIAL CONDITION IS CARRIED BY THE MOTHER

SHE WILL NOT HERSELF BE CURED BY THE TECHNIQUE 3HE WILL REMAIN THE CARRIER !S FOR THE NEWLY CREATED THREE PERSON EMBRYOS THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE HUMAN BEINGS THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME WILL NOT BE CARRIERS OF THE DISEASE TO THEIR OWN PROGENY WHEN THEY GROW UP AND GO ON TO PROCREATE /R INDEED WHETHER THEY WILL GO ON TO

DISADVANTAGES WOULD BE ÂPROBABLY IRREVERSIBLEÃ (ENCE THEY ARGUE FOR A RELIANCE ON NATURAL FOODS !N ARGU MENT ALONG THESE LINES HOWEVER WILL NOT CONSOLE THOSE PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER FROM MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES THAT COULD BE PREVENTED FROM THE THREE PARENT TECHNOLOGY 3URELY

THE COMPASSIONATE THING TO DO IS TO HELP THEM

INTRODUCE INTO THE GENE POOL HITHERTO UNFORESEEN AND UNDESIRABLE MUTATIONS

4HE RIGHTNESS OR WRONGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL ARGUMENTS À ARGUMENTS BASED ON LIKELY CONSEQUENCES IS

AT LEAST POTENTIALLY CAPABLE OF BEING SOLVED EMPIRICALLY

BY CONSIDERING THE FACTS (OWEVER A MORE INTRAC TABLE DIFFICULTY IN THE WHOLE DEBATE CONSISTS IN POSITIONS THAT ) WOULD TERM MORALLY ÂABSOLUTISTÃ &OR INSTANCE THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH TEACHES THAT HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION 4HUS THE #ATHOLIC #ATECHISM STATES THAT ÂSINCE IT MUST BE TREATED FROM CONCEPTION AS A PERSON THE EMBRYO MUST BE DEFENDED IN ITS INTEGRITY CARED FOR AND HEALED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE LIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN BEINGË)T IS IMMORAL TO PRODUCE HUMAN EMBRYOS INTENDED FOR EXPLOITATION AS DISPOSABLE BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL Ã !S *OSEPHINE 1UINTAVALLE CORRECTLY POINTS OUT MANY EMBRYOS ARE DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A HEALTHY ONE 4HEREFORE THE PROCEDURE

THAN EMPIRICAL "UT COULD AN ARGU MENT PARTLY TAKEN FROM THE "IBLE

FROM REVELATION OFFER A DIFFERENT LESS NEGATIVE MORE FRUITFUL PERSPECTIVE Â7E ARE 'ODÃS FELLOW WORKERS YOU ARE 'ODÃS FIELD 'ODÃS BUILDINGÃ WRITES 3T 0AUL IN ) #ORINTHIANS 9 4HE IDEA IS THAT THERE IS A REAL SYNERGY OR COOPERATION BETWEEN MAN AND 'ODÃS IN THE WORLD (E HAS CREATED (UMAN BEINGS MADE IN 'ODÃS IMAGE AND LIKE NESS ARE NOT MERELY PASSIVE RECIPIENTS BUT ACTIVE PARTICIPATORS IN 'ODÃS CREA TION 4HEREFORE THEY MAY SHARE IN 'ODÃS PLAN 'ODÃS PROVIDENCE 4HEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE TO GO FORWARD AND TO ADVANCE IN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE 3PIRIT OF 'OD 2EASON AND ITS OFFSHOOT SCIENCE ARE AMONG THE MOST GLORIOUS ASPECTS OF THIS HUMAN SHARING IN THE DIVINE PROJECT 4HEY ARE NOT FUNDAMENTALLY IN OPPOSITION TO 'ODÃS RULE BUT SIGNS OF (IS GREATNESS AND POWER "Y CARING FOR SUFFERERS FROM GENETIC DISEASES AS 0ROFESSOR -AHONEY SUGGESTS WE RIGHTLY MAKE THAT POWER MANIFEST

-OREOVER THE EARLY #HRISTIAN THEOLOGIAN /RIGEN CONCEIVED LIFE ON EARTH AS A SPIRITUAL AND MORAL STRAINING UPWARDS

AN ASCENT BACK TOWARDS THE #REATOR (E BOLDLY CLAIMED THAT ASCENT WAS NOT JUST A RETURN TO THE PERFECTION OF THE BEGINNING OF CREATION BUT THE ACHIEVING OF A GREATER STATE OF PERFECTION A 2ESTORATION OF ALL THINGS AND CREATURES ON A LQYRNHG HIGHER LEVEL THAN BEFORE

0ERHAPS AN ANALOGY FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS APPLIES HERE 0EOPLE IN FAVOUR POINT TO THEIR BENEFITS E G 2QH VWDQGDUG REMHFWLRQ RIWHQ ÂGOLDEN RICEÃ AN ENGINEERED DJDLQVW QHZ VFLHQWL±F RU PHGLFDO SURFHGXUHV KIND OF RICE THAT CONTAINS 4HESE ARE HEADY EVEN CONTRO such as three-parent babies is the so-called A LARGE AMOUNT OF VITAMIN VERSIAL THOUGHTS 3TILL VIEWED ©VOLSSHU\ VORSHª 7KH LGHD LV WKDW LI \RX DOORZ !

COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO IN THEIR LIGHT THE DISCUSSION VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN such technology you may start an irresistible, OF THE MORALITY OF BIO TECH POOR COUNTRIES !LL WELL AND NOLOGIES LIKE THREE PERSON fatal slide into something undesirable or GOOD /N THE OTHER HAND A BABIES MAY PERHAPS TAKE ON VLQLVWHU OLNH ©GHVLJQHU EDELHVª GENETICALLY MODIFIED TOMATO A MORE DYNAMIC OPTIMISTIC WITH A LONGER SHELF LIFE CALLED MEANING BECAUSE THE FUTURE 3AVR &AVR WAS DISCOVERED TO OF THE HUMAN RACE NEED NOT CAUSE STOMACH LESIONS IN BE GLOOMY BUT GLORIOUS Ê RATS 7HAT IF GOLDEN RICE ALSO TURNED WOULD BE IPSO FACTO UNETHICAL AND OUT TO HAVE LONG TERM NEGATIVE EFFECTS Revd Frank Julian Gelli is an IMPERMISSIBLE Anglican priest, cultural critic ON ITS CONSUMERS #RITICS OF GENETICALLY ) SEE NO POSSIBILITY OF FLATLY CONTRO and a religious controversialist, MODIFIED CROPS WARN THAT ONCE CREATED working on religious dialogue.

VERTING AN ABSOLUTIST POSITION AS THAT AND INTRODUCED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT His last book ‘The Dark Side JUST ENUNCIATED BECAUSE ITS PREMISES of England’. An exposé, is AND THE HUMAN FOOD CHAINS SUCH ARE DOGMATIC OR METAPHYSICAL RATHER available on Amazon Kindle.

Health Health Editor Laleh Lohrasbi

Babies to be created from three people

8

)LUVW ,9) DQG QRZ WKUHH SDUHQW EDELHV +XPDQV DOZD\V ±QG ZD\V WR PDQLSXODWH QDWXUH WR ±QG VROXWLRQV WR SUREOHPV &DQ JHQHWLFDOO\ HQJLQHHUHG EDELHV EH RQH WKHVH" Laleh Lohrasbi examines

The mitochondria are passed down the maternal line, … About 2,500 women in Britain are at risk of bearing children with WKLV GHYDVWDWLQJ FRQGLWLRQ +HDOWK RI±FLDOV estimate that around 125 babies are born with the mutations in Britain every year.

9

Father’s sperm

7HEN IN THE 1920S THE "RITISH WRITER

%VELYN 7AUGH FAMOUSLY SAID Â) CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW TWO MEN CAN WRITE A BOOK TOGETHER TO ME THATÃS LIKE THREE PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER TO HAVE A BABYÃ FEW WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT LESS THAN A CENTURY LATER THE IDEA WOULD BE CLOSE TO BECOMING A REALITY (OWEVER

EARLIER THIS YEAR IN A HISTORIC DEBATE THAT HAS STIRRED MUCH CONTROVERSY ONE

40

THIRD OF "RITISH -0S 82 TO 128 VOTED TO ALLOW THE IN VITRO CREATION OF BABIES USING THE $.! OF THREE PEOPLE 0ROPONENTS OF THE PROCEDURE SAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE INHERITANCE OF GENETIC DISEASES 4HAT IS TRUE IN PART BECAUSE FOR THE MOMENT THE PROCEDURE ONLY COVERS HEREDITARY ÂMITOCHONDRIAL DISEASESÃ .EVERTHELESS IT IS CONSIDERED

TO BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD WHICH HAS CAUSED BITTER DIVISIONS IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND RAISED MANY ETHICAL CONCERNS -ITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES ARE CAUSED BY GENETIC FAULTS IN THE $.! OF TINY STRUCTURES THAT PROVIDE POWER FOR THE BODYÃS CELLS %ACH CELL À AS WELL AS A WOMENÃS EGG À IS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL TINY STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE NUCLEUS AND MITOCHONDRIA 4HE NUCLEUS CONTAINS THE $.! MOLECULES WHICH CONSIST OF MORE THAN 20 000 GENES RESPONSIBLE FOR A PERSONÃS IDENTITY SUCH AS THEIR LOOKS AND PERSONALITY -ITOCHONDRIA ARE STRUCTURES IN CELLS WHICH GENERATE ENERGY THAT ALLOWS THE HUMAN BODY TO FUNCTION 4HESE PARTICLES ARE ALSO CALLED ÂCELL BATTERIESÃ 4HESE TINY STRUCTURES ALSO CONTAIN A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF $.! WHICH MAKES UP ONLY 0 054 OF AN INDIVIDUALÃS OVERALL $.! AND IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE NUCLEAR $.! THAT DETERMINES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAITS BUT IT IS NEVERTHELESS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CAUSE A DEADLY DISEASE ! MUTATION IN THIS $.! CAN CAUSE THE MITOCHONDRIA TO MALFUNC TION CAUSING LIVER FAILURE

MUSCLE WASTING BLIND NESS BRAIN DAMAGE AND DEATH 4HE MITOCHONDRIA ARE PASSED DOWN THE MATERNAL LINE MEANING THAT ANY MUTATIONS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE PASSED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION !BOUT 2 500 WOMEN IN "RITAIN ARE AT RISK OF BEARING CHILDREN WITH THIS DEVASTATING CONDITION (EALTH OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THAT AROUND 125 BABIES ARE BORN WITH THE MUTATIONS IN "RITAIN EVERY YEAR !S

ETHICAL OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROCEDURE WHICH INVOLVES THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN EMBRYOS 4HE #HURCH ARGUES THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE TIME FOR CONSULTATION AND RESEARCH WHILE ADDING THAT IT ÂDID NOT WANT TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BENEFITING FROM A MAJOR ADVANCE IN GENETICS AND ASSISTED REPRODUCTION Ã )N THE )SLAMIC FAITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THREE PEOPLE IN A FERTILITY PROCEDURE SUCH AS WHERE THE EGG OF THE MOTHER IS REPLACED WITH ONE FROM A DONOR IS ALREADY PRACTISED 3OME SCIENTISTS HAVE WARNED THAT THREE PARENT BABIES COULD BE AT GREATER RISK OF CANCER AND PREMATURE AGEING $R 4REVOR 3TAMMERS

0ROGRAMME $IRECTOR IN "IOETHICS AND -EDICAL ,AW AT 3T -ARYÃS 5NIVERSITY SAYS *ACOB 2EES -OGG -0 BELIEVES THE DIFFI )N EGG REPAIR THE MOTHERÃS $.! IS TRANS ÂË;BABIES= WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED ALL CULTY WITH STARTING SUCH A PROCEDURE IS FERRED TO THE DONORÃS EGG BEFORE BEING THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL HAVE FERTILISED BY THE FATHERÃS TO BE AS WELL Ã (E BELIEVES THAT SPERM !FTER FERTILISATION THE INTERACTION BETWEEN MITO THE EMBRYO WILL BE PLANTED CHONDRIA AND NUCLEAR $.!

IN THE WOMB )T IS NOT CLEAR The Church argues that there should be IS NOT FULLY KNOWN YET AND WHICH METHOD IS SAFER OR CHANGING THE MITOCHONDRIA more time for consultation and research …

MORE EFFECTIVE (OWEVER

IS A VERY COMPLEX MATTER THAT MITOCHONDRIA HAVE A TINY In the Islamic faith the involvement of three IS NOT LIKE CHANGING THE CELLÃS AMOUNT OF THEIR OWN $.! people in a fertility procedure such as where BATTERIES SO ANY RESULTING CHILD WOULD DEFECTIVE MITOCHONDRIA ARE PASSED ONLY FROM MOTHER TO CHILD SO SCIENTISTS IN THE 5+ HAVE PIONEERED THERAPIES THAT USE FUNCTIONING MITOCHONDRIA FROM A FEMALE DONOR MEANING THAT THE FINAL EMBRYO WILL BE FORMED BY MOTHER FATHER AND THE DONOR 4WO METHODS ARE SUGGESTED FOR THIS NEW )6& PROCEDURE WHICH HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE PLANNING TO OFFER FROM NEXT YEAR EMBRYO REPAIR AND EGG REPAIR )N EMBRYO REPAIR TWO EGGS ARE FERTILISED À THOSE OF MOTHER AND DONOR "OTH THE PARENTSÃ $.! IS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE DONORÃS EMBRYO WHICH HAS HAD ITS NUCLEUS ALREADY REMOVED 4HEN THE EMBRYO IS IMPLANTED IN THE MOTHERÃS WOMB

CARRY GENETIC INFORMATION FROM THREE PEOPLE 4HE TEAM AT .EWCASTLE 5NIVERSITY WHO ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED THE METHOD ARE AT A MORE ADVANCED STAGE WITH THE EMBRYO REPAIR METHOD

BEEN POSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE MITOCHON DRIAL CONDITIONS BUT WHAT THEN 4HERE HAVE BEEN FEW TREATMENT OPTIONS AND NO CURE .OW AFTER YEARS OF CAREFUL RESEARCH WE ARE FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE A CURE FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DISORDERS MAY BE WITHIN REACHÃ 7HILE SCIENTISTS MENTION THAT MITOCHONDRIAL $.! REPRE SENTS LESS THAN 0 054 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL $.!

AND WOULD HAVE NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT ON INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

SOME GROUPS INCLUDING (UMAN 'ENETIC !LERT HAVE OPPOSED THE PROCEDURE AND LIKENED IT TO GENETIC MODIFICATION 4HEY SAY ÂCROSSING THIS LINE WOULD LEAD INEVI TABLY TO A FUTURE OF ÂDESIGNER BABIESÃ AND A NEW CONSUMER DRIVEN EUGENICS Ã

the egg of the mother is replaced with one from a donor is already practised.

Pro and against

4HE PROCEDURE HAS RECEIVED MANY DIFFERENT REACTIONS )TS ADVOCATES BELIEVE THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR PATIENTS WITH MITOCHONDRIAL $.! DISEASE 0ROFESSOR $AME 3ALLY $AVIES #HIEF -EDICAL /FFICER FOR %NGLAND SAID Â4HE INTENTION IN MAKING THESE REGULATIONS IS TO ENSURE THAT MOTHERS WHO CARRY FAULTY MITOCHONDRIA CAN HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN FREE FROM DEVASTATING AND OFTEN DEADLY CONDITIONS CAUSED BY SERIOUS MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE Ã 0ROF $AGAN 7ELLS !SSOCIATE 0ROFESSOR AT THE .)(2 "IOMEDICAL 2ESEARCH #ENTRE 5NIVERSITY OF /XFORD BELIEVES Â$ISORDERS INVOLVING DEFECTIVE MITOCHONDRIA CAN HAVE CATA STROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS SOMETIMES CAUSING DEATH DURING INFANCY &OR MANY YEARS IT HAS

THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO SEE WHERE TO STOP (E SAYS Â/NCE THE GERM LINE IS CHANGED AT ONE POINT YOU DECIDE THAT ISNÃT ALLOWABLE IN OTHER CASES !T THE MOMENT THERE IS A VERY CLEAR BOUNDARY THAT BABIES CANNOT BE GENETICALLY ALTERED !ND ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY CAN YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING VERY PROFOUND Ã (E ADDS Â)T DOES AFFECT THE PERSON IN A VERY FUNDAMENTAL WAY EVEN IF IT IS VERY SMALL 4HAT IS A PERMANENT CHANGE AND WILL BE INHERITED BY THEIR DESCENDANTS )TÃS NOT A CURE FOR DISEASE IT IS THE CREATING OF A DIFFERENT PERSON Ã 7HILE "RITISH 0RIME -INISTER $AVID #AMERON VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE LEGISLATION SAYING IT WAS NOT ÂPLAYING 'ODÃ BUT OFFERING PARENTS THE CHANCE TO HAVE A HEALTHY BABY THE #ATHOLIC #HURCH IN %NGLAND AND 7ALES BELIEVES THERE ARE SERIOUS

)N 2000 SCIENTISTS IN THE 53 ADOPTED A DIFFERENT IN VITRO FERTILISATION TECHNIQUE TO CONCEIVE A CHILD WITH $.!

FROM THREE PEOPLE (OWEVER THE PROCEDURE WAS LATER BANNED DUE TO SAFETY AND ETHICAL CONCERNS 4HERE REMAINS A VIEW THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS SERIOUS RISKS ASSO CIATED WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY &OR EXAMPLE $R 0AUL +NOEPFLER ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF #ALIFORNIA BELIEVES THE MOST NOTABLE RISK IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MENTALLY DISABLED BABIES OR EVEN DECEASED BABIES "RITAIN IS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO ALLOW A MOVE DESCRIBED AS ÂBOLDÃ BY SUPPORTERS AND ÂPOTENTIALLY RECKLESSÃ BY DETRACTORS 4HE FIRST BABY FROM THREE PEOPLE IS PLANNED TO BE BORN IN 2016 Ê

Dr Laleh Lohrasbi is a pharmacologist. She has worked as an editor for the medical section of “Hamshahri”, a daily newspaper in Tehran.

41

Through May & June Commentary (Tafseer) of the Holy Qurโ an

Muslim-Jewish Panel Series: Modern Jewish and Islamic philosophy

By Shaykh Bahmanpour Venue: Islamic Centre of England, 140 Maida Vale, London W9 1QB Time: Every Friday starting at 7:45pm

#HAIRED BY $ANIEL 7EISS 5NIVERSITY OF #AMBRIDGE AND -OSHE "EHAR 5NIVERSITY OF -ANCHESTER

8 May Education, Extremism and Criticality โ Conference %XTREMISM IN ALL ITS VARIOUS FORMS RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS (OW DO WE DEFINE EX TREMISM 7HAT IS EDUCATIONAL INTEREST IN EXTREMISM $OES THE SYMPATHY FOR EXTREM ISM RELIGIOUS AND FAR RIGHT AMONG SOME YOUNG PEOPLE REFLECT THE FAILURE OF LIBERAL EDUCATION TO ENABLE YOUNG MINDS TO CRITI CALLY INTERROGATE THE SIREN CALLS OF VIOLENT EXTREMIST VOICES /RGANISED BY THE #ENTRE FOR 2ESEARCH AND %VALUATION IN -USLIM %DUCATION #2%-% AT THE 5#, )NSTITUTE OF %DUCATION IN PART NERSHIP WITH "%2! 3)' ON 2ELIGIOUS AND -ORAL %DUCATION AND -IDDLESEX 5NIVER SITY THIS ONE DAY CONFERENCE WILL BRING TOGETHER ACADEMICS EDUCATIONALISTS PRAC TITIONERS POLICY MAKERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Speaker: Professor Humayun Ansari OBE, Royal Holloway Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Jeffery Hall, UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL Fee: BERA members - ยฃ10.00 and Non-BERA members - ยฃ20.00

12 May โ What does being Welsh mean to me?โ !DDRESS ON .ATIONAL )DENTITY IN THE EVERY DAY LIVES OF 3WANSEA -USLIMS BY 'ERAINT 7HITTAKER 3CHOOL OF 7ELSH 3EMINAR

Time: 5:15pm - 6:15pm Venue: John Percival Building, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

42

More info: maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith. org.uk

Through May & June School digital session- Digital Islam

Time: 5.00pm Venue: Rooms 8-9, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (FAMES), Woolf Institute 12-14 Grange Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DU More Info: http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/events/

17 May The Super Hero Run 2015 -Islamic relief 4HE 3UPER (ERO 2UN IS A FANTASTIC RUNNING EVENT TAKING PLACE IN ,ONDONร S 2EGENTร S PARK ! FREE COSTUME FOR EACH PARTICIPANT IS INCLUDED BUT YOU CAN ALSO BRING YOUR OWNรถ /VER 1 000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART RAISING FUNDS FOR CHARITY .O PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE ,ONDON EVENT AND WITH A BIT OF TRAINING THE DISTANCE SHOULD EASILY BE WITHIN YOUR CAPABILITIES 4HE SPIRIT OF THE EVENT IS ร TAK ING PARTร NOT ร WINNINGร SO YOU CAN RUN JOG OR WALK YOU DECIDEรถ 3IMPLY CLICK THE LINK TO REGISTER AND THEN SET UP A FUNDRAISING PAGE BY CLICKING ON THE ร 3TART FUNDRAISINGร TAB ON THE RIGHT

Venue: Regents Park Registration fee: ยฃ22 Fundraising target: ยฃ100 Register: https://www.doitforcharity.com/bookonline.aspx?eid=2773&cid=45985&charity=true For more information email challenges@ islamic-relief.org.uk

31 May Texts to Live by - Love and compassion 7HAT DO OUR SACRED SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT TRUTH 7HAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES 4EXTS TO LIVE BY A SERIES OF ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS

Venue: London Inter Faith Centre, 125 Salusbury Road, London NW6 6RG Time: 6:00 pm โ 7:30 pm

%XPLORE THE WORLD OF )SLAMIC ART AND BELIEF THROUGH MODERN TECHNOLOGY ,EAD YOUR STUDENTS ON A DIGITAL TRAIL AROUND THE )SLAMIC GALLERIES USING MOBILE DEVICES FROM THE MUSEUM 4HE TRAIL EXPLORES )SLAM THROUGH KEY THEMES IN THE 2% CURRICULUM SUCH AS PILGRIMAGE PRAYER AND EXPRESSION OF SPIRITUALITY THROUGH ART $IGITAL ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOUR AGE PERSONAL REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN STUDENTS 0HOTOGRAPHS CAPTURED DURING THE SESSION CAN BE ACCESSED ONLINE FROM SCHOOL ! FACILITATOR FROM THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER BASIC SUPPORT FOR THE ACTIVITY

Venue: The British Museum Time: Wednesday 6 May 10.30 & 12.30 and Tuesday 9 June 10.30 & 12.30 For Key Stage 3 & 4 students.

Maximum group size: 15Free, booking essential. Cancellation and no-show charges apply.

Phone: 020 7323 8181

3 - 4 June Sukuk Summit 2015 - โ Globalising Sukuk Beyond Traditional Markets, Structures & Asset Poolsโ )N 2014 NON -USLIM JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS THE 5+ (ONG +ONG 3OUTH !FRICA AND ,UXEMBOURG SUPPLEMENTED BY THE LIKES OF THE 7ORLD "ANK AND 'OLDMAN 3ACHS ALL ISSUED THEIR DEBUT 3UKUK OFFERINGS 4HESE DEVELOPMENTS TOGETHER WITH ONGOING MAR KET DYNAMICS IN BOTH ESTABLISHED MARKETS IN !SIA AND THE -IDDLE %AST AND IN NEW MARKETS IN %UROPE AND !FRICA MAKES THE 2015 ,ONDON 3UKUK 3UMMIT A COMPELLING AND MUST ATTEND EVENT

Time: 9.30am - 5.30pm

Venue: Jumeirah Carlton Tower - 2 Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 9PY Fee: ÂŁ1,695.00 pp More Info: http://sukuksummit.co.uk/

10 June

The Kaaba and the Kiswa

! SEMINAR THAT IS PART OF THE )SLAMIC !RT #IRCLE ,ECTURES TO BE CONDUCTED BY $R 3IMON /Ăƒ-EARA ,ECTURER IN )SLAMIC !RT AND !RCHAEOLOGY 3/!3 /RGANISED BY 2OSALIND 7ADE (ADDON

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Venue: Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG

12 June Minorities and Popular Culture in the Modern Middle East: Representation and Participation 3INCE THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY -IDDLE %ASTERN MINORITIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE MAKING OF POPULAR CULTURE INDUSTRIES AS PUBLIC PERFORMERS PRODUCERS WRITERS

FILMMAKERS MUSICIANS ETC 4HIS WORKSHOP AIMS AT EXPLORING THE CON TRIBUTION OF ALL RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC MI NORITIES TO THE POPULAR CULTURE INDUSTRIES AND HOW POPULAR CULTURE PRODUCTS HAVE REPRESENTED MINORITIES AND DEALT WITH THE MINORITY QUESTION IN THE MODERN -IDDLE %AST COVERING THE AREA FROM )RAN TO -O ROCCO FROM 4URKEY TO 3UDAN AND BEYOND

Organised by: The Woolf Institute.

Time: 9:00am - 6:00pm Venue: Brunei Gallery: Room B102, SOAS University, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG More Info: http://www.soas.ac.uk/cclps/events/

13 - 14 June Advanced Ibn Taymiyya Study Weekend 4HIS ADVANCED LEVEL WEEKEND COURSE WILL LOOK AT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF )BN 4AYMIYYAĂƒS LIFE INCLUDING HIS EPISTEMO LOGICAL FRAMEWORK 4HEODICY 0OLITICAL THOUGHTS REGARDING 3YRIA -ONGOLS AND 3HÂ?Ă‚ISMS )SLAMIC 3PIRITUALITY ;0OST !VI CENNA 'HAZALI !BDUL 1ADIR *ILANI= AND ALSO INVOLVE EXTENSIVE 1 ! SESSIONS

Speakers: Professor Yahya Michot [Hartford Seminary, USA] and Professor Jon Hoover [University of Nottingham, UK] Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Venue: Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX Fee: from ÂŁ50 for weekend More Info: http://islamiccourses.org/courses/

15 June Symposium on Religious Conversion 2ELIGIOUS CONVERSION IS A PROCESS OF CHANGE AND CONTINUITY ENACTED IN SOME INSTANCES

BY A RAPID AND SYSTEMATIC RECON FIGURATION OF MULTIPLE SPHERES OF THE SELF AND LIVED EXPERIENCE 2ELIGIOUS CONVERSION CAN BE A HOPEFUL AND INSPIRING PROCESS OF Ă‚BECOMINGĂƒ THE FINAL RESTING SPOT ON A JOURNEY OR IT CAN BE A PROCESS WRACKED BY DOUBT DISAPPOINTMENT AND LOSS 4HE CON VERT IS BOTH Ă‚INSIDERĂƒ AND Ă‚OUTSIDERĂƒ DEFINED

BY AN Ă‚IN BETWEENNESSĂƒ WHICH WRESTLES WITH SOCIAL TAXONOMIES AND THIS SYMPOSIUM WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTEMPO RARY RESEARCH ON CONVERSION

Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Venue: Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Sidgwick Site, Cambridge, CB3 9DA More Info: cis@cis.cam.ac.uk

3OME *EWISH -USLIM "UDDHIST AND (INDU THINKERS HAVE ENGAGED WITH 7ITTGENSTEINĂƒS IDEAS ;!USTRIAN "RITISH PHILOSOPHER= WHILE WORKING ON VARIOUS INFORMAL ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS 4HIS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY 4HE 7OOLF )NSTITUTE WILL PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR CON VERSATION ON RECENT APPROACHES FROM THEO LOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES TOWARDS INTERRELIGIOUS COMMUNICATION THAT ENGAGES WITH ,UDWIG 7ITTGENSTEINĂƒS THOUGHT 4HESE APPROACHES TAKE 7ITTGENSTEINĂƒS PHI LOSOPHY AS A METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK OR AS A RESOURCE FOR FRUITFUL IDEAS WITHIN A Ă‚NON 7ITTGENSTEINIANĂƒ FRAMEWORK OR AS AN APPROACH TO BE CRITIQUED

Conference Organiser: Dr Gorazd AndrejÄ?

Time: 9.00am - 7.30pm Venue: Westminster College, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3, UK More Info: https://wittcomm.wordpress.com/

24 - 26 June BRISMES Annual Conference: Liberation ,IBERATION HAS BEEN A RECURRENT THEME IN THE -IDDLE %AST FOR MILLENNIA 0EOPLE HAVE SOUGHT IT IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS À THROUGH POLITICS MYSTICISM PHILOSOPHY

AND PERSONAL PIETY )N THE MODERN -IDDLE %AST DIFFERENT POLITICAL MOVEMENTS À NA TIONALIST COMMUNIST ECONOMIC LIBERALIST

)SLAMIST AND SECULARIST À HAVE ALL PROM ISED LIBERATION OF DIFFERENT KINDS 7ITH THE REASSERTION OF MILITARY RULE IN %GYPT AND THE DESCENT IN 3YRIA FROM POPULAR UPRIS INGS TO BLOODY CIVIL WAR ,IBERATION IS NOW EVEN MORE IN QUESTION IN THE -IDDLE %AST THAN IT WAS BEFORE 2011 4HE "2)3-%3 !NNUAL #ONFERENCE 2015 WILL EXPLORE THE MULTITUDE OF MEANINGS THAT THE CONCEPT HAS FOR THE REGION TODAY

Venue: The Middle East Centre, LSE and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE Fee: Full Conference (2.5 Days) - ÂŁ240 More Info: http://brismes2015.com/

24 - 25 June

Conference: Wittgenstein and Interreligious Communication

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