Sheikh al-Sudais urges Muslims to concentrate more on their children's education

Sheikh Al-Sudais urges Muslims to concentrate

more on their children's education

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Head Imam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Haram, Makkah led the Jumah Prayer at the Regents Park London Central Mosque, on Friday, 30th July 2010. Sheikh Sudais encouraged Muslims to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) being nice, polite and careful to their wives as Allah the Almighty said in Sura al-Nisa – “Deal with your wife honourably”. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his last Farewell Sermon on the Mount of Arafat, said three times, “I advised you to treat woman nicely.”

Sheikh al-Sudais also indicated clearly that Islam forbids any form of domestic violence and it is an un-Islamic attitude and behaviour.

Sheikh al-Sudais instructed Muslims to be merciful, tolerant and just and to take care of others’ rights. Sheikh al-Sudais said the first right to be respected is the right of Allah the Almighty – to worship Him and obey Him. The second right to be respected is the right of the Prophet (peace be upon him) – to love, obey and follow him and then the rights of Muslims among each other and also the rights of all Mankind including non-Muslims.

His eminence Sheikh al-Sudais advised Muslims to follow the teachings of Islam and to represent this religion in the best form in their worship, character and relation with others.

The biggest part of the Khutbah is about family and its importance at the centre of the society. Sheikh al-Sudais said it is a shame to see family breakdown within the Muslim community and this is due to lack of following the Prophet’s teachings and also not knowing each other’s rights (husbands and wives).

The Imam of Masjid al-Haram said there are clear rights for husbands and clear rights for wives as well and also their responsibilities.

Sheikh al-Sudais encouraged Muslims to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) being nice, polite and careful to their wives as Allah the Almighty said in Sura al-Nisa – “Deal with your wife honourably”. And the Prophet Peace be upon him said in his last Farewell Sermon on the Mount of Arafat, said three times, “I advised you to treat women nicely.”

He concluded his first part of the Khutbah by advising parents to look after their children and to make sure that they are well-educated and be the greatest example and model for their children.

In the second part of his Khutbah, Sheikh al-Sudais spoke about the virtues of the month of Shabaan. He said the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast most of this very month. He mentioned Sayeeda Ayesha said in an authentic Hadith, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) never completed a full month of fasting other than the month of Ramadan and I have never seen him fasting most of the month except Shabaan.” Sayeeda Ayesha also said that the Prophet used to fast all through the month of Shabaan except few days.

Sheikh al-Sudais said this is part of the preparation for the great month of Ramadan. He also said this month is the chance to repent to Allah the Almighty or to pray Him and to compete in doing good deeds.

Al-Sudais led the Friday congregation at
the Regents Park Central London Mosque
A week earlier, on Friday, the Imam and Khateeb of the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah led the Jumah Prayer (Friday Congregation) at the Regents Park London Central Mosque, on Friday, the 23rd of July, 2010.

In his Friday Sermon, Sheikh Al-Sudais said one of the main principles of Muslim beliefs is to belief in Tauheed, the Oneness of God. “It is the main aim of our life, i.e. to have Imaan in Allah alone. This is the most important thing in our life. This is the right of Allah upon us,” said Sheikh Al-Sudais.

Sheikh Al-Sudais also said it is also important to have Imaan or belief in His Angels that Allah created, to belief in the Books that He revealed and the Messengers that He sent.

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah said Islam is the religion of peace, tolerance, and forgiving. It calls for peace and tolerance. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) was the best example and model for us in tolerance. He was tolerant with Muslims and non-Muslims. The Qur'an mentions: “And by the Mercy of Allah, you deal with them gently, and had you (Muhammad) been severe, harsh-hearted, they would certainly have broken away from around you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah’s) Forgiveness or them'. [3:159].

Dr. al-Sudais also called upon non-Muslims not to fear from Islam; “for Islam will protect you and will not harm you,” al-Sudais said.

Sheikh al-Sudais also mentioned that Islam condemns divisions and differences among Muslims and calls for unity. The Qur'an says, 'And hold fast, all of you together, by the Rope of Allah (this Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's Favour on you; for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together in love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren...' 3:103]

The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah also called upon Muslims to treat non-Muslims kindly, justly and fairly. The Qur'an mentions, 'Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with regard to those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes: for Allah loves those who are just. [60:8]

Sheikh al-Sudais urged Muslims to respect the values of the country in which they live. He called them not to cheat, or tell lies or commit crimes. He recommended Muslims to know the rights of non-Muslims.

Dr. Al-Sudais also urged Muslims to know the rights of husbands and rights of wife and look after their family.

After the Jumah Prayer, the Imam of the Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah met with Prince Muhammad bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom and Ireland and Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre at his office. He also met with some eminent leaders of the Muslim community as well as the staff of the Islamic Cultural Centre.

Meeting with Imams and leaders of
Mosques and Islamic centres
The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram Makkah also prayed the Maghreb (evening) prayer at the Regents Park London Central Mosque and after the prayer he met with the Imams of different Mosques and leaders of the Islamic centres at the Islamic Cultural Centre building.

Sheikh Al-Sudais emphasised on the unity of the Muslim community. He said it is very important for the future of the community.

Sheikh Al-Sudais also called upon the Muslims to concentrate more on the education of their children. He said it is important to educate the young Muslims to make them able to understand their religion very well.

Sheikh al-Sudas also talked about good relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and the wider community while living in the Western countries.

Dr. al-Sudais also talked about better relations among Muslim organisations to work together to pray together and to serve the community together, which they are supposed to take care of.

Emphasizing on the issue of unity of the Muslim community, Sheikh al-Sudais mentioned about the beginning of Ramadan and the issue of the time table for prayers, as for example. Sheikh al-Sudais also talked about the issue of the Shari’ah Council.

On the issue of Shari’ah Council, Dr. Al-Dubayan made his comments on the role of the Islamic Cultural Centre on this subject. He said the Islamic Cultural centre is trying to create one Board of Shari’ah Council in the UK in order to have one standard, one criteria and to be more professional and more acceptability.

The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram Makkah, Sheikh al-Sudais conveyed the Salams from the Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques both in the meeting and in his Friday Sermon (Khutbah).

Sheikh al-Sudais asked the Muslims to do their best in serving the society in which they live, exchanging visits among themselves.

Interview with Dr. Dubayan
After the meeting, I interviewed Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre about the visit of the Sheikh.

Mentioning about the importance of his visit, Dr. al-Dubayan said, this visit of mosques, Islamic centres and organisations etc. by the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram Makkah is very important. “It builds more bridges among Muslim themselves, give them more chance to listen to his khutbah, instructions and follow teachings of Islam,” said Dr. al-Dubayan.

Dr. Al-Dubayan also mentioned that the Sheikh himself talked about the young people in his speech in the Khutbah. Sheikh al-Sudais mentioned in his Khutbah about the young people.

“Sheikh al-Sudais asked the youth to be the good ambassadors of their religion, nation and country and become the examples and models for Islam in this country. This message, I believe, is very important,” said Dr. al-Dubayan and added, “This is to build more bridges and to give more chances for good relations and tolerance among the Muslim communities in this country.”

Dr. al-Dubayan also mentioned, “Any Muslim is happy to receive his eminence at the Islamic cultural centre. It is also a good chance for the staff members of the Islamic cultural centre to come and to say Salam to his eminence and to his royal highness.”

Earlier, the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah opened the largest and biggest Mosque in Yorkshire, the Masjid al-Tauheedul Islam in Blackburn, led the Jumah prayer and delivered a speech after the evening prayer.

Prince Charles lectures on Islam and Environment

Prince Charles lectures on
Islam and Environment

Dr. Mozammel Haque


“It (Islam) very explicitly describes Nature as possessing an “intelligibility” and that there is no separation between Man and Nature, precisely because there is no separation between the natural world and God,” said Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, while he was lecturing on the subject – Islam and the environment to an estimated audience of 1,000 scholars at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS), on Wednesday, the 9th of June, 2010, at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. The audience included the Lord Mayor of Oxford, John Goddard, Muslim community leaders, scholars of Islamic Studies, and students, academicians and ambassadors.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, Shaykh Abdullah Bin Baiah, Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef and Prince Mohammad, bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom also attended the lecture.
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The Prince was invited as Patron of Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to help celebrate the centre’s 25th anniversary. The Prince has been patron of the Centre since 1993. Speaking about his visit, His Royal Highness paid tribute to the role of faith communities in the UK and praised the work done by OXCIS, in particular the Young Muslim leadership programme. Prince Charles said: This is a vital contribution to the process of boosting the self-esteem of young Muslims – about whom I care deeply.”

Opening his speech, The Prince of Wales reaffirmed the need to help UK’s minority communities and faith groups integrate into British Society and to build good relationships between all faith communities.. The Prince has spent more than 25 years working on encouraging UK minority communities to integrate into British society and to build good relationships between all faith communities. His Royal Highness said: “Over the last twenty-five years, I have tried to find as many ways as possible to help integrate them into British society and to build good relationships between our faith communities. I happen to believe this is best achieved by emphasizing unity through diversity. Only in this way can we ensure fairness and build mutual respect in our country. And if we get it right here then perhaps we might be able to offer an example in the wider world.”

The theme for his lecture was to mark the Centre’s 25th anniversary, merged religion with his other favourite subject – the environment. The focus of his speech – Islam and the Environment - brought together two important strands of his work over three decades.

Addressing the audience, The Prince in his high-profile speech, spoke about the importance for us all to realise the damage which Mankind is doing to the environment and take steps to halt it, before it is too late. One of the many issues of commonality between the World’s great faiths is a strong focus on protection of the environment – God’s creation.

The Prince encouraged the people of faith around the World to reconnect with their sacred teachings on this issue. His Royal Highness said that there was a current division between Man and Nature which was not only caused by industrialisation, technological development and the pursuit of economic growth, but also by attitudes to the relationship with Nature. He said that a way of thinking had evolved over the last few centuries that he believed went against the grain of all the teachings of the world’s sacred traditions, including Islam. He said that all great faiths are rooted in an understanding of the fact that Man is a part of Nature, not apart from Nature, and must always live within Nature’s means and limits.

The Prince said, “When we hear talk of an environmental crisis or even of a financial crisis, I would suggest that this is actually describing the outward consequences of a deeper, inner crisis of the soul.”

“It is a crisis in our relationship with, and perception of nature, and is born of Western culture being dominated for at least 200 years by a mechanistic and reductionist approach to our scientific understanding of the world around us,” The Prince said.

“I would like you to consider very seriously today whether a big part of the solution to all of our worldwide “crises” does not lie simply in more and better technology, but in the recovery of the soul to the mainstream of our thinking. Our science and technology cannot do this. Only sacred traditions have the capacity to help this happen,” The Prince added.

The Prince said, “In general, we live within a culture that does not believe very much in the soul anymore – or if it does, won’t admit to it publicly for fear of being thought old fashioned, out of step with “modern imperatives” or “anti-scientific.” The empirical view of the world, which measures it and tests it, has become the only view to believe.”

The Prince told the audience the West could learn from the Islamic approach to nature. He said, “The Islamic world is the custodian of one of the greatest treasures of accumulated wisdom and spiritual knowledge available to humanity.”

The Prince of Wales argued that man’s destruction of the world was particularly contrary to Islam. He spoke about the great importance and respect the Islamic faith attaches to the preservation of the environment. He said: “From what I know of the Qur'an, again and again it describes the natural world as the handiwork of a unitary benevolent power.”

“It very explicitly describes Nature as possessing an “intelligibility” and that there is no separation between Man and Nature, precisely because there is no separation between the natural world and God,” he said.

“It offers a completely integrated view of the Universe where religion and science, mind and matter are all part of one living, conscious whole,” The Prince said and added, “We are, therefore, finite beings contained by an infinitude, and each of us is a microcosm of the whole.

This suggests to me that Nature is a knowing partner, never a mindless slave to humanity, and we are Her tenants; God's guests for all too short a time.”

The Prince said, “If I may quote the Qur’an, “Have you considered: if your water were to disappear into the Earth, who then could bring you gushing water?” This is the Divine hospitality that offers us our provisions and our dwelling places, our clothing, tools and transport. The Earth is robust and prolific, but also delicate, subtle, complex and diverse and so our mark must always be gentle – or the water will disappear, as it is doing in places like the Punjab in India.”

The Prince said, “The inconvenient truth is that we share this planet with the rest of creation for a very good reason – and that is, we cannot exist on our own without the intricately balanced web of life around us.”

“Islam has always taught this and to ignore that lesson is to default on our contract with Creation,” he said.

The Prince also mentioned, “As Islam clearly understands, it is actually impossible to divorce human beings from Nature’s patterns and processes. The Qur’an is considered to be the “last Revelation” but it clearly acknowledges which book is the first. That book is the great book of creation, of Nature herself, which has been taken too much for granted in our modern world and needs to be restored to its original position.”

The Prince said that modern ideology that had dominated Western thinking for so long, may view tradition and traditional wisdom of the kind seen in the teachings of the great faiths of the world, as ‘backward looking’. However, His Royal Highness said that he felt that traditional wisdom can blend with modern needs, making tradition not backward looking, but visionary.

The Prince of Wales said, “The Modernist ideology that has dominated the Western outlook for a century implies that “tradition” is backward looking. What I have tried to explain today is that this is far from true. Tradition is the accumulation of the knowledge and wisdom that we should be offering to the next generation. It is, therefore, visionary – it looks forward.”

Prince Charles also said: “Turning to the traditional teachings, like those found in Islam that define our relationship with the natural world, does not mean locking us into some sort of cultural and technological immobility. As the English writer G.K. Chesterton put it, “real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing life from them as a root.” I would also remind you of the words of Oxford’s very own C.S. Lewis, who pointed out that “sometimes you do have to turn the clock back if it is telling the wrong time” – that there is nothing “progressive” about being stubborn and refusing to acknowledge that we have taken the wrong road.”

“If we realize that we are travelling in the wrong direction, the only sensible thing to do is to admit it and retrace our steps back to where we first went wrong. As Lewis put it, “going back can sometimes be the quickest way forward.” It is the most progressive thing we could do,” he said.

The Prince also said: “All of the mounting evidence is telling us that we are, indeed, on the wrong road, so you might think it would be wise to draw on the timeless guidance that comes from our intuitive sense of the origin of all things to which we are rooted. Nature's rhythms, her cycles and her processes, are our guides to this uncreated, originating voice. They are our greatest teachers because they are expressions of Divine Unity.”

Ending his speech, The Prince said: “There is a profound truth in that seemingly simple, old saying of the nomads – that “the best of all Mosques is Nature herself”.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the Oxford University, Professor Andrew Hamilton, gave the vote of thanks. He said, “It has been an immense pleasure to welcome you back to the University of Oxford to lecture on this subject.”

“This is a university of many nationalities, particularly in its teaching and research staff, and postgraduate students, and also one of great international reach.”

Earlier, the Prince was given a tour of the Centre’s new premises in Marston Road, which are currently under development, by its founder director, Dr. Farhan Nizami. The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is a recognised independent centre of Oxford University. Established in 1985, it encourages a better understanding of the culture and civilization of Islam and of contemporary Muslim societies. Although independent, the centre is linked to Oxford University.

Seventeen years ago, the Prince gave a speech entitled Islam and the West to the Centre. Since then, world figures including Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan and Sonia Gandhi have given lectures.

Say [O Messenger]: If you love God, follow me; God will love you - Al-Qur'an

“Say [O Messenger]: If you love God, follow me:
God will love you.” – Al-Qur’an

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Messenger taught his Companions to love God, and the Qur’an taught them in return: “Say [O Messenger]: If you love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins.” (Al-Qur’an; 3:31)

This is the month of Rabi al-Awwal, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last and final Prophet of Almighty Allah, was born in Makkah. The Holy Qur’an, the Final Revealed Book, was revealed to him through Angel Gabriel. I was reading a book: The Messenger: The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad, (peace be upon him) by Tariq Ramadan and I am presenting some of his thoughts and ideas through this column, as promised earlier. “He (The Prophet) received and transmitted the last revealed book, the Qur’an, which repeatedly insists on the eminent and singular position of the Messenger of God, all at once a prophet, a bearer of news, a model, and a guide. He was but a man, yet he acted to transform the world in the light of Revelation and inspirations he received from God, but also fully accepted his own humanity in what makes Muhammad an example and a guide for the Muslim faithful.” (page ix)

Intimate relationship of trust and love
While pointing out the intimate relationship of love and trust, Professor Ramadan wrote: The essence of the Islamic message is wholly expressed in this intimate relationship of trust and love with the Most High, establishing a direct link between the individual and his or her Creator, Who has chosen to demonstrate exemplary behaviour through a messenger, a human being, whom He has set as a model. Three verses were later to synthesize the exact substance of this teaching: “When My servants as you concerning Me; I am indeed close [to them]: I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he or she calls on Me.” (Al-Qur’an; 2:186)

The Prophet (peace be upon him), at the heart of this intimate relationship, opens the way: Allah the Almighty said: “Say: If you love God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins.” (Al-Qur’an; 3:31)

The Prophet is the epitome of the human being aspiring to the divine beyond the finitude of life: Al-Qur’an says: “You have indeed in the Messenger of God an excellent example for the person who hopes in [aspires to get close to] God and the final Day and who remembers God intensely.” (Al-Qur’an; 33:21)

Not to compromise principles for wealth and power
In the early years in Makkah when the situation was getting increasingly difficult for Muslims, when insults, rejection, and ill-treatment became the rule, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began looking for a solution to alleviate the trials and suffering endured by the first Muslims. He was thought of approaching Walid, the chief of the Makhzum clan. Professor Ramadan wrote the story thus: “While he was setting forth his arguments and trying to win Walid’s support, the Prophet was interrupted by a blind man, poor and old, who had already converted to Islam and was asking him to recite some surahs from the Qur’an for him. Muhammad first turned aside calmly, but he soon became irritated by the insistence of this old man, who was preventing him from presenting his case to Walid. The chief, full of contempt, eventually refused even to hear the matter. A surah was to be revealed as a result of this incident, requiring Muslims to draw a lesson from it for eternity:

“In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. He (the Prophet] frowned and turned away, because the blind man came to him. But what could you tell but that perhaps he might grow in purity? Or that he might receive admonition, and the reminder might profit him? As to one who regards himself as self-sufficient, you attend to him, though it is no blame to you if he does not grow in purity. But as to he who came to you striving earnestly, and with fear [in his heart], of him you were unmindful. By no means [should it be so]! For it is indeed a message of remembrance. Therefore let who will, keep it in remembrance.” (Al-Qur’an; 80:1-12)

“The Prophet, moved by his desire to protect his community, is here reproached by his Educator, who teaches him never to turn away from a human being, regardless of whatever difficult circumstances the Prophet might be facing, even though the person might be poor, old and blind. Seeking the protection of a person of distinction, socially and politically useful, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had neglected a poor man, apparently of no significance to his cause, who was asking for spiritual solace; this mistake, this moral slip, is recorded in the Qur’an, which through this story teaches Muslims never to neglect a human being, never to turn away from the poor and needy, but rather to serve and love them. The Prophet was never to forget this teaching, and he repeatedly invoked God, saying: “O God, we implore You to grant us piety, dignity, [spiritual], wealth, and love of the poor.”

Commenting on this Professor Ramadan wrote: “No one must ever let power or social, economic, or political interests turn him or her away from other human beings, from the attention they deserve and the respect they are entitled to. Nothing must ever lead a person to compromise this principle of faith in favour of a political strategy aimed at saving or protecting a community from some peril. The freely offered, sincere heart of a poor, powerless individual is worth a thousand times more in the sight of God than the assiduously courted, self-interested heart of a rich one.” (page 48-49).

“History, with its many examples of how the thirst for power and wealth has led individuals to compromise their principles, has since taught us how true this intuition was. In this respect, another of the Prophet’s warnings echoes in our minds, addressing his spiritual community for the centuries to come: “For every [spiritual] community there is an object of discord, tension, and disorder [fitnah], and for my community, this object is money.”, quoted by Professor Ramadan (page 49).

Begin every act invoking the Name
of Allah the Almighty
While writing the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Professor Ramadan mentioned another incident. The Quraysh were at a loss about how to prevent the Prophet’s message from spreading further. They decided to send a delegation to Yathrib to ask Jewish dignitaries. The Rabbis suggested the people of Makkah should ask him three key questions. Back in Makkah, they went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him the three questions. The Prophet replied almost instantly: “I shall answer your questions tomorrow!” (page 57)

But the next day, the Angel Gabriel did not appear. There was no Revelation. Nor did the Angel come the day after. Professor Ramadan said, “Two weeks later, he received a Revelation and an explanation: “Never say of anything, “I shall do that tomorrow,” except: “If God so wills,” and remember your Lord [Rabb, “Educator”] when you forget, and say: “I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer than this to the right course.” (Al-Qur’an; 18:23-24)

“This Revelation once again involved and a teaching: it reminded the Prophet that his status, his knowledge, and his fate depended on his Rabb, on the One and Sovereign God, and that he must never forget it. This is how one should understand the meaning of the phrase Insha Allah, “if God so wills”: it expresses the awareness of limits, the feeling of humility of one who acts while knowing that beyond what he or she can do or say, God alone has the power to make things happen. This is by no means a fatalistic message: it implies not that one should not act but, on the contrary, that one should never stop acting while always being aware in one’s mind and heart of the real limits of human power. For the second time, the Prophet was called to account by the Transcendent. Whatever adversity one faces, one’s strength and freedom on earth consist in remaining constantly aware of one’s dependence on the Creator.” (page 57)

“Only later was the Prophet to receive the answers to the three questions he had been asked. The delay was paradoxically to strengthen the believers’ conviction and to baffle the Prophet’s interlocutors: his initial inability to answer and then the belated communication of Revelation proved that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not the author of the Book that was being constituted and that he did actually depend on his Rabb’s will,” wrote Professor Ramadan (Page 58).

Remember God’s Infinite Power and never
pronounce final judgement on anybody
While narrating the story of Umar’s conversion, Professor Ramadan wrote: Umar had gone out of his home determined to kill the Prophet, blinded by his absolute negation of the One God; there he was, a few hours later, changed, transformed, as the result of a conversion induced by a text and the meaning of God. He was to become one of the most faithful Companions of the man he had wished dead.”

Commenting on Umar’s conversion, Professor Ramadan wrote: “This heart’s revolution was a sign, and it carried a twofold teaching: that nothing is impossible for God, and that one should not pronounce final judgements on anything or anybody. This was a reminder of the need of humility in all circumstances: for a human being, remembering God’s infinite power should mean healthy self-doubt as to oneself and suspending one’s judgement as to others. Thus, the more he moved forward with God, every day becoming more of a model for his Companions and for eternity, the more the Prophet was attaining humility and modesty as expressed in being, knowledge, and judgement.” (Page 65).

Seminar on the Life of the Prophet Peace be upon him

Seminar on the Life of the Prophet
Peace be upon him

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Union of Muslim Organisations of the United Kingdom and Ireland (UMO of UK & Eire) held a Seminar on the Life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the Churchill Hotel, on Tuesday, the 2nd of March, 2010. This is one item which Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha, the General Secretary of the UMO never missed. “Once I was in hospital and I asked my assistant secretary to carry on and he held the function,” said Dr. Pasha.

Dr. Pasha also mentioned, “We organised this function every year without fail for two reasons: one is spiritual and another is mundane; spiritual reason because the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the first of Creation. Allah created the Nur of the Prophet and then the other Creation. He gave the title Rahmatullil Alamin; Mercy of all the Creatures. Why He said that. Allah is Rabbul Alamin; Prophet is Rahmatullil Alamin. Then all the Prophets who subsequently came they had the same faith al-Islam which he brought. The latest Prophets - Musa (peace be upon him) and Issa (peace be upon him) - both of them had forecast the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And they said when he comes follow him.”

Referring to his speech as a guest speaker in the Westminster Cathedral, where there were many Church leaders, Jewish Rabbis, Dr. Pasha recollected, “Do you know the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a Prophet for all mankind. He was sent for all mankind and he said two things - all children are born in fitra, in Al-Islam. It is the parents who rear them up in their own faiths.”

“All the Prophets (peace be upon them all) were Muslims. Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) was Muslim. This is a spiritual reason. That’s why we always say Allah the Almighty will ask us on the Day of Judgement: ‘I didn’t ask you to convert the people; I ask you to convey the message to the people that Islam is the only religion acceptable to Allah on the Day of Judgement,’” said Dr. Pasha and added, “We are doing our job. We are trying to save our skin. We can give this message to the people saying: ‘Our Prophet conveyed this message’.”

Secondly, while speaking on the mundane side, Dr. Pasha mentioned, “Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought a system of life; a system of government and ideology which guarantees happiness on this earth and permanent felicity in the life Hereafter. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) was the only Prophet who was given the honour of being transported bodily to witness all the seven Heavens and what happens to people after they die. The Paradise and the Hell they are realities.”

Dr. Pasha also mentioned, “We are all discussing economics, recession; nobody worries about the moral breakdown in society. The UMO, for the past 40 years, what we have tried to do is to promote unity between the Muslims and to facilitate the upbringing of Muslim children in a moral and spiritual atmosphere. So coming elections, what we are going to say? We are going to issue a document now. The Catholics have issued; Muslims should issue a document: Top priority should be upliftment of morality.”

Dr. Pasha said, “Two things Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did. The Charter of Madina and the Charter of Human Rights. In that Charter of Madina he gave rights to the minorities. He said no compulsion in religion but our job is to convey. Don’t complain on the day of Akhirah. Minorities are protected; their religious freedoms are protected. Nowadays people are saying Islam is a religion of terrorism. Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and justice.”

“Secondly, the Human Rights Charter in which he declared the Universal brotherhood of all mankind. In a world which is still torn aside by racial violence, ethnic violence, Islam stands as a light of hope for humanity in the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” mentioned Dr. Pasha and added, “So, Insha Allah, we will do our best to campaign for the rights of the Muslim communities, no matter Member of Parliament is here or not; the Ministers are here or not; our negotiations will continue. We will continue to campaign for the rights because we believe that we are an ideologically oriented community.”

Dr. Pasha said that he saw many times Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, and told him, “There is no point of invading Iraq because you are a good negotiator in peace. All those things can be settled through negotiations. There is no room for violence any more. Violence breeds more violence; no peace for anybody. That’s our message. The Prophet (peace be upon him) brought the eternal message of peace and warned: Remember: ‘You owe your duty to Allah the Almighty. You are all born from one man and one woman. And Adam was created of dust’.”

Imam Sulaimani
Imam Sulaimani, Imam of the Hounslow Mosque, while delivering his message, he narrated the very well-known story of the Salman Farsi’s journey to Islam. Imam Sulaimani said, “Salman Farsi finally reached Yathrib which became Madina and wanted to judge and fulfil the conditions, predicted by monks and scholars of the previous scriptures. On the occasion of funeral he was walking around Rasulullah and the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to know that he was looking for something. So he removed the Jubbah or cloak from his shoulders so that Salman is looking to see the Seal or Finality of Prophethood of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). So he saw it and he became very pleased. In the narration it was mentioned that he kissed it as well.”

Imam Sulaimani said, “This is one of the conditions which was mentioned by the monks and the scholars of the previous scriptures. So this is fulfilled that the Rasulullah is the last final Prophet of Allah the Almighty. On another occasion, Salman Farsi came and presented something in front of Rasulullah which was Sadaqah and the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to accept it because it belongs to public, those who are poor, those who deserve it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not accept it. Salman presented Hadiya and the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted it and distributed among his companions around him. These were the conditions which were fulfilled.”

“But Salman Farsi was still slave. There was one of the conditions that Salman should plant 300 date trees and it was the project of Jewish businessman or a feudal in Madina,” mentioned Imam and said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) collected some funds for Salman and instructed his companions to take part in planting these date trees. The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself planted these 300 plants of date trees in his own hands. Those trees remained for centuries. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Any Muslim who plants tree and whosoever benefits from that tree it would be Sadaqah Jariah for that person’. (Sahih Hadith Muslim), In another Hadith, it was mentioned, ‘If the time of Judgement comes and a plant is in your hands and you are sitting down, do not stand up before you plant this plant into the soil.’”

After completing the story of the journey of Salman Farsi to Islam, Imam Sulaimani said, “One of the beautiful messages of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is to protect the environment by planting trees, fruit trees and other trees and the Holy Qur’an is full of the verses about the trees and Islam has been resembled with the trees. All companions of Rasulullah, the Ahle al-Bait, the Ummah are also resembled with the trees. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that when you break the fast, open with the fruit which is date. So this shows how important is plantation environment in Islam.”

Imam Sulaimani wanted to convey a message to the Muslim Ummah, to the world and to all mankind that “Let us save our planet; let us provide more food and Muslim should not wait for others to send food,” said the Imam and mentioned, “Today most of the Muslim countries get food from those countries where the governments do not believe in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And those who celebrate the birthday, the Hijrah day, the Conquest day, they should stand up and follow the beautiful teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

“And their hands should be upper hands and not be the lower hands; because the hands that give have always importance and the hands that always take, the lower hands, they always lose their values. May Allah the Almighty make us among those who give and those who help and support,” prayed Imam Sulaimani.

Mr. Maqsood Ahmed
The senior Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government, Mr Maqsood Ahmed, read out the message from the Secretary of State, John Denham, which was as follows:

“I would like to congratulate British Muslims and Muslims throughout the world on this auspicious occasion of Milad-un-Nabi of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We in the Government would like to join you all in this joyous time of the year as families and communities across the country come together in joyful celebration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his life.

“This is a wonderful time to pause and acknowledge the important contributions that British Muslims have and are making in all parts of our society.

“I am pleased to be able to share this celebration with you all.

“Happy Birthday to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak.”

Mr. Mohamed Ali, CEO of Islam Channel
Mr. Mohamed Ali, the CEO of Islam Channel said, “Dr. Pasha started his Dawah in this country in 1970s well before many people were born. I never turned down any invitation from Dr. Pasha, because really what I have learnt from him that he keeps doing things, he does not care what happens after that, whether people come or don’t come or whether people were happy or not happy, if he believes in something he does it.”

“That’s a lesson we learn from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” said Ali and added, “When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went to Taif to invite people to Deen, to the faith, to the religion; no single person answered this call. In fact, people threw stones at him with the exception of a young slave who came all the way from Iraq and who offered the Prophet (peace be upon him), some grapes and waters and when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came back Allah the Almighty told him not to worry. Although the human being did not listen to you, although the human being did not accept your call to join the faith, you have to know that while you were praying a group of jinn, another creation, heard what you were saying and they accepted your call to the faith.”

Ali also said, “This is something we have to learn; we have to keep trying and we have to keep inviting people. We should not hide. Islam, this faith, is the last revelation, is the last religion to come to mankind.”

Ali also mentioned, “I told some Christian and Jew friends. I said you called the Torah, the Old Testament, the Bible the New Testament, I call the Qur’an is the Last Version, is the last update. When you buy software they send you an update, and this is the last update. People did not know about this update. The faith of Islam is the last religion to come to complete and compliment religions that were sent before. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is one of many Prophets. We make no distinction between the Prophets of Allah the Almighty.”

“This is something we learn. It is our mission,” said Ali and mentioned, “It is our duty that we convey the Message of Allah the Almighty to the 2.4 million Muslims but there are 60 millions in this country who are not Muslim. It is our mission; it is our duty. I cannot tell you one day, the Day of Judgement, Mr. Smith or Mr. whatever his name, will tell: ‘You, Mr. Khan, I was living next to your door for 60 years and you never invite me; you never told me about Islam’. We are not forcing people. But we have to convey the Message of Allah the Almighty.”

Shahid Malik-First West European Minister Performs Hajj

Shahid Malik: The First West European
Government Minister Performs Hajj this year

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Shahid Malik, the first West European Government Minister, who, along with his parents, wife and little brother went this year to perform Hajj. He left for Makkah on 22nd and returned back after performing Hajj on 30th of November, 2009. While he was in Saudi Arabia, Minister Shahid Malik, the Minister for Communities and Local Government was Saudi Government guest. Minister Shahid was telling me his experience of First Hajj after returning back from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the 8th of December 2009 at his office.

Makah becomes the most diverse place
Speaking about Makkah and the surrounding areas, the Minister said, “It was very crowded; Hajj is obviously much more demanding. The Umrah gave a very good idea of what you expect with three million-plus people there of all different colours, all different backgrounds, different persuasions, different languages, different races, different ethnicities and different nationalities etc. Makkah becomes the most diverse place anywhere in the world for that one week. So it is amazing to see that diverse community that the world Muslim community is.”

Lots of spaces and wheel chairs
Speaking about Saie between Safa and Marwah, the Minister said, “To be honest, the Saudi authorities make it much lot easier, each year there are improvements and developments, different new layers now. So there are lots of spaces between safa and Marwah and there are much more friendly people with wheel chairs. I took my mum, dad, wife and little brother.”

Walking through the camps just like
going around the world
In Mina, Minister Shahid stayed in the Government Guest House. Speaking about his experience in Mina, the Minister said,. “Saudi government looked after me while I was in the Guest House. I walked many hours in the camps looking for the European camps and the British camps. On the first day I went out and after four hours I gave up. I could not find the camp after four hours of walking. I thought, it may be, I cannot speak Arabic; so the next day I took two Arabic speakers with me. Still it took three and half hours to get there. It is a long way from where we were. Mina is a very small place but very congested with three million-plus pilgrims. So you cannot walk quickly. Again in the camps there are distinctively people of different countries with Indian flag, Bangladeshi flag, Pakistani flag, Indonesian flag, Malaysian flag, Nigerian flag etc. While you are walking through the camps with different flags it is almost like you are going around the world.”

“In Mina, there was rain and also Stoning rain in Jeddah. The weather was unbelievably good. I don’t mind warm weather. It was particularly warm; suddenly it became cold. That was certainly perfect. I walked quite a bit with Mohamed Ali from Islam Channel. We had eight hours walk I think. I visited some of the British camps in Mina,” mentioned Minister Shahid.

Stoning in Jamarat safe and painless
Speaking about the stoning in Jamarat, the Minister Shahid said, “We did the stoning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is very safe now. It used to be very dangerous. Now there are different levels. It is actually painless.”

While appreciating the improvements done in Mina, the Minister said, “Camp facilities are getting better year after year. Credit to be attributed to the Saudi Government: to be able to manage over three million people moving around the very short time and in the very small space and putting on all facilities, whether it is medical facilities, whether it is camp facilities, tents facilities, the transport facilities were required. Each year these are getting better.”

Monorail system to be introduced in Mina
Speaking about the Monorail system to be introduced in Mina, the Minister Shahid mentioned, “Now when I was there, they were developing a monorail system which will link Mina with Muzdalifah, with Arafah. So people will actually be able to go on the sky on the monorail which will help Hajjis tremendously. Transport is very big challenge. It’s a monorail system on the sky; it’s nothing comparable with the UK system. I think in Japan they have got this system. They are developing that system; they got all pillars in place; they will now put on truck there and then concrete.”

Undoubtedly life-changing experience
Speaking about his impression of Hajj, the Minister Shahid said, “Well, it’s very very powerful I think. For me and for the whole family it’s a very powerful experience. It is undoubtedly a life-changing experience for one who goes and performs Hajj. It was an honour and privilege for me to be able to stay with mum and dad and obviously my wife and brother also. It is an experience shared with those who are nearest and dearest to me. It’s very very powerful.”

Translate lesson into practice
“First time I saw the Ka’aba. Obviously that is something, which you are in awe about long long time. It’s a very powerful, very striking and many people quite emotional as well. All those things I think but one thing which struck me that one point of time the Makkah was the most diverse place in the world. But this diversity which united by virtue of performing Hajj. I saw it would be nice when they will go back to their countries of origin, and the countries they live, if they just think about being united in those countries and also think about being harmonious of those countries as well,” said Minister Shahid.

Saudis committed to improving facilities
Speaking about the facilities Saudi government is providing during Hajj, Minister Shahid mentioned, “By all accounts each year the facilities get better; Saudis are really committed to improving the facilities to offer to the Hajiis. It’s lot easier than it used to be. It’s a lot safer than it used to be. They feel that it is lot of respect for them to serve Hajjis.”

Need to clamp down on some of the abuses
Speaking about some missellng of goods in this country, Minister Shahid mentioned, “There are some misselling of goods going on in this country. I think this kind of abuse is taking place for a long time. We tried to clamp down on some of the abuses through my friend and colleague Garrard Thomas, Consumers Welfare Minister. Hajj or Umrah tour operators promise the earth and when people arrived there, it’s not what is expected. One thing I noticed that lots of people when they get there; they are grateful to be there. They think we are for Hajj, we just forgive and forget and move on. I can understand that. But I would rather prefer they come back and complain so that we can put the tour operators straight. But the majority of them are doing good job but some of them are pretty unscrupulous, I think.”

British Hajj Delegation Brilliant
Speaking about the British Hajj Delegation in Makkah, Minister Shahid said, “The British Hajj Delegation is very good. When I was there, some one from Birmingham rank me; his mother was very ill; she was in hospital there. So I rang Lord Patel and I think the British Hajj Delegation gave the support which is required there. I think it’s brilliant. You know the only government in Europe that provides this Hajj Delegation is the UK government which is a great comfort, I think, to the British Hajjis. We are very proud of this support we give. We recognize the people, our citizens, came from all different backgrounds and our job is to make each one of them, the Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs.”

Meeting with King Abdullah
Speaking about the lunch in Mina, Minister Shahid said, “I had the chance to meet King Abdullah. There was a big lunch in Mina. I met King Abdullah, had a few words and shook hands. He looks to be in good health.”.

Live interview by Islam Channel from Mina
Minister Shahid was interviewed Live on Islam Channel from Mina by Barrister Rizwan. Shahid mentioned a story about Barrister Rizwan. Minister said, “When I went to Bangladesh in June 2008; a little earlier Barrister Rizwan was beaten very badly there in airport. So when I met General Moin; who was factually running the country at that time, I raised the issue of Barrister Rizwan as well as the democratic elections. He promised me two things: we will have democratic elections by December and those people who are responsible I will find them and I will put them in jail. Barrister Rizwan said to me that you know those people they are still in jail today. So I have established a very good news story from that perspective.”

Concluding remarks
Concluding his interview, Minister Shahid said, “Saudis are working on their side. For me, the main frustration is still the way the tour operators work here; the way the visas work through these tour operators here; the kind of packages they sale and the people not being clear about what they are buying some times, that’s the things that need to be improved. The Minister for Consumer Welfare Service, Garrard Thomas, is very much interested to make it sure that the Hajjis get the honest service.”

About Minister Shahid Malik
On 9 June 2009 Shahid Malik was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Shahid was elected as the Member of Parliament for Dewsbury, West Yorkshire at the 2005 General Election. Within a year, Shahid was the only newly elected Labour MP to be appointed to the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee. At the 2005 Parliamentary Oscars, the House Magazine Awards, his Maiden Speech was judged to be the best among the new MPs of 2005 and he received the prestigious House Magazine 'Best Maiden Speech' Award. In February 2006 he was runner-up in the Channel Four News awards in the 'Rising Star' category.

He also served on the Environmental Audit Committee until the Government reshuffle in May 2006 when he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Schools Minister Jim Knight MP, a position he held till Gordon Brown appointed him as Britain's first Muslim Minister, at the Department for International Development in June 2007.

In October 2008, Shahid was promoted to serve as Minister for Justice and in March 2009 he was subsequently appointed into a dual role as a Home Office Minister.

Prior to entering Parliament he held a number of significant national roles. Following the 'Good Friday' Peace Agreement he was appointed by Mo Mowlam as the only ever Great British Commissioner to the Northern Ireland Equality Commission (1999-2002).

His other main area of work has been in regeneration and the voluntary sector. He was National Chair of the Voluntary Sector body Urban Forum (1999-2002) and was Chief Executive of Haringey Regeneration Agency managing £150 million of programmes.

From 1998-2002 he served as a Commissioner for Racial Equality covering Great Britain and also served as Vice-Chair of UK UNESCO.

He has also been a Fellow of the Institute of Management (FIMgt) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

Shahid Malik was born and raised in Burnley in one of the most deprived areas in Britain, ranked 8th most deprived out of more than 8,000 wards in the country.

Imam al-Sudais at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London

Imam al-Sudais at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London

Imam Al-Sudais urges Muslims to engage
proactively and positively


Dr. Mozammel Haque

Unfortunately, in different parts of the world, including in this country, Muslims stands to start Ramadan and end Ramadan in different times. Probably this Ramadan will be an occasion to bring people together, said Shaykh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Imam and Khateeb of the Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah while addressing a part of the cream of the Muslim leaders of various organisations, schools, centres and NGOs before the Issa prayer in the Library Hall of the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC), London, on Friday, the 7th of August 2009.

Those who were present at this meeting, among others, were Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB); Mr. Sayed Ferjani, President of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Mufti Aslam, Mr. Shoaib, Councillor Lutfur Rahman, Councillor of Tower Hamlets.

The Imam, famous for his beautiful recitation of the Qur’an, urged Muslim leaders to hold regular meetings to exchange ideas between them. He expressed hope that the coming Ramadan will be an occasion to bring people together. He congratulated Muslim organizations for their efforts towards Muslims in Britain.
Imam Al-Sudais prayed to Allah the Almighty to make strengthen us, to make us attempt to be more united, Insha Allah, for the future. He said I suggested before regular meetings for Muslim leaders and Muslim communities in this place and other places so that people can exchange ideas and Allah the Almighty helps them to bring their hearts together.

Shaykh Al-Sudais said, I am not an expert to address you with regards to things probably you know better but I will be attempting to impart some knowledge with regard to what I think be useful for you as leaders of the Muslim community in this country.

The Imam said, this is a very important opportunity for you and I and for all of us to open our hearts to exchange ideas, to remedy the problems, to seek solutions for all of us those who are living in this country. He congratulates all of the leaders of all of the Muslim organization present today for the efforts that they are doing for the Muslims in this country. He said the echo of your positive and an excellent work reaches us over there in the Bilad al-Haramain. So congratulations.

“The news of your excellent work reaches us over there in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques,” he said.

Imam Al-Sudais also said, I want you to outreach more positively with the official bodies of this country, why not the government? why not the civil servant? why not the local council and so on and so forth,

Shaykh Al-Sudais said, we cannot at all outreach to others, the non-Muslims without making the utmost attempt to outreach ourselves, meaning outreach to other Muslims in this country. He said, we need to be more proactive to outreach to other Muslim organizations, other Muslim groups before we think about outreaching to the non-Muslims in this society.

Imam of the Haram said, our mission is indeed very very clear. We do not have any hidden agenda. Why we Muslims are not proactively involved in politics in this country.

The Imam also said, we are very patient and we have confidence in Allah and confidence in the mission that we are holding, that it is a mission of truth. We are looking to guide this society to the truth and to the right guidance.

Imam of the Haram said, Dawah faces these days many many challenges and we Muslims should take this very seriously.

Shaykh Al-Sudais said, Muslims should proactively and positively move very peacefully towards Dawah.

Shaykh Al-Sudais does recommend for the regular meetings among Muslim leaders in this Islamic Cultural Centre, London. He said, the Central Mosque London is the ideal place to hold such meetings which bring together various groups of the Muslim community of this country.

Imam of the Masjid al-Haram also said, I would be very happy to support you in every way I can and I can be very happy to follow from where I am in Saudi Arabia.

After the meeting with the cream of the Muslim leaders of United Kingdom, Imam of the Haram led the Issa prayer at the Central Mosque, London.

Earlier in the morning, the Imam of the Haram led the Jumah congregation of over 10,000 worshippers at the Central Mosque, London and delivered his Khutbah, the Friday sermons to the Muslim worshippers of over 10, 000. In his Friday sermons, Shaykh Al-Sudais was talking about the manners and tradition of Islam. He urged the Muslim community members to be good example of Islam; to be good members of the society where they live in, to listen and obey to the rules and regulations of the country where they live in.

The Imam of the Haram also talked about tolerance in Islam and he also talked about to abide the Islamic law.

Shaykh Al-Sudais urged the Muslim community to take special care of education. The women, fathers and wives should give special care and more care about their children to be good members of the society in future.

Shaykh Al-Sudais is loved by everybody of the community. Wherever he goes, whoever is organising the programme and event for him find always difficulties to control the people and the crowd. Everybody, men, women and children try to say Salaam Alaikum to Shaykh, request him to make Dua for them. And all these people try to do this at the same time. These people do this because they like him they respect him and they respect the Two Holy Mosques where it is.

Shaykh Al-Sudais said, he was overwhelmed by the Muslim community after the Jumah prayer. The Imam of the Haram said, this is indeed a sign of love; a sign of the bond of brotherhood that binds people not only of this country but those who come from different parts of the world. He said that this is also the sign of the Muslim community loving of those who are coming from the Bilad al-Haramain and this has put a responsibility on myself as a Shaykh coming from Makkah that I should play a role like many other leaders to unite the Muslim community or to help the Muslim communities.

Imam of the Haram also thanked Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan and to the people who took him around in his trips in different places while he was here.

His Excellency Prince Mohammad Bin Nawaf, the Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia came to the Mosque and prayed his Jumah prayer. From time to time, His Royal Highness comes here to pray Jumah prayers and other ambassadors also come in the evening. It’s the Central Mosque of London as well as the Central Mosque for the community; so it is expected that some of the VIPs, some of the visitors to come to pray here.

The Islamic Cultural Centre, London, is well-known throughout the Muslim community of the world. It started its services to the society since 1944. Now, Islamic Cultural Centre is one of the biggest organisations. It gives services to Muslims and non-Muslims in the society. There are different services: educational services through the courses that it offers and delivers here; it has nurseries with about thirty children; the weekend school has about 220 children. The Centre has unit for the interfaith activities and dialogue between Muslims and other faiths, which is very important. The Centre has also academic Journal published every Quarter.