British Muslim VIP Guests Perform Hajj 2011

British Muslim VIP Guests perform Hajj this year

Dr. Mozammel Haque

MINA, MAKKAH: I am fortunate enough this year to be invited by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Now we have been doing the rituals of Hajj according to the arrangements provided by the Royal Protocol. I have done a lot of Hajj before and seen a lot of hardships during the Hajj. So now at an advanced age I very much appreciate all these facilities that have been given to us which has made our Hajj very easy. I thank Allah the Almighty first of all. He has given me once again this life opportunity and secondly I thank the Saudi Monarch because of whom we are able to come for Hajj this year because there was no planning whatsoever to come for Hajj but suddenly out of blue the invitation came and within days all the things were prepared and we come here and we have been received by Royal Protocol in the Airport and straight away all the guests were taken to Jeddah Conference Palace and we performed our Umrah at Masjid al-Haram which was done also in a very easy way.

What I can say that the facilities which are provided to us they are because we are guest but the facilities that are provided to pilgrims they are in general are enormous, so big that no person could imagine what is the state of affairs now in comparison with what it was in thirty years ago. We also remember that many time some of the tents caught fire and then many many people have been burnt alive. That was those tents did not have all these precautionary measures which can stop the fire.

Revolutionary Development in Transportation -Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan

Revolutionary development in the transportation in the Holy sites took place, said the leader of the VIP Guests from the UK, Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London and mentioned about the services that are provided here. “The authorities here did the best for us, to welcome us, to facilitate our Hajj. As regards the hospitality I have to admire the hospitality we have seen in accommodation, in food, in transport and in everything and these are something that we have to thank.”

Every year King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, invites Muslims from different parts of the world to perform Hajj as Royal guest. So far 18,000 Muslims from around the globe have performed Hajj during the past years as guests of King Abdullah. This year Hajj 2011 “King Abdullah will host 1,400 pilgrims from around the globe,” said Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs. Out of 1,400 pilgrims invited by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, 30 are from the United Kingdom.

This year 2011 the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has invited 30 Muslims from the United Kingdom. At the same time, there are another 20 guests who are actually hosted by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Saudi Arabia. So this year there are 50 guest altogether from the United Kingdom – 30 VIP and 20 from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

This 30 invited Royal guests include Muslim leaders; those who are people of influence, those who also serve the Muslim community, Ulema and religious scholars of different religious schools of thought in the UK. Among these VIP people are some politicians, such as Lord Mohammad Sheikh and his wife, Lady Sheikh, from the Conservative Party. There is Baroness Uddin from the House of Lords and Shahid Malik, the former Communities Minister from the Labour Party.

Similarly, the Muslim scholars are from different major groups of the Muslim organizations in the UK, for example, some scholars from Ahle-Hadith, some scholars of Deobandis, there are some scholars from other organizations.

These 30 guests of the Royal Protocol are British nationals, they are Muslim leaders, Muslim scholars and media people and some politicians; but as regards their ethnicity and cultural heritage, they are Muslims of different cultural heritage, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Muslims from Saudi Arabia itself, Muslims from Tunisia and many other countries.

Similarly, the other guests with the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs are those groups of people who are really playing an important role in the Muslim unity and giving service to the Muslim community. They are British nationals but of different ethnic origins.

The leader of this VIP Guests from the UK, Dr. al-Dubayan, said, “This year there is a message. And that message of Hajj is a message of Peace. Hajj is an occasion of more dialogue and better relationship. The Hajj in Makkah is really the biggest demonstration of peace in the world. The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom, His Royal Highness Mohammad bin Nawaf actually has the same concern and that’s why Muslims from different religious schools of thought, people of different ethnic origins come together to demonstrate the message of Hajj and also of good relations and better chance of dialogue among themselves and also with the scholars of Saudi Arabia.”

Shaykh Dr. Abdul Rahman Sudais at East London Mosque

Shaykh Dr. Abdul Rahman Sudais at East London Mosque

I volunteer for the Second Extension of the Mosque -
Head Imam of Masjid Al-Haram

Dr. Mozammel Haque

LONDON: Shaykh DR. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Head Imam of the Masjid Al-Haram of Makkah al-Mukarramah, visited the East London Mosque this evening of Wednesday, the 5th of August, 2009 as part of a visit to the UK. “I volunteer for the second extension of the East London Mosque,” said Shaykh Al-Sudais while unveiling the plaque of the foundations for the second phase of the East London Mosque, Whitechapel, London.

After unveiling a plaque commemorating the laying of the foundations for Phase 2 of East London Mosque, the Head Imam of the Haram led the Maghreb prayer and gave a short speech to a congregation, with over 15,000 people. The Head Imam mentioned about Tauheed, the Oneness of Allah and said that we have to follow the Book of Allah the Almighty, The Holy Qur’an and to follow the Sunnah, the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him.) Allah the Almighty sent him to us as the Mercy for the whole Mankind. We have to follow his character.

The second point, the Shaykh Sudais mentioned, is that you are the Ummah of Akhlaq, the nation of good character. You have to cooperate and help each other in righteousness and fear of Allah and don’t help each other in sin and aggression. This cooperation and helping each other is both among Muslims as well as between Muslims and non-Muslims. These are all parts of Islamic Akhlaq; Islamic character. Muslims are always at peace with Muslims and peaceful to all human beings both by hands and by tongue.

The third point, the Head Imam of Baitullah mentioned, is that the Deen or Religion of Islam is the Deen or Religion of the Middle Path and the balance. This religion protects all our good deeds and good benefits and protects us from wrong doings against each other. Imam also mentioned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit the Jews and look after his neighbours.

The fourth point, the Head Imam of the Masjid al-Haram mentioned, is that we are Ummah of Unity. You should always have unity on the basis of the Book of Allah, the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

The fifth point, Shaykh Sudais mentioned, is that we are Ummah of knowledge. The sixth point, the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said about usra (Family) and mentioned about bringing up children, Hijab and the dignity of women.

The seventh point, the Head Imam of the Masjid-al-Haram, mentioned is to impart proper teachings and training of Islam, tarbiyyat-e-Shahih.

The eighth point, the Shaykh Sudais mentioned, is that you are the Ummah of Dawah to Allah. Preaching with wisdom. Islam is a religion of Dawah. Call people to Islam with wisdom.

The ninth point, Shaykh Sudais mentioned, is that we should be respectful to our parents, protect and safeguard our children and give them proper training and education.

The tenth point, the Head Imam of the Masjid al-Haram mentioned, is that we are Ummat-e-Taibah. In this connection, the Imam mentioned about the month of Ramadan which is approaching. Ramadan is the month of Taubah and forgiveness. This is also the month of khairat (charity) and barakat. So the Imam advised the audience, the Muslims to make taubah to Allah the Almighty.

In his speech he mentioned, that Muslims should be proactive positively in our communities and work for all humanity. He also mentioned that we should work to look after our family and that the community at the East London Mosque should trust the committee to build community for the future.

East London Mosque is one of the oldest Mosques in London. In 1910 some notable Muslim figures decided to build a mosque in London and established the London Mosque Fund. Initially, a small room was hired for Friday prayers. However, in 1926 the Fund had grown to a sizeable amount and a 'Deed of Declaration of Trust' was made.

In 1940 three houses were purchased in Commercial Road, London E1 and converted into a Mosque. It was opened on Friday 1 August 1941; Lt. Col. Sir Hussain Suhrawardy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the London Mosque Fund, welcomed worshippers into the newly established East London Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre. The first Jumaah prayer was led by the then Ambassador for Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Shaikh Hafiz Wahab in 1941.

Over the years many distinguished personalities were associated with the London Mosque Fund. Among them, the Rt. Hon. Syed Ameer Ali, the first Indian Privy Counsellor, who was the Chairman of London Mosque Fund Executive Committee until his death in 1928. His Royal Highness the Aga Khan served as life President of the Board of Trustees. Among the earliest members of the Board of Trustees during the thirties and forties were the famous author of The History of Saracens and the Spirit of Islam, Ameer Ali; the author of the English Translation of The Holy Qur’an, Marmaduke Pickthall and the Meaning of the Translation of the Holy Qur’an, Abdullah Yousuf Ali.

The construction of the present structure of the Mosque was completed in 1985. The opening ceremony was led by Imam Muhammad Subayil, the then Head Imam of the Masjid Al-Haram. King Khaled of Saudi Arabia promised and then King Fahd bin Abdulaziz donated 1.1 million pounds sterling for the construction of the Mosque.

The first extension of the East London Mosque was completed in 2004 and King Fahd bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia donated one million US dollars for the construction of its first extension. The opening ceremony was led by Imam Abdul Rahman Sudais, the Imam of the Masjid Al-Haram.

IMAM of Masjid Al-Haram led Friday Jumah
Prayer at the Central Mosque London

On Friday, the 7th of August 2009, the Imam of the Haram led the Jumah congregation 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 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 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 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 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.

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.