Great British Islam
This documentary tells the little-known story of three English gentlemen who embraced Islam at a time when to be a Muslim was to be seen to be a traitor to your country. Through personal journeys of still surviving relatives, the programme looks at their achievements and how their legacy lives on today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh942pzBKes
Great British Islam
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ghulam muhammed
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Indian-origin Muslim cleric gets honorary doctorate
An Indian-origin Muslim cleric has been awarded an honorary doctorate by University of Leicester in Britain in recognition of his commendable work for the local community, it was reported on Monday.
Muhammad Shahid Raza, head Imam at the Leicester Central Mosque, received the honorary degree from university chancellor Lord Grocott at a ceremony at De Montfort Hall before a global audience of graduating students and their families, www.leicestermercury.co.uk reported.
Raza was born in Bihar and studied in Moradabad, Agra and Meerut before moving to Britain. He became head Imam at the Islamic Centre in Leicester in 1978.
Raza has spent his life working with Muslim community groups and on intra-faith relations, both nationally and internationally.
"I have always strived to instill in my students a desire to achieve academically and integrate themselves as valuable members and contributors to society," Raza was quoted as saying.
"For this reason, I reflect on this award fondly and I hope it will further inspire the young Muslims of Leicester," he added.
In Leicester, Raza has established a tradition of inter-faith dialogue by welcoming to the centre many groups and individuals from different faith communities, the report said.
Raza also helped form the Federation of Mosques in the city and is currently the executive secretary and registrar of The Muslim Law (Sharia) Council UK.
He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year's Honours list for services to the Muslim community in Leicester.
"Raza has been a hugely influential figure in our city and county as a leading Muslim cleric and teacher over a period approaching 40 years. In terms of Interfaith dialogue over that period, again his influence has been profound," Stephen Foster, coordinating chaplain to the university, was quoted as saying.
http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 398_1.html
An Indian-origin Muslim cleric has been awarded an honorary doctorate by University of Leicester in Britain in recognition of his commendable work for the local community, it was reported on Monday.
Muhammad Shahid Raza, head Imam at the Leicester Central Mosque, received the honorary degree from university chancellor Lord Grocott at a ceremony at De Montfort Hall before a global audience of graduating students and their families, www.leicestermercury.co.uk reported.
Raza was born in Bihar and studied in Moradabad, Agra and Meerut before moving to Britain. He became head Imam at the Islamic Centre in Leicester in 1978.
Raza has spent his life working with Muslim community groups and on intra-faith relations, both nationally and internationally.
"I have always strived to instill in my students a desire to achieve academically and integrate themselves as valuable members and contributors to society," Raza was quoted as saying.
"For this reason, I reflect on this award fondly and I hope it will further inspire the young Muslims of Leicester," he added.
In Leicester, Raza has established a tradition of inter-faith dialogue by welcoming to the centre many groups and individuals from different faith communities, the report said.
Raza also helped form the Federation of Mosques in the city and is currently the executive secretary and registrar of The Muslim Law (Sharia) Council UK.
He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year's Honours list for services to the Muslim community in Leicester.
"Raza has been a hugely influential figure in our city and county as a leading Muslim cleric and teacher over a period approaching 40 years. In terms of Interfaith dialogue over that period, again his influence has been profound," Stephen Foster, coordinating chaplain to the university, was quoted as saying.
http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 398_1.html
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ghulam muhammed
- Posts: 11653
- Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:34 pm
Re: Great British Islam
British ambassador to Saudi Arabia converts to Islam, attends Hajj
Simon Collins, the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has confirmed his conversion to Islam after a lifetime of diplomatic work in Muslim countries, including Iraq and Syria.
Collins, whose wife Huda Mujarkesh is a Syrian Muslim, is the first British diplomat to perform the revered pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj.
He was pictured with his wife dressed in the traditional white robes worn by pilgrims in a photo shared by Saudi women’s rights campaigner Fawziah al-Bakr via social media on Monday.
“The first British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to do the pilgrimage after his conversion to Islam: Simon Collins with his wife Huda in Mecca. Alhamdulillah [Praise be to Allah],” she tweeted.
Collins has been posted to Riyadh since 2015 after fleeing Syria where he was Britain’s representative until the civil war there escalated in 2011/12. He had previously worked as the UK’s ambassador to Qatar and part of the diplomatic corps in Bahrain, Tunisia, India, Jordan and Dubai.
The diplomat thanked well-wishers on Twitter after news of his conversion emerged, saying he had decided to join the Islamic faith “after spending 30 years in Muslim societies.” Among those to congratulate him were two members of the Saudi royal family.
As part of his conversion and pilgrimage, Collins can now use the honorific granted those who’ve visited Islam’s holiest city, giving him the title Ambassador Haji Collins.
Officials at the East London Mosque told the Times they hoped Collins would be “able to share his recent experiences from the hajj with his non-Muslim colleagues at the British embassy.”
They added that his “unique position” could prove vital in the relationship between Islam and the non-Muslim world.
Collins is, however, not the first British diplomat to convert to Islam. The writer and diplomat Charles le Gai Eaton converted to Islam in the 1950s before serving in India, Trinidad and Ghana.
Britain’s first diplomat to convert to Islam, Abdullah William Quilliam, was a 19th century British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, who denounced Britain’s imperialist policies in Sudan.
https://www.rt.com/uk/359422-saudi-amba ... m-convert/
Simon Collins, the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has confirmed his conversion to Islam after a lifetime of diplomatic work in Muslim countries, including Iraq and Syria.
Collins, whose wife Huda Mujarkesh is a Syrian Muslim, is the first British diplomat to perform the revered pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj.
He was pictured with his wife dressed in the traditional white robes worn by pilgrims in a photo shared by Saudi women’s rights campaigner Fawziah al-Bakr via social media on Monday.
“The first British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to do the pilgrimage after his conversion to Islam: Simon Collins with his wife Huda in Mecca. Alhamdulillah [Praise be to Allah],” she tweeted.
Collins has been posted to Riyadh since 2015 after fleeing Syria where he was Britain’s representative until the civil war there escalated in 2011/12. He had previously worked as the UK’s ambassador to Qatar and part of the diplomatic corps in Bahrain, Tunisia, India, Jordan and Dubai.
The diplomat thanked well-wishers on Twitter after news of his conversion emerged, saying he had decided to join the Islamic faith “after spending 30 years in Muslim societies.” Among those to congratulate him were two members of the Saudi royal family.
As part of his conversion and pilgrimage, Collins can now use the honorific granted those who’ve visited Islam’s holiest city, giving him the title Ambassador Haji Collins.
Officials at the East London Mosque told the Times they hoped Collins would be “able to share his recent experiences from the hajj with his non-Muslim colleagues at the British embassy.”
They added that his “unique position” could prove vital in the relationship between Islam and the non-Muslim world.
Collins is, however, not the first British diplomat to convert to Islam. The writer and diplomat Charles le Gai Eaton converted to Islam in the 1950s before serving in India, Trinidad and Ghana.
Britain’s first diplomat to convert to Islam, Abdullah William Quilliam, was a 19th century British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, who denounced Britain’s imperialist policies in Sudan.
https://www.rt.com/uk/359422-saudi-amba ... m-convert/