Arabick Roots

Did you know that the Muslim world paved the way to the eradication of smallpox? Were you aware that scientists such as Boyle and Halley were heavily influenced by the work of Islamic scholars from the golden age?  Did you know that even the founding of the Royal Society itself, which has played host to scientists as influential as Newton, was inspired by the scientific method pioneered by Muslim scholars?

All this information and more can be found at the Royal Society’s ‘Arabick roots’ exhibition in London running until November this year.  The exhibition which is by prior appointment only, comes with a free colour guide book featuring a preface from Dr Salim Al-Hassani  from the award-winning 1001 Inventions exhibition previously held at the Science Museum.

‘Arabick roots’ is a wonderful acknowledgement of the long overdue debt of gratitude that Western Science owes the Islamic civilisation before it.  In the words of Dr Peter Collins, Director of the Royal Society Centre for the History of Science ‘No scientist works alone, and no scientist works without understanding and appreciating the work of those who have gone before…as Isaac Newton famously wrote ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’’

Whilst much of the Media would have us believe that scientific development has always been hampered by Religion and that the only rational people on this planet are Atheists, this exhibition stands up and opposes this misconception.  The exhibition explains that the scientific method was actually pioneered by Muslim scientists including Ibn Al Haytham (Al Hazen) and Chemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) who were some of the first people in history to consistently test out their theories with experimentation.  This concept was resurrected in 1660 with the founding of the Royal Society by British Scientists and preserved in its motto ‘Nullius in verba’ – meaning ‘take nobody’s word’.

Displaying remarkable critical thinking the exhibition quotes the words of Ibn Al-Haytham himself, an underacknowledged giant in scientific history ‘thus the duty of the man who investigates the writings of scientists, if learning the truth is his goal, is to make himself an enemy of all that he reads, and applying his mind to the core and margins of its content, attack it from every side.  He should also suspect himself as he performs his critical examination of it, so that he may avoid falling into either prejudice or leniency’

May Allah allow us to tread in the footsteps of our ancestors in re-establishing such a lofty Muslim scientific legacy – Amen.

For more information on booking times and the exhibition in general visit http://royalsociety.org/events/Arabick-roots-exhibition/

Ramadan TV

It’s back and it’s even better this year.  Ramadan TV, a project of Mercy Mission, returns to Sky and internet broadcasting for the second year running especially for the month of Ramadan.  Packed with uplifting quality talks from knowledgeable Al Kauthar instructors and Q+A every night from 7.30pm it is both informative and a great alternative to less halal television viewing.

The website boasts segments for especially for women, family and Urdu speakers as well, so no-one misses out.  Unlike other Islamic television channels, Mercy Mission’s long term goal is all round entertainment and so in future years we hope to see halal reality TV and all sorts of interesting viewing for the youth insha Allah.

The channel which broadcasts live from Central London, with a view out onto bustling London Bridge can be accessed at www.ramadan.tv or on Sky Channel 843.  So if you are looking for something better to give your children, or want a passive fix of knowledge do flick on or log on now.

My Neighbours

 “Angel Gabriel kept on enjoining the good treatment of neighbours to the extent that I thought that he would include neighbours as heirs.” (Narrated by Muslim)

My Neighbours Project, launched last month, is a response by the Islamic Forum of Europe to this hadith.  Making full use of colourful, trendy graphics, MNP was launched seeking to create community awareness and promote the rights and responsibilities we all have as neighbours.

Did you know for example that a Muslim neighbour has a responsibility to initiate greetings and congratulate their neighbour at times of happiness? Did you know that the neighbour has a right (not just a privilege) to be visited when they fall sick? Did you know that safeguarding a neighbour’s privacy and being mindful of minimising noise that disturbs them is part of Islam?

The project which was launched on Monday  18^thJuly in East London, featured a national program of interfaith talks, community clean-up projects, tea parties, mosque open days and even a soup kitchen.  Its work featured on ITV news, which aired images of Muslims dligently cleaning up their local park and talking to the elderly.  It also gained column inches in local press.

Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine a Britain where Muslims exemplified this Sunnah. Communities would feel safer, happier and more cohesive.  Islamophobia could be utterly eradicated and best of all, Muslims would be creating their place in heaven.  Let us revive this Sunnah and become the faith group that restores community to Britain.

For more information on the project and how to be a good neighbour visit  www.myneighboursproject.org

Extreme Forgiveness

In a remarkable story of Islamically inspired forgiveness a Muslim man who was shot square in the face in a hate-attack following  9/11 has been campaigning to prevent the execution of the man responsible.

Rais Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi Muslim, speaking to Democracy Now described how he had been working at a service station in America just a few days after the twin towers attack.  When Mark Stroman entered, held him at gunpoint and asked him where he was from, he realised that this was not your typical robbery.  Stroman who has said he lost his half sister on September 11^th had already killed two other people, one of whom was Hindu, before he shot at and blinded Mr Bhuiyan.   Bhuiyan has described how Islam had motivated him to have mercy and not vengeance as he campaigned against Stroman’s execution on  America’s death row.

In a statement by Stroman ‘Not only do I have all my friends and supporters trying to save my life, but now I have the Islamic community joining in, spearheaded by one very remarkable man, named Rais Bhuiyan who is a survivor of my hate.  His deep Islamic beliefs have gave him the strength to forgive the unforgiveable.  That is truly inspiring to me and should be an example for us all.  The hate has to stop...we are all in this world together’

Despite Bhuiyan’s best attempts, Stroman was executed by lethal injection.

Telegraph Retracts Slander

On 23^rd January 2010, The Telegraph ran a slanderous article on Yahya Ibrahim, a well known Islamic Chaplain in Australia and respected lecturer for weekend educational courses.  This Canadian-raised Egyptian Ustadh and Hafiz of the Qur’an has now received formal recognition of this slander and a settlement following its challenge.  On 24^th July, The Telegraph published a short retraction apologising for and correcting their false allegation of anti-Semitism,  Islamism and the advocation of violence.

Ustadh Yahya Ibrahim, whose lectures are filled with calls for Interfaith Tolerance, Non-Judgement of others and the importance of respect for women, should be congratulated on his pursuit of Justice.  Recent articles, such as ‘Love Jesus/Isa – son of Mary’ can be found at www.muslimmatters.org

Month of Mercy

On Saturday 30^th July, the Al Kauthar Institute delivered yet another outstanding course on the Fiqh and Spirituality of Ramadan.  Beautifully entitled ‘The Month of Mercy’ and led by the dynamic Sheikh Sajid Umar, we were educated and uplifted by Qur’anic recitation and teaching.

Whilst talks on Ramadan sometimes tend to blend into one, Sheikh Sajid Umar by the grace of Allah made this event a cut above the rest.  Interspersed with his hallmark wit he reminded us of the things we so often forget around Ramadan.  How do we lay the groundwork for this special month: have we sought forgiveness from those we have wronged?  Have we fasted some of Sha’ban in order to prepare our bodies? Have we increased our Ibadah before Ramadan starts so that we hit the ground running?  Whilst we sometimes get consumed by the ritual of Ramadan, do we stop to think, for example, whether our earnings are Halal before we enter it?

The course also looked at the Fiqh of Ramadan, clarifying for example that skin creams, pessaries and enemas are all acceptable in a state of fasting, as are non-nutritious IV injections.  We learned about the Fiqh of fasting and menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding amongst other subjects.  We also looked at the bounties of Lailat Al Qadr and the etiquette of Eid day.

Just when we thought that we had been given enough, the Sheikh finished with an Iman-boosting grand finale - beautiful Qur’an recitation intertwined with pearls of wisdom.  He reminded us to have a clear vision and set high goals for Ramadan.  He advised us to use Ramadan as a month of training by which we could elevate our status.  And on the subject of patience he delivered the most memorable soundbite of the whole day – to never forget that ‘Greatness is attained at the edge of destruction’ but that in the words of the Qur’an ‘Indeed the help of Allah is near’

Islamic Psychology Conference

Did you know that our Muslim ancestors used to use architecture as part of the treatment for those with Psychological distress? Are you familiar with models of the self/Nafs as part of understanding what imbalances in mental illness?  Were you aware that Islamic Counselling is now increasingly available in Britain at competitive prices for those who would enjoy a faith-sensitive development process at times of difficulty?

If the answer to any of the above was no, then you may be pleased to find out that on Wednesday 27^th July over 200 people gathered in London to discuss precisely these issues and more, at the second ever Islamic Psychology Conference.

Organised by Ethnic Health Initiative, this event brought together a range of health professionals and the lay public to explore this lesser known facet of Islamic Medicine.

The session opened with the reflections of Professor Rasjid Skinner, Consultant Clinical Psychologist who explored some of the drawbacks of mainstream ‘Western’ psychological therapies.  A brief video message from Professor Malik Badri, author of The Dilemma of Muslim Psychologists was screened, calling us to recognise the importance of worldview on public psychology.  Ayesha Aslam from Sakoon Muslim Counselling Service gave us an insight into the powerful work that Islamic Counselling can achieve in relieving the distress of community members with experiences deemed taboo by our community. The importance of a culturally sensitive ear, was emphasised by her case study of an individual who was falsely classified as Psychotic by a Non-Muslim counsellor before he sought their services, because he recited Arabic and rocked backwards and forwards when he prayed!  In another example, a Muslim with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder had been told by his Non-Muslim counsellor to abstain totally from prayer as part of the treatment process! Clearly, a role for Islamic Counselling is key here, as well as the wider education of Non-Muslim healthcare practitioners about Islam.

In the afternoon, Lynne Ali-Northcott, who works with substance addiction in the Bangladeshi community, presented her fascinating research into the effect of Ramadan on Muslim heroin users.  Year after year, she has consistently noticed that as soon as Ramadan hits, Muslim heroin users suddenly cease using drugs for 30 days and 30 nights.  She was intrigued  by their capacity to do this and constructed her own research project around it.  What she discovered was that Muslims who had been fasting throughout their childhood, somehow entered a different mode of being, in which all environmental triggers to drug abuse were no longer as potent.  She suggests that something about the intrinsic rituals within Islam, such as Prayer and Fasting, may be helping addicts to substitute their maladaptive habits, with healthier habits.  Indeed anecdotally she observes that those who embrace Islam most fully outside of their drug rehabilitation programme, are most likely to maintain their recovery.

Other speakers included Stephen Maynard, Stephen Weatherhead and Saiyyidah Zaidi who advocated new ways of dealing with old problems holistically, but most of all came the call for greater research into this under-prioritised area.

Our ancestors, such as Al Kindi (9^th Century) and Al Ghazali (11^th Century) did a lot of work on Pyschology – perhaps it is high time, in this world of imbalance, that our community carried the torch of research and development forwards.