In the literary world of books on Islam, the average reader will fall short after the idiot's guide to Islam, or a more comprehensive and heavy-weight theological book, now used as a table support. We previously shared I Speak For Myself, American Muslims' reply to questions stemming from Islamophobic media reports, and ecological welfare inspired Dawud Wharnsby's A Picnic of Poems for children.

Another inspirational book from Kube Publishing is geared toward younger audiences: Muslims In The Modern World, by British author Suma Din.

Muslims In The Modern World, A Series
Muslims In The Modern world is a unique biographical series covering the lives and works of iconic figures from today's educational and humanitarian fields.

The first part of the series features Islam's own father-figure Dr Hany El Banna. Founder of the respected charity Islamic Relief Worldwide, and a loved activist, Dr Hany was recently found in Mogadishu, Somalia, where he sang rain prayers and entertained the orphans of famine struck Africa.

Suma Din's book is thoroughly researched and captures the humanness of Dr Hany. Her book takes readers on a chronological journey from the doctor's early days as a traveller and later presidency of Islamic Relief.

"Dr Hany El Banna, the founder of Islamic Relief Worldwide, is a tireless humanitarian activist working for the world’s poorest people. Follow his footsteps as he moves to the UK as a young doctor, only to become the president of a global humanitarian relief organisation.


From underground tunnels in war-torn Bosnia to the cyclone ravished villages of Bangladesh, find out what drove Dr El Banna to people in need. The story of his efforts to establish Islamic Relief around the world is at once a warm, inspiring and occasionally eccentric tale of humanity."
- Kube Publishing blog

Captivating and short, the series will brings together the lives and personalities of a range of influential and fascinating Muslim figures. They are filled with rare images, illustrated maps and personal anecdotes giving readers a unique viewpoint into their lives.

Do Muslim Books Have A Place In Education?
The series aims to especially inspire young readers outside of the Muslim faith and introduce them to a set of under-the-radar people from the modern world. I dare use the 'celebrity' status since renowned Muslim figures are respected and praised, not idolised, but this is a collection of books you cannot do without.

British educational institutions have delved into the Muslim cultural sphere more so over the past decade, one instance being the world class 1001 Muslim Inventions exhibition and book which was was funded for schools throughout the country.

Future names for the Muslim book series include,

• Dr Hayat Sindi, the Muslim female scientist awarded this year as one of National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers and visiting scholar at Harvard; and
• Malcolm X, the legendary human rights activist and Muslim convert from the USA.

Responses from the educational sector and mainstream Islamic courses confirm the need for more positive role models in schools, like Canadian children's book Khadijah Goes To School. This series addresses Muslim heritage and educates a wide age group with a sophisticated structure.

As another valuable resource for citizenship, history, humanities and religious education, Suma Din encourages British teachers to use Muslims In The Modern World for discussions on war, poverty, charity, marriage and struggle within the context of the exceptional Dr Hany.

"Pupils will find it inspirational, surprising and readable", says Suma Din's official site. Many other chapters of the book also have a link to the educational curriculum, covering topics as high as GCSE level, for students aged 16+.

One secondary school teacher from Buckhinghamshire said Muslims In The Modern World "is a positive and modern example of Islamic faith in action and as such fills a much felt void."

What Your Bookshelf Is Missing
Each biography is equipped with first-person quotes and anecdotes, exclusive full colour photographs of each featured figure. Taking on encyclopedic layouts, the books are separated with a time-line, glossary and bulleted lists, succinctly explaining Muslim practices and highlighting notable places in history. This will make a wonderful gift for Eid and ideal donation to your local school.

Part one and the books to follow, looks at the early life of the iconic faces, their family and upbringing, analysing the factors that led them to be leaders in their field. Faith plays an integral part for both the author and the figures she interviews in her books, part of the reason why Muslims In The Modern World is being pushed for academic involvement.

We like the book. A lot. We think you will too.

Order {Muslims In The Modern World} from Kube Publishing and from the author's site, {Suma Din}.


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As a humanitarian and trustee at Muslim Youth Helpline, Furqan Naeem recently completed his summer internship with Human Appeal International (HAI). He took the opportunity to travel to Somalia to witness the devastation first-hand and implement some projects to benefit the people of the famine. Furqan shares his personal experiences with us from Somalia.

Inside Mogadishu, Worlds Apart
I returned last week from a humanitarian trip with Human Appeal International to the famine struck area of Mogadishu in Somalia. It was certainly an experience I’ll never forget. I spent a week witnessing things from a different perspective, a week reflecting on how fortunate we are in Britain to have those simple things we take for granted. It was a week of learning to always give more than you receive.

My first impression of Somalia was one of a broken world, one without order where chaos prevails above all other things. I spent the first day in Nairobi before visiting orphanages. I thought I’d use my time in Nairobi to gain an understanding of what life in East Africa was actually like. I hoped this would help me cope with seeing the devastation that I expected Somalia.

Arriving in Mogadishu the next day, I felt like I had entered a different world. It was surreal. The airport looked like a shelter home and the tight security all round made me feel very nervous. Even as we were at the entry office one of the questions on the standard visa form read, “what weapons have you brought with you?” Reading that made me realise that this was not a place not for the faint hearted.

As we headed to our secure residence for the week, I saw that there wasn’t a single built-structure that was not crumbling. I couldn't call any of these buildings 'homes'. It felt like we were in a war-zone and this was before we even went to visit any of the famine victims.

Meeting Refugees And Orphans
The next few days were spent visiting refugee camps and a local hospital so we could identify which areas on the ground aid was still not reaching. I got to see first-hand how the famine had devastated so many families.


As we went visiting from tent to tent with our local team there from Human Appeal International, we were able to communicate with some of the families. Real families, real people who all had a common story.

These families had all walked for weeks to get to the refugee camp in the hope that aid would be there but found nothing more than other desperate people.

I heard how incredibly difficult life could be and was for people. I remember meeting a young mother who gave birth to a boy only three weeks ago but was barely able to look after herself because of her weakness. The young baby was in a critical state. It could easily be the case that these two human beings are no more but this was the case right across refugee camps in Mogadishu, just to give a glimpse of the scale of disaster.

After visiting three refugee camps around Mogadishu and seeing and feeling what it was like for the poor and needy, we had a chance to visit one of the local hospitals to see what sort of assistance doctors were trying to provide.

Unfortunately the scenes were not much different at the hospital. As soon as we arrived we saw a young boy getting treated outside the hospital for lack of clean water as there was insufficient space inside. There were so many victims all in distress with their families but the sad thing was to see so few doctors on hand, all of whom were being stretched to their limits in the first place. Most of the hospital was filled with crying young babies suffering from waterborne diseases, which have little or no cure.

Savings Lives, One At A Time
After identifying the areas where aid was not being reached, I and the team set about initiating food distribution points, mobile medical clinics and water distribution to the camps. This was perhaps the most satisfying part of the trip – to help all those that you saw on the ground by providing them with food packages that would help their families for a month at a time.

But the sad reality was that we were only just scratching the surface. There is a vast amount of people that are suffering and still need help.


I witnessed the bittersweet reactions in the faces of families who were relieved to see help coming in the form of food and water but then realising that this might be the only help they’ll receive in months.

Even with the mobile medical clinic I saw how families valued getting the correct treatment and medicine to help with all the illnesses. They queued for miles just to see a doctor in the hope that they might be cured.

In a country where there is so much despair and misery we managed to visit the University of Mogadishu, which surely is a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty for the Somalian people. There are two opposing regions in Somalia which is the reason why it is in so much ruin. One side is a desert from the recent famine that has affected most of Somalia, but the other side has a total lack of infrastructure and poor leadership from those in control of the country.

These two destructive forced have combined in a devastating way and now a time of misery has fallen upon the people of smiles. But for the country to prosper in years to come and for the people to live a better a life, Somalia has to produce effective citizenry. I believe education is the key in building the country’s next generation of leaders.

The University of Mogadishu has a massive role to play in shaping the country by producing well-grounded students who will go on to help provide that infrastructure, and help build a country where peace can be achieved sooner rather than later.

A Future Of Hope For Somalia
Whilst out on the trip with Human Appeal International I managed to spend some time with renowned Muslim speaker and educator Dr Hany El-Banna, the founder of Islamic Relief. Dr Hany was busy organising a conference, bringing together Muslim charities and local NGOs to help improve the situation in Somalia through his role as chairman of Muslim Charities Forum.

Dr Hany has always been an inspiration to me, so getting the opportunity to work with him was a real honour, not to mention a huge learning curve. Watch Dr Hany's video message from Mogadishu.



The best part was seeing him in his element when he was with the children. When we finished Friday prayers I remember he started to make animal noises to communicate with the children and they all smiled and replied back with the same animal noises.

In a matter of seconds there were hundreds of young children gathering around this great man, Dr Hany El-Banna, as he built that special connection with the forgotten children of Somalia.

Prayers And Rain
All in all, visiting Somalia was truly an experience of a lifetime. Having reflected for a week since I’ve been back, the memories of the faces of desperation I saw still live within me. Much more can be done. It should be done.

One thing I have learnt is to be grateful for what I have in life and to never complain if something doesn’t quite go my way. There are people living in so much more difficulty than me – how do I have a right to complain?

I will never forget the stories; the mother who lost her children walking to the refugee camps, the father who had to sacrifice some of his children in order to provide for the other few.


And there took place a rain prayer where I was blessed to be part of a 10,000 gathering who all prayed for rain. The next morning through God’s mercy, rain descended upon the people of Mogadishu. Alhamdulillah, all praise be to God.

These memories shall stay with me for as long as I shall live and will continue to inspire me for years to come. As I reflect back I still wonder about Somalia's plight and the constant hardship its people experience. I do have hope though. Yes, the task is enormous, yes we still have a lot of work to do here in the UK but I firmly believe that if we all play our part, make enough effort through our donations to Human Appeal International, and with our prayers, then prosperity and peace will eventually come to the people of Somalia. Insha'Allah, God willing.

Do your part, donate to feed a family in Africa for a month. Please.

Read more at the {Human Appeal International blog}

By Furqan Naeem, British Muslim student activist and humanitarian.








More inspiring activists:
Asda Customers Help Muslim Aid Raise £11k For Africa
Eleven Lessons From Nelson Mandela
Another Letter From The Muslimness Orphan In Mozambique
Chicago Muslims Help Somalia During Ramadan

So here's a random thought.

I think a lot of Muslim marriages are slapped together on this metaphorical production line. As they whizz down the line the different parts are primed and trimmed, they get their coat of spray paint and eventually they're stuck together. They mostly work, but maybe for a long time people are not sure if the end product will stand the test of time. Sometimes they only work because they have to. After a while the cheap coat of shiny spray paint peels off revealing the true colours of the constituent parts; they're not always the prettiest underneath.

Poor build quality is not uncommon, various cracks exist beneath the surface. Parts are prone to break easily and people generally lack the competency and patience to piece things back together. Few understand how to use the trouble-shooting manual that comes free with each product; it is after all in a different language.

The novelty wears out quickly and people envy the latest designs on the market. With the slightest scuff or scratch people are quick to rush to the manufacturer and too often they find their way back to the factory to find a replacement. Sometimes broken parts will be recycled but sadly, more often than not, broken pieces are quickly forgotten about.

I guess you used to find a lot of little family run production lines, each offering unique customisations, service with a smile. Increasingly there are fewer and fewer of these, instead we are seeing the dominance of more and more mass production lines.

(Still with me?)


So the picture you can see here is probably the most random image I have pulled off Google. The punch bowl on the right came off a production line, the one on the left is hand made.

I guess they both fulfil the function they're designed for, but there is a value to the handmade one that you cannot really put a price to. Painstakingly, with so much care to detail, that bowl was put together. Only the people who made the bowl (and the little cups) know its true value. There's nothing else like it. It is the imperfections that make it perfect, as opposed to the machine made bowl whose pseudo-perfection renders it worthless in comparison to the handmade.

British Muslims in their twenties are met by a plethora of challenges as they face the prospect of getting married. There are various obstacles to manoeuvre around, each compounding and intertwining with the other. The fusion of our tangled British identity with our parents Asian/Arab/African culture presents one such challenge, and this is clouded by the general confusion that surrounds the whole marriage process, and how best to approach things.

Further complicating matters is our inability to separate the (not always bad, but often skewed) Hollywood, Bollywood and Disney images and expectations of love and marriage that have been imprinted on us. We also have to be honest about the streaks of emotional immaturity and lack of wisdom and foresight that taint our relationships (men tend to be plagued by this moreso), as well as our mental fragility and deficit in our psycho-social prowess to deal with life changes in general (women lead this ever so slightly more).

Most importantly for single British Muslims, however, is the weakness of our Islamic grounding and our relative distrust with what we know to be the loftiest principles to which we should choose our partners.

I apologise for focusing on the bleaker side of things. In any case, the resolution?

With ever increasing divorce rates, prevalence of hostile domestic environments, unidentified masses of empty-shell marriages, as well as a scary rise in the number of unmarried Muslims in their late twenties and thirties, we are yet to find model solutions to the marital conundrums that afflict generations of Muslims in Britain. The issues are real and aren’t going away, and it can only be enriching to reflect upon how we each stand in relation to them.

At least on an individual level, before going about finding a partner we need to appreciate that each and every one of us are misshaped, quirky pieces with our own unique history. The conventional assembly line "marriage machines" may give the illusion of a shiny flawlessness counterpart, but know that no two pieces fit together exactly, in fact there is a third piece in this jigsaw.

The Master Craftsman in His Wisdom created us with our bumps and flaws.

But know that regardless of how misshapen you are, you can ‘fit’ into His Divine jigsaw piece; the way of the best of creation (peace and blessings upon him,) the way of al-Islam. 

I read once, that “your heart should be so close to God, that one must seek Him in order to find you.” The issues and challenges that surround getting married are plentiful and complex, but what we are charged with is to work on ourselves:

“...Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (Qur'an, 13:11)

One of the surest ways of securing a fruitful and happy married life is to develop a deep and wholesome understanding and grounding in Islam, this coupled with a constant beautifying of your character.

A believer loves and is loved easily. Early 21st century psychologists explored how young men look for wives that resemble the endearing qualities of their mothers. Taking a step further we can look to the beautiful nature of the Mothers of the Believers, the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon them.) Often you will see brothers gazing into the distance, saying “I want to find my ‘Khadijah’... my `Ayesha’...” But what they fail to realise that they first must become as ‘Muhammadi’ as they can, embodying the best of men (peace and blessings be upon him,) before hoping to find such a gem of a woman. Expect your partner to be nothing but a reflection of you and your state, after all “A believer is a mirror to another believer”.

Prophetic tradition recognises the important role that beauty, attraction, wealth and family background play when choosing a life partner. But what is stressed beyond everything else is "Deen – (piety)" and "Akhlaq – (character)". We read in numerous hadith that one of the most desirable character traits in a partner is that of taqwah, God consciousness; that a pious partner is the most valuable treasure on this earth. What is interesting, however, is the mentioning of character; that decorating a secure Islamic foundation is the subtleties of one’s personality. We cannot underestimate this issue of compatibility, and this is where seeking the counsel from family and friends plays an integral role in giving an objective, detached perspective.

Rumi once wrote “if you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” Just like the time and effort put into the handmade punch bowls, the sincere tears, the nights in prayer and the days fasting adds a unique and deep value to your persona. It’s easy in the confusion of it all to feel disconnected from Allah, but remember it is in these moments when He's inviting you to Him.

Ibn Ata'illah wrote:

"If you make intense supplication, and the timing of the answer is delayed, do not despair of it. His reply to you is guaranteed; but in the way He chooses, not the way you choose, and at the moment He desires, not the moment you desire."

Remember this path we find ourselves on is a well-trodden one. After striving to better yourself, put your trust in your Creator for truly “...Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)” (Qur'an, 3:159)


By Bilal Hassam, British Muslim doctor and activist.
Bilal recently appeared on 4Thought.tv to share his Muslim views about putting the elderly in care homes.

Co-founder of The Leaf Network, Bilal chairs the Planting Seeds Forum, an innovative and ambitious initiative connecting together the best of emerging Muslim voices with the highest levels of scholarship.


More on Muslim marriage:
Muslim Marriage: Husbands, Know Your Rights
Sabr In A Marriage, EXTRA Sabr With The In-Laws
What's Love Got To Do With It?

What can't you get at a British supermarket? Service with a smile? Life-time guarantees? How about the goodwill to support a noble cause?

That is what shoppers at Asda superstores across the UK have been doing for the British charity Muslim Aid. During Ramadan, the 30 day Muslim month of fasting, Muslim Aid's Ramadan Campaign raised over £11,000 from customer donations, which will go towards tackling global poverty this Ramadan.

Community shopping
Muslim Aid volunteers visited Asda stores in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham in August during the month of fasting with community service on their to-do lists. The volunteers helped Asda customers pack their shopping and collected donations for the charity’s Ramadan campaign.

In the 15 Asda stores that took part in the programme, Muslim Aid volunteers spent one or two days at each store raising awareness about the work Muslim Aid does around the world, especially on-going emergencies such as the drought in the Horn of Africa.

Eid at Asda
To mark the end of the Ramadan campaign and celebrate Eid with customers, five Asda superstores in London and Birmingham also held special Eid parties on Saturday, 3rd September. Activities at the Asda Eid celebrations included face painting, henna artistes and special Eid gift boxes were given to all visiting children. Customers were also treated to special recitals by internationally renowned Islamic Nasheed singers group, Labbayk.

Sultan Ahmed from Muslim Aid said:

"We’re thankful to Asda customers and Asda colleagues for their support during Ramadan to raise money for disadvantaged communities around the world. Here in the UK we take for granted access to clean water, food and housing, whereas in many countries the basic necessities of life are simply not available or too costly to procure. Muslim Aid is committed to providing long-term sustainable solutions which help to alleviate poverty and Asda customers can be proud to have helped make a difference."

Where does the money go?
The £11,000 donated from customers will go towards providing life saving tools and food to alleviating the suffering of thousands of men, women and children affected by the droughts in East Africa. But now that the Ramadan campaign has ended, the poverty hasn't. Muslim Aid is continuing its fundraising efforts through developing sustainable solutions and national projects to help tackle the deepening crisis and restore stability.


More awesome social action:
Human Appeal's Gaza Water Purification Project
MUSLIMNESS Orphan Update: Vina From Mozambique Writes Back
The Enlightenment Diet: Can Fasting Save the World?
Our Favourite Muslim Charities

“They’ve died, two of them… The last one is fighting for his life, hopefully he’ll be fine! Insha'Allah”, muttered my cousin in awe of the latest news. “How can this be happening in the UK?” It was 4am in the morning and the news was leaving us distressed. Haroon Jahan, 21 and Abdul Musawi, 30 had been killed in the riots, according to Sanghat Channel who was reporting live They had been run over by rioters as they fled their crimes. Later in the day, Shazad Ali, 31 also passed away due to his wounds. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji`oon, to Allah we belong, to Him we return.

The pain of losing members of the community was visible in the news and the community around me and to lose them to the sheer stupidity of various individuals hurt more. However, another fear began to develop. Thus far the Muslim community had been busy in the Masjid at night and during the day in their own lives, and the youth were yet to get involved in the looting and general anti-social behaviour. Though now there was a potential backlash – an opportunity for some members of the community to make trouble and for others, an avenue to show their anger. Some would say stupidity for stupidity.

“Tensions are already high in the area. It’s already bad enough what we are seeing on the streets now without other people taking the law into their own hands,” Tariq Jahan, the father of Haroon said.

Let us remember that it is Ramadan, this should not be forgotten, a time when even those that have not been to the Mosque take a trip to connect with Allah. It’s a beautiful month and we need to keep its trust, in being the best in terms of conduct. These young men fought against being held under fear, their stance was to protect their community, their Masjid and we have to honour what they were killed for. Retaliating only goes against what they died for, and in fact retaliation at this stage by anyone will only further harm the community.

We are responsible citizens of the UK, this is our residence and we need to protect our community. Let’s focus on those who are causing destruction to our neighbourhoods and look at their characteristics.

1. They have a lack of morality, some would argue religion – There is nothing holding them back from committing such acts. Islam teaches us that we are ultimately accountable to Him; in fact He tells us we’re coming back to Him…

“To Allah is your return, and He is over all things competent.” (Qur'an, 11:4)

Hence, whatever actions you take you will be held accountable, and they’ll be multiplied by everyone you harm by it.

2. They lack parental support - You have parents or guardians, they do worry about you, hoping you will return safely. Whatever actions you will take will affect those around you, and those that are harmed, it will harm their loved ones. Remember, you should treat others the way you wish to be treated.

3. Lack of concern for their own community – Your community is your future, it’s where your children will grow up, do you wish to bring your children up in gang fights, unrest and terror?

4. They lack a long term vision - Islam teaches us to look forward in life, in fact it tells us to aim towards Jannah. You need to consider, what do they have to live for? You have been blessed and you need to take care of these blessings, hoping for a bright future, regardless of where you are at this moment of time.

We are blessed with a beautiful month, we can’t and shouldn’t let others effect our worship. This month shall only come once, hence we need to ask ourselves; did we take all we can from it?

Let’s be honest, you’re awesome! The community thus far has been united. I guess Iftaar and Tarawih have been keeping us busy and our youth by in large have not got involved in the anti-social behaviour alhamdulillah, and hence there has been no negative media coverage, we need to keep it like this. You need to continue to help your community and we need to understand Allah ‘azza wa jal is the Most Just, whoever is hurt, or dies as a result will be given full justice and they are blessed, now the question is will our actions be equally as blessed?

The fear of a backlash is a concern, as the community who takes the law in their own hands will only suffer. This is not about race, religion or gender; this is about keeping us safe. We know at times there is a negative portrayal of Islam in the media, we need to use this opportunity to say we’re not like these insolent youth, we’re better than that!


The father of Haroon added that he did not blame anyone and it was his son’s fate:

“I don’t blame the government, I don’t blame the police, I don’t blame nobody… I’m a Muslim, I believe in divine fate and destiny, and it was his destiny and his fate, and now he’s gone. And may Allah forgive him and bless him.”

These are indeed testing and frustrating times for us, not only is our country in turmoil, the fear of what happens next lingers.

Once again this brave figure standing on a wall in front of a crowd said,

“I lost my son. Blacks, Asians, whites – we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this?”

It is in these moments that we have to remain strong, whether you’re a frustrated youth, a worried parent or an onlooker, it is your responsibility that you assist in ensuring there is harmony in your community.

This can be done by various means:

1. Minimising the fitnah – Either by keeping away from such occurrences so no-one else gets hurt, assisting in cleaning your town, or protecting your neighbourhood. At times there is a need for self defence, however this is something you will need to measure, we are taught that with hardship comes ease, the Police will gain control, we just need to be patient, assisting them where we can, whilst remaining safe.

2. If you’re a parent – Know what you’re children are doing, they are your responsibility and you need to ensure they’re off the streets and safe in their homes.

3. If you’re a frustrated youth – Stay away from the trouble, as you’re just causing more harm, rather than being reactive, be proactive and protect your community. The trouble shall pass and only the ruins will be left, which only you will have to deal with.

4. If you’re social media crazy or a community leader – Then circulate this article (MuslimMatters.org©) and the main aim of the message: This is our country, we need to make it our future and prepare it for those who will come after us.

I end with three words; peace, unity and tolerance. If we achieve these, we will be successful and get past this with an array of lessons, so we can all make Britain a better place.

Image:: flickr
Source {MuslimMatters.org} | Alima Ashfaq

The complete anarchy over the last few days and nights from mindless thugs and looters have left the citizens of the UK in a state of shock. There is no justification whatsoever for what these ignorant fools are doing – regardless of the problems in the police force – and when it leads to horrific situations such as the Mirror reported this lady having to jump for her life, or such utter destruction of one’s own neighbourhood as evidenced by pictures on the Big Picture, the wider community needs to step up and take matters into their own hands.

It’s been heartening to see pictures and reports that British Muslims from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds were stepping up to defend neighbourhoods and town high streets and main locations, whether that be the Bengalis in Whitechapel or the Turks in Dalston or the Kurds of Haringey. This is in fact the bare minimum expected from Muslims with respect to the rights that the wider community has open them, duly appreciated by many as noted by the Guardian:

“Last night the men from the local mosque were out defending the area. One shop was broken into, but thanks to them the situation was kept under control.”

Being honest, don’t doubt that we were also being sadly represented in the wrong way with a small amount of youth enjoying themselves in the carnage grabbing what they could – the argument that “the Muslims weren’t behind this cos’ we were praying Tarawih” is worth about as much as the actual Tarawih reading experience of the one who said such a statement. Read: none.

We all know that as parents line up in the front, the rest of the youth are straight out the back. There needs to be a real concerted focus from Muslim parents to ensure that neither during Tarawih prayers or at other times that their children are kept under supervision and not allowed to even get a whiff of the hormonally-pumped environment of free wii consoles and Armani jeans.

Likewise, let it be known that Muslims have an extra responsibility above and beyond what others might consider the norm. Last night was the defence. Today is the clean-up and the recovery. And that’s why we should be at the very front of the excellent efforts this morning of those who started #riotcleanup on Twitter or www.riotcleanup.co.uk and show the rest of this country what Muslims are really about.

So get out in your local area and get busy! Fasting is no excuse for sleeping more at home, rather fasting is the exact reason you should be out there and putting a graft in to be from the best of people as our Prophet ﷺ (upon whom be peace) said, “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.”






Imam Abu Eesa Niamatullah is a British-born Muslim and teacher with a unique academic ability for observational wit. Imam Abu Eesa "AE" works as an Al Maghrib tutor, runs the 1st Ethical Trust, powers the Prophetic Guidance organisation and shares research on his blog Alternative Entertainment. For more updates "like" Abu Eesa Official on Facebook.

Londoners share their experiences of Ramadan in the cultural melting pot that is London, on the Radical Middle Way blog. Do you have a Ramadan story, photo or video to share? View more stories and submit yours at {http://ramadaniyyat.tumblr.com}


Link to video {http://youtu.be/2vYblAlBacw}

Image: flickr

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On Tuesday, July 12th, British charity Muslim Aid launched its national Ramadan Charity campaign with the support of Asda superstores across London, Birmingham and Manchester.


The ‘Reach More, Do More’ campaign, launched at Asda’s Hounslow store in London, raised funds for projects that aim to provide food security and long-term sustainable solutions to disadvantaged communities across the world. 

As part of the campaign, Muslim Aid will be distributing 10,000 Iftar food packs, which have been donated by Asda, to Mosques near some of their larger stores. Iftar is the first meal for Muslims after breaking their fast. The Iftar packs are a way to remind people of the Iftar packs Muslim Aid aims to distribute to the fasting poor across the world during Ramadan.

Welcoming the campaign, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Muslim Aid said: 

“The Holy month of Ramadan is a blessing for the whole of mankind. In this month, Muslims abstain from food and water and experience what it is like being hungry and poor. Ramadan reminds people to think about poverty and hardship and reflect on how we in Britain can share our happiness with those who are less fortunate than us elsewhere. It is therefore most appropriate that one of Britain’s biggest supermarket chains has agreed to work with Muslim Aid, one of Britain’s leading Muslim charities. Together, we can make a huge difference to disadvantaged communities worldwide.” - Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari

Helen Yates, Customer Planning Manager for the ethnic ranges in Asda, said: “We’re happy to have Muslim Aid volunteers raising funds for such worthy causes at Asda stores. With the support of our customers, we hope we can help make a difference to people's lives this Ramadan.”

Volunteers helped Asda customers pack their shopping bags in return for a little bit of their time and any donations they wished able to make. All donations are going towards Muslim Aid's mission of tackling poverty, hunger and provide much needed basic essentials and long term economic solutions for people across the world.

In 2010, Muslim Aid spent over 470,000 Pounds on its ‘Feed the Fasting’ programme in over 40 countries to people living in regions hit by extreme poverty. Syed Sharfuddin, CEO of Muslim Aid and partners (pictured) launched a variety of fundraising dinners and events to provide for the Pakistani emergency appeal.

The Charity’s other projects targeting long term alleviation of poverty included  shelter, healthcare, education, child sponsorship, skills training and livelihood support and Muslim Aid microfinance programme for the very poor and SMEs.

Later this year on 4th August Muslim Aid are challenging volunteers with a Night Under The Stars to raise a gracious £200 to go towards the 'Feed the Fasting' programme. The London project will be broadcasted live on Islam Channel, include the fasting schedule and prayers. To register participants need to meet a simple checklist.

Check Muslim Aid's other opportunities such as creating the world's longest paperchain. With your support Muslim Aid is hoping to make an even bigger impact this year. Insha'Allah, God willing.

Donate what you can. Save lives.

Belgium will become the second EU nation to ban the burqa and niqab after France, reported RTE, Ireland's public service broadcaster. Starting next week, Muslim women who choose to wear the garment that covers their face and body will be fined €137.50 (£120) and spend up to seven days behind bars.

Belgium and France are not the only countries to embark on this controversial move. Just this week, Australia also followed suit by cobbling together a proposed law that would require women to unveil themselves for security purposes if requested by a law enforcement official, reported News.com.au.

But Britain's key Muslim civil society organisation said chances of a similar initiative implemented here in the UK are slim.

According to the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) -- a national umbrella organisation that aims to promote cooperation and consensus on Muslim affairs in the UK -- it boils down to the tolerance woven throughout UK society.

“Implementing the burqa ban will not happen because the UK is a more open and inclusive society than the rest of Europe ... Multiculturism is a British institution and the whole nation wants to preserve it,” the MCB told The Huffington Post.

Nabila Ramdani, a Paris-born UK-based journalist and academic, told The Huffington Post that a lack of tolerance is the reason European countries are adopting the burqa ban. “There’s a more tolerant environment in the UK and they are much more inclusive than the French and Belgian societies. Britain has always been more inclusive and practically deals with multiculturalism. You see it everywhere with minorities represented in media, politics, business -- something you don't see in France or Belgium.”

But Ramdani also said that the UK’s anti-discrimination laws -- unlike in Belgium and France -- protect the UK from politicians passing such laws. “There are no strong anti-discrimination laws in Belgium and France to fight that. Worse, in both countries you have institutionalized racism."

Though the UK government went on record saying it would never adopt such measures, calling them “unBritish,” just last year a YouGov poll revealed that a majority of Britons expressed that they would like to see the garment banned, with only 27 percent disagreeing that the garment should be completely outlawed.

Belgium’s ban kicking off next week may stir debate in the House of Commons, but the passage of a similar law in the UK remains unlikely.

Image: flickr

From Huffington Post

The Muslim Writers Awards 2011 are now inviting writers to submit entries for the following categories:

• Unpublished Novel
• Unpublished Short Story
• Unpublished Poetry
• Unpublished Children’s Story
• Screenplay
• Young Journalist (16-25)
• Published Novel

Submit your work
The 2011 Muslim Writers Awards welcomes submissions from Muslim writers across the world on a broad range of categories from screen play to novel writing to journalism.

The awards ceremony is an opportunity to showcase talent from both published and unpublished writers. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to a high-profile televised Awards ceremony, scheduled for November 2011 in London.

For further detailed criteria click onto Muslim Writers Awards.
Closing date for entries is 31st July 2011.

Young Muslim Writers Awards
The second Young Muslim Writers Awards took place on the 1st of June 2011 in partnership with the Institute of English Studies, University of London, at Senate House in London.
Leading figures from across the literary industry joined in the celebrations.

For more information: 
w | http://muslimwritersawards.org.uk
e | mail@muslimwritersawards.org.uk
t | http://twitter.com/MWAwards2011
fb| http://fb.com/MWAwards

Pictured: Muna Hassan was chosen for her campaigning work against the use of 'Khat'.
Participants will be photographed by award-winning photographer Liz Hingley, sit for portraits and record stories of their lives.

The idea came from conversations between young Muslim women and workers at the charity, Maslaha.

The charity, based in Bethnal Green, aims to improve understanding of Islam through the arts. Originally started as a Young Foundation project, Maslaha also looks at innovative ways to meet social needs such as access to health and education information, within the Muslim community.

The women said they do not hear enough about the contribution of Muslim women to life in the UK and that most portrayals they saw and heard of their faith were very negative.

Correcting the 'distortion'
So far the exhibition has taken in one subject; 27-year-old Muna Hassan from Forest Gate in East London.

Muna was chosen for her work campaigning against the use of Khat, a stimulant drug traditionally popular within the East African community, and now being used by British youth.

"Looking around my community I felt like maybe I shouldn't be so passive, I should take this issue up myself. I didn't even feel like I was campaigning at first - it was just me trying to get opinions, rally support and get my head around the idea of campaigning," says Muna.

"At GCSE level, the performance of Muslim girls as a group is better than the national average”, says Raheel Mohammed, quoting Office of National Statistics, Director Maslaha.

Muna feels there is a real need to dismiss the 'submissive' stereotype of Muslim women.

"It's a very distorted image. Every day when we see negative images in the media it doesn't help.

"There are hundreds, millions of Muslim women doing great things every day but we don't hear about them. Projects like this need to bring them forward."

The images and sounds will form part of an exhibition called 'Free to Be', put together by Maslaha.

"It's very much about empowering Muslim women, changing the way they are perceived, and raising awareness about the inequalities that are faced by Muslim communities," says Raheel Mohammed, director of Maslaha.

"At GCSE level, the performance of Muslim girls as a group is better than the national average, but according to the Office for National Statistics, once they leave education, Muslim women are almost four times as likely to be unemployed as Christian women."

'Only white child'
The charity is looking for women from across the UK in order to get the best cross-section of stories possible. They will be the subject of Liz Hingley, whose photography has featured in publications like The Guardian, The Sunday Times and Le Monde.

Muna wants to challenge the 'distorted image' of the 'submissive' Muslim woman
Photographer Hingley has a keen interest in religious communities. One of her most celebrated works is a collection of images documenting Birmingham's diverse communities on the city's Soho Road.

"I'm personally the daughter of two Anglican priests. I grew up in Birmingham and was the only white child in my nursery class.

"It was a very multi-faith background. Growing up with people for whom religion means everything to them gives you a sort of understanding," she says.

"For me, photography is about social interaction and engagement. It's not about pressing the button - it's about meeting people and sharing a bit of their story.

"That's what this project's given me the opportunity to do, to meet young women like myself who are doing amazing things."

She hopes the experience can be enjoyable for both subject and artist. Muna and Hingley got to know one another in advance of taking the photos and then spent a day "having a play", as Hingley calls it.

"It was really fun having a photographer for a day,' says Muna. "I felt like a model!"

The charity says it is not looking for the most influential or the most prominent Muslim women in the UK, but rather those whose stories are yet to be told. Anyone who wants to be involved or knows anyone they think should be involved can contact the charity.


From BBC News

Dr Bilal Hassam, Executive Member of The Leaf Network, shared his thoughts last Wednesday on taking care of elderly parents, on Channel 4's 4thought.tv.

This airing coincided with the major news story on 15th June: a financial crisis at Southern Cross, the UK's largest care home provider, with 751 homes across the country.

Bilal Hassam gave his views, both as a Muslim and a doctor, briefly discussing what he believes are the Muslim and societal duties towards our parents and elderly relatives.


Watch Dr. Hassam's video on {www.4thought.tv}

Stay updated on British Muslim activism {www.theleafnetwork.org.uk}

Image: 4Thought.tv ©

Muslimness.com is British, Muslim, and brewed with a Yorkshire flavour

In February 2010 I, Zaufishan, was interviewed as a British Muslim designer and writer for Gazelle Media's 'Best Of British Islam' video series. I was particularly honoured to be included with the likes of renowned photographer Peter Sanders, women's campaigner Shaista Gohir, commemorated Indian soldiers from the world wars, and a multitude of regal iconic Muslims.