By Iqbal Chowdhury

A letter to my Self-less Ego

Dear Ego,

In the chambers of Corazon, we drank from the fountains of Zest

You favoured only those liquors sweet, disliking the rest

Scorning my indifference as My Self drank those acrid

Telling My Self to indulge the sweet Senses, whenever they’re arid

I loved you as I loved My Self, effects of the sweetness you made me taste

Little did I know, it was the last this Trinity of mine was ever chaste

By Aisha Alvi

I dedicate this short piece to my late father, Dr. Abdur Rab Alvi, 1929 -2006. The dedicated support and guidance through our long, drawn-out hijaab fiasco was exemplary of what a Muslim should be; he displayed humility, tolerance and gentility.

Over the last 10 years, the British Muslim community has endured and witnessed the toughest decade since the post-war period when mass migration of Muslims to Britain took place. Unlike our elders whose self-segregation from mainstream British society was a defensive reaction to racism, second and third generation Muslims have been under attack for their faith.

By God’s Grace, as far back as 1990, my sister Fatima Alvi and I won the right to wear the Islamic headscarf at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Cheshire. Prior to this, we were suspended from school after two long years of persuasion, and negotiations broke down. Finally, in December 1989, we made a completely independent decision to attend school and refused to remove the covering from our heads. What did we go armed with? Our faith in God and knowledge of our educational rights.

By Dr Salman Al-Azami

Religion is important to most people in the UK according to the last census data. For the first time, in the 2001 Census, an optional religion question was included where an overwhelming 76.8% expressed their allegiance to a religion. However, the majority of the contemporary media representations of faith give a negative picture of religion. According to Biernatzki (2003) religion in the media, is, “… either ignored or sensationalized — and either of those extremes distorts its reality…”

After the tragic incidents of 9/11 and 7/7 there has been increased interest among the media on religious issues, particularly concerning Islam and Muslims. Current trends in the media clearly show that the images, representations and discourses relating to Islam and Muslims in mainstream Western media tend to be negative and hostile. A Cardiff University study analysed 974 stories about Islam and Muslims in the media between 2000 and 2008, and found only 5% positive news.

By Mostafa Albayati

Scenes of Spirituality from Around the World

Above and beyond

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© Photos by Mostafa Albayati

Photography allows me to explore and express both the subtle and the beautiful characteristics in life: peace, freedom, faith, love and longing, and silence. Much of these are constantly manifesting in us, but are only expressed very briefly and often with little attention. Therefore, to be able to capture these characteristics in people in a still image, to afford the ability to reflect upon them, is central to me and my work.

By Mahera Ruby

Most Muslims are very proud of the historical presence of Muslims in Britain for at least the past 300 years, since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Seamen came from Yemen settling in small communities in Cardiff, Liverpool, London, South Shields and Tyneside setting up small prayer rooms to help them meet and pray together. We are even more enthusiastic in sharing the history of prominent British Muslim intellectuals, who began to emerge during the late 19^th century, responsible for establishing the first mosque at Woking in Surrey.

By Imam Abdullah Hasan

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and 7/7, politicians, journalists and community leaders have been criticising Imams in Britain for not doing enough to counter the apparent increasing number of Muslims, especially the youth, from being swayed by ‘radical Islam’. Although I understand, to a certain extent, why people may suggest this, I think the overwhelming majority, if not all Muslims in Britain, will concur that Imams are in fact not to be held responsible for the actions of some ignorant vigilantes.

By Jamila Kossar

How effective has the education system been in the past ten years and where do we envisage it being in the next 10 years? This is a central and essential discussion, more so in recent times. Under this comes a further debate, and one of the most prominent questions at the forefront of education today: the place of faith schools in the United Kingdom. Are such schools justified? What role do they play, if any?

By Professor Mashood Baderin

Historical and Evolutional Perceptions of Islamic Law in a Continually Changing World

Islamic law remains one of the major legal systems in the world today. It is applicable in different forms as part of state law in countries of the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and also has strong influence amongst Muslim communities in the West generally, such as in Britain. Yet, it is probably the most misunderstood legal system in many parts of the world today, especially in the West. One of the major misunderstandings in Britain about Islamic law is the erroneous view that the system is completely divine, immutable, monolithic, inflexible, and that it is diametrically opposed to British law. These ideas have gained particular prominence over the past few years, and as such it is essential they be addressed.

By Mohammad Uz-Zaman

The idea of interfaith cooperation seems wonderful, with two or more communities with different sets of beliefs coming together to learn a little more about one another. In 21^st Century Britain, we have witnessed different races, beliefs and creeds living together in multiple melting pots around the country; although they may know little about each other.