By the grace of Allah Almighty, in the blessed month of Ramadan a number of people declared their belief in the oneness of Allah and in the last and final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and embraced Islam at Makkah Masjid, Leeds. These were reverts who opened their hearts to Islam.
Makkah Masjid has long been committed to opening the eyes of the wider community to the beauty of the religion of Islam, through holding annual Exhibitions during which the doors of the Mosque are open to the entire community, hosting inter-faith events and inviting non-Muslims to share in the opening of the fast during Ramadan in a community iftari.
Reversion to Islam involves a person declaring: “ I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.”
Islam was not sent for any one nation or group of people; any one can become a Muslim no matter what his or her race, language or colour. Islam was sent as a complete way of life for the whole of humanity. Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an:
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” (Quran 5:3)
All sins committed by the person embracing Islam before becoming a Muslim are forgiven by Allah, no matter how serious they were. The person who converts to Islam is totally reborn and starts with a clean record, in much the same way as a new baby is born free of any sin or wrong doing. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) confirmed that this was the case when he said to a person accepting Islam:
“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Sahih Muslim)
Today it is estimated that there are 2.4 million Muslims in the UK, the Muslim population having grown by more than 500,000 in just four years according to official research collated for the Times newspaper. Research by the Office for National Statistics reveals that the Muslim population in the UK multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society. Europe is home to 38 million Muslims For further details see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece#
According to a comprehensive report of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the global Muslim population stands at 1.57 billion, meaning that nearly one in every four people in the world practice Islam. The report, which was published in October 2009,also identified about 317 million Muslims – or one-fifth of the world’s Muslim population – living in countries where Islam is not the majority religion.
To see the full report click on http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece#
The Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim commented: “By the grace of Allah Almighty, Makkah Mosque holds a long tradition of welcoming people into the fold of Islam and people from Leeds and neighbouring cities come to Makkah Mosque to take their Shahadah (embrace Islam). A number of people have embraced Islam during the holy month of Ramadan and one of the blessed ceremonies during which a girl took the Shahadah was witnessed by people throughout the country who watched the event on TV. We pray to Allah Almighty that He enables us to continue striving in His way and educating people of the peaceful message of Islam.”
Yorkshire Post today published an article on Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim.
In the published article, Qari Asim said:
“I have been a full-time Imam for five years, following an intensive training programme which I undertook at the same time as studying to pursue a career in law.
My vision has always been to make the mosque a beacon for the whole of the country.”
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was in the UK at the end of last month, attending various fundraising events across the country to raise money for the Muhammad Ali Center in Kentucky, USA.
The Muhammad Ali Center serves as both a cultural attraction and an international education centre that is inspired by the ideals of its founder, Muhammad Ali. Two and a half levels of interactive exhibits and captivating multimedia presentations introduce Ali’s epic life through the six core values by which he lives: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, and spirituality. The Center strives to inspire its visitors to pursue their potential and explore the greatness that lies within themselves.
Makkah Mosque shares the Muhammad Ali Center’s mission of encouraging each individual to reach within themselves to fulfill the potential Allah has given them. Like the Center, Makkah Mosque is committed to helping both children and adults achieve the most that they can by encouraging engagement in activities and promoting self belief.
The President of the Muhammad Ali Center, Greg Roberts, was invited to Makkah Masjid during Muhammad Ali’s visit to the UK. Mr Roberts met the Imam of the Mosque, Imam Qari Asim, and discussed the various projects Makkah Mosque is involved in that mirror the aims of the Muhammad Ali Center. These include the promotion of youth engagement, respect for all human kind through interfaith work and communal relations, integration rather than isolation, promoting spirituality and the message that inner peace at an individual level will ultimately lead to peace on a global scale.
Greg Roberts and Imam Asim also had a positive discussion about the possibility of Makkah Masjid and the Muhammad Ali Center working together on various programmes in the future.
Mr Roberts invited Imam Asim to a fund-raising dinner held in Muhammad Ali’s honour at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, on 26 August 2009. Imam Qari Asim attended the dinner with a delegation from Leeds and had the good fortune to meet and speak to Muhammad Ali and Mrs Ali . On behalf of the Muslim community of Leeds, Imam Asim along with the some of the members of the delegation from Leeds presented a cheque to Muhammad Ali for the Muhammad Ali Center and the charities that Muhamamd Ali supports. The community of Leeds showed great generosity to the Muhammad Ali Center as a token of their great love, respect and admiration for the boxing hero , a great Muslim icon and a humanatarian.
There are currently proposals for Muhammad Ali to visit the UK again and it would be a great honour to invite the greatest boxing legend Muhammad Ali to Leeds as part his next tour to the UK, insha-Allah.
Muhammad Ali quotes:
1. ” I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace. ”
2. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
3. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
4. “I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.”
5. I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ‘em out, I pick the round”
6 “A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life”
7. “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark”
8. “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”
Yorkshire Business Insider today reported on Imam of Makkah Masjid speaking at the first ever conference on Islamic Finance in the North of England.
The Yorkshire Business Insider reported as follows:
“Leeds is to host a two-day conference on Islamic finance. The event, Opportunities and Challenges in the World of Islamic Finance, aims to create a better understanding of Islamic finance, the rationale for growth in Shariah-compliant financial products and the relevance of Islamic finance in today’s world. Professor Ros Haniffa, head of the accounting and finance group at Bradford University, and Qari Asim, an associate at DLA Piper and the youngest Imam in the UK, are among the speakers lined up for the event, which will take place at the Royal Armouries on 13 and 14 October 2009.”
The Conference will include presentations from distinguished speakers across the globe from the commercial, academic, financial and political fields seeking to cover different sectors involved in Islamic Finance.
The Islamic Finance Conference provides opportunities to:
1. Understand the basic principles and backgrounds of Islamic finance;
2. Understand how Islamic finance can help you and your organization;
3. Learn about the opportunities for you in Islamic Finance;
4. Understand how Islamic Finance has survived the current financial crisis;
5. Understand the challenges of Islamic Finance across national, cultural, social, and economic boundaries.
As Makkah Mosque is keen to raise awareness of Islamic Finance and provides training and seminars in this regard, the mosque is supporting this first ever conference on Islamic Finance in Yorkshire.
“I am delighted to be a part of the first ever conference on Islamic Finance in the North of England. The conference will provide a fantastic opportunity for those with an interest in this niche area to learn more about the core principles of Sharia compliant financial products, and to make the necessary connections to further their business or personal interests. Islamic finance in the UK is in greater demand than it ever has been, so the conference couldn’t have come at a better time.” said Qari Asim, Imam of Makkah Mosque.
For further detsails, please visit www.isfinco.com
Recently Imam of Leeds Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim, attended a convention of UK scholars at Birmingham.
Qari Asim also met shaykh-ul-Islam Professor Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the founding leader of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International (MQI), an organization with branches in more than 90 countries worldwide, working for the promotion of peace and harmony between communities and the revival of spiritual endeavour based on the true teachings of Islam.
Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is a prolific author and researcher. He has authored around 1000 books out of which 360 books are already published. He is a captivating and unrivalled orator and speaker, he has delivered over 5000 lectures (in Urdu, English and Arabic), on a wide range of subjects. His speeches are popular amongst the scholars as well as ordinary people.
Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, amongst many other, holds the following positions:
Chief Executive of Minhaj International University, Lahore (Pakistan)
Founding Leader of Minhaj-ul-Quran International
Founder Chairman of Minhaj Welfare Foundation
Through his love for knowledge, his intelligence, oratory and writings, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is one of the most accomplished Islamic Scholars of our time. His whole life has been marked with highlighting the importance of love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the love of the friends of Allah (Auliya Allah).
His main aims and objectives are to promote interfaith dialogue and to suppress the extreme image of Islam. His main effort is towards the betterment of the social, cultural, and religious teachings of Islam, and to enlighten people with the knowledge of their rights and duties and to present a realistic, rational and scientific picture of Islam. His revivalist, reformative and reconstructive efforts hold the distinct position for the propagation of faith.
To read books online, please click here: http://www.minhajbooks.com/en.php
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is indeed a man of manifold and staggering achievements.
Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim, also met Shaykh Asad as-Sagarhji at the event. Shaykh As’ad Muhammad Saeed as-Sagharji is one of the greatest Faqihs (jurists) of Syria. He is author of the famous work “Al-Fiqh al-Hanafi wa Adillatuhu”. Not only is he a great scholar of Hadith, but also a deeply spiritual personality.
His works are included as part of syllabuses in Islamic colleges and universities all over the world including at the prestigious al-Azhar of Egypt. Shaykh as-Sagharji is the Head Imam of renowned Jami’ah Masjid ‘Umawi (Ummayad Mosque), comprising 7 permanent imams who are among the religious authorities and scholars of Syria.
At the event, Qari Asim met many Ulema, scholars of Islam, who are striving hard for the religion of Islam in the UK.Qari Asim also met with Shaykh Muhammad Ramadan al-Qadri of Al Farghana Institute, which is a non-profit establishment which aims to revive the classical Islamic sciences and produce scholars of a calibre that can truly represent Islam in the 21st century.
Young Minds in partnership with Makkah Mosque, organises outdoor activities for the youth, in particular an annual trip to either theme parks or Adventures. In August 2009, the students of Makkah Masjid and Madina Masjid made a trip to Blackwell Adventure.
It is believed that such trip provide young people with great learning opportunities. Outdoor experiences stimulate, inspire and prove learning is FUN. They help increase the youth’s confidence, encourage team work and build trust, develop leadership skills and responsibility. It is also a great way to overcome fears and have FUN!
Young Minds is committed to provide such programmes that will encourage the youth and children achieve their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals and as responsible members of their local, national and international communities.
With these aims in mind, this year Young Minds organized an adventure to Blackwell Adventure. Below are some of the images from the trip.
On 15th of August (2009), Imam of Makkah Masjid, Imam Qasim was invited to participate at the grand opening ceremony of a newly purpose-built mosque in Newcastle. Bilal Mosque & Newcastle Islamic Centre (Malvern Street, NE4 6SU) had been under construction for the last 5 years. Finally, with the grace of Allah, the main construction work was completed this year and a ceremony was a held on 15th August to mark its completion.
Bilal Masjid – Newcastle
In his short lecture, Imam Qasim praised the generosity of the Newcastle Muslims for donating generously to the Mosque fund and ensuring that the construction of the Masjid is completed without any hindrance. He congratulated the community on their sincere efforts to construct a house of Allah on this earth.
Bilal Mosque has cost above £2 million pounds to construct and this sum has been donated mainly by the local Muslim population. It’s an impressive and magnificent building and has very attractive and charming design inside the prayer hall.
Imam Qasim speaking at the event
In his lecture, Imam Qasim said:
“Masajid are the houses of Allah on this earth and the worshippers that attend the mosques are the honourable guests of Allah Almighty. Those Muslims who donate their hard earned money to the mosque funds are the true believers. The Holy Quran says ‘Only those people who believe in Allah and on the Day of Judgement will build and manage masajid.’ Therefore, those people who help to establish mosques are the true faithful ones. A mosque in a community is a testimony of the faith that the community has in Allah in His religion.”
Imam Qasim also praised the internal and external beauty of the masjid and prayed that Allah Almighty may give the community a great reward in this life and in the Hereafter for all their efforts and hard work.
Imam Qasim reminded the congregation that the mosques are a centre of spirituality and social cohesion. They are also centres of learning, peace and harmony.
Imam of Bilal Masjid, Allamah Qari Saeed Ahmad Mujadadi said that Bilal Masjid is not only a place of worship but also an Islamic education centre that is striving hard to convey the true and traditional understanding of Islam to the youth.
Imam of Bilal Masjid (Newcastle) – Qari Saeed saheb
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Raja Zafar Iqbal saheb (member of the mosque management committee) mentioned the history of the masjid and the services it provides to the community. He also explained the work that had been performed internally and externally to the mosque. He explained that the marble used inside the mosque was imported from Pakistan, the carpet was imported form China and the mimbar (the pulpit) was donated by Pir Sayyed Kabir Ali Shah saheb of Pakistan.
Raja Zafar Iqbal saheb
The opening ceremony of Bilal Masjid was attended by Allamah Nisar Sulemani saheb, Allamah Ijaz Ahmed Shami saheb, Allamah Ghulam Fareed Uthmani saheb, Allamah Maroof Subhani saheb and many other local Muslim scholars.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with a population of 164 million (2006 estimate), is the second largest Muslim state in the world, after Indonesia. Pakistan is unique among Muslim countries as to be the only country to have been established in the name of Islam. As Islam is not merely a set of rituals or a source of law rather it details with all aspects of human life–moral, social, political, and financial.
The birth of Pakistan was as a result of a dream seen by the visionary, philosopher and poet Sir Allamah Muhammad Iqbal, who on 29 December 1930, called for an autonomous “state in north-western India for Indian Muslims”. The Charismatic Leader, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, espoused the Two Nation Theory. This theory held that there were two nations, Hindus and Muslims living in the territory of the Sub-continent. Hindus and Muslims were the two major nations on the basis of religion, way-of-life, customs, traditions, culture and historical conditions. Therefore, they should be able to implement the teachings of their respective faiths in their lives without fear of other.
In order to achieve the independence of Pakistan, the Sunni Ulemas, scholars, Mashaikh and Pirs acted as key individuals and were at the forefront of the struggle. They asked all their disciples, followers and mureeds to join the movement to establish a new Islamic state. Muslim community saw Pakistan as an Islamic state that would reflect the religious and social values of Islam and its ideals of brotherhood, equality and social justice where dignity of life and rights of everyone will be protected.
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah - Father of the Nation
Quaid-i-Azam (the Great Leader), as a leader of the Muslim League in 1940, demanded the formation of an independent Pakistan and after 7 years of peaceful struggle, on 14 August 1947, Pakistan was born. Independence resulted in communal riots across India and Pakistan and millions of Muslims were martyred, uprooted from their homes as they moved from India to Pakistan.
The word ‘Pakistan’ has been coined from the names of those regions that make up this nation – Punjab, Afgan Border States, Kashmir, Sind and Baluchistan. In the words of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinah, one of the objectives of formation of Pakistan was to bring “Unity, Faith and Discipline” to its people.
The Pakistan’s Independence Day is celebrated all over Pakistan and at Pakistani High Commission in the UK with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks. However, it is also a day to remind ourselves of the purposes behind the formation of Pakistan and the sacrifices that millions of Muslims offered to establish an Islamic state. It is a day of reflection to see whether those ideals have been achieved.
On August 15th, 1947 Quaid-i-Azam addressed to the nation over the radio as following.
“The creation of the new state has placed a tremendous responsibility on the citizens of Pakistan. It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how a nation containing many elements can live in peace and amity and work for the betterment of all its citizens irrespective of caste or creed. Our object should be peace within, and peace without. We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial friendly relations with our immediate neighbours and with the world at large.”
A historian, Stanley Wolpert, pays tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinah in the following words:
“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.”
Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim, in his sermon said that “14 August is a day of reflection; it is a day to remember millions of Muslims who lost their lives for the sake of Islamic state, a state in whihc equality and social justice could prevail; it is aday to remember our heros, such as the great visionary Allamah Muhammad Iqbal who tried to awaken the Muslims through his awesome poetry; it a day to learn from the leadership skills of Quaid-i-Azam, who turned the dream of formation of an independent state into reality. The reasons for corruption, instability and lack of peace in Pakistan are due to moving away from the basis on which Pakistan was founded. The religious and social values of Islam have to be acted upon if we want peace and stability in that part of the world. ”
Allama Muhammad Iqbal – Poet of the East
Dr Sir Allama Iqbal is regarded as one of the most influential Muslim poet and scholar of the 20th century throughout the Muslim World.
Allama Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation across the world, but specifically in South Asia; a series of famous lectures he delivered to this effect are published as The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. One contribution of Iqbal to the contemporary Islamic thought is his bracketing modern science with ‘God-consciousness’ which he considers more precious than mere belief in God.
The love of Allah and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was inmate in Allama Iqbal temperament from the beginning. He was immersed in the love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He is well-known for his Ishq-i-Rasool and has written many poems in praise and honour of the Prophet (sallahu Alihi wa-Alihi wa-ashabihi was-salam).
Below is a poem by Allamah Muhammad Iqbal
Makkah Masjid will be celebrating Pakistan’s Independence Day and holding an event for the Youth on Sunday 16 August at 11am at Woodsley Community Centre.
Secretary of Leeds Muslim Council, the management committe of Makkah Masjid, has also written a very informative and thought-provking book about Pakistan. The book is called: Pakistan at Cross-Roads.
Insha’Allah Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller will be delivering a lecture on Tasawwuf on Wednesday 12th August 2009. The lecture will start at 7.30pm and finish before Maghrib prayer.
Makkah Masjid is a purpose built masjid that was opened in August 2003. It is a three storey building, with the lower floor dedicated specifically for sisters’ use. The masjid has a total capacity of approximately 25000. For this event, brothers will be accommodated in two large halls on the ground and upper floor. Map for Leeds Makkah Masjid
Very good facilities are provided for sisters. There is a separate side entrance which leads directly to the sisters area. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the masjid, or telephone the mobile number as on the poster for the event.
Sheikh Nuh Keller is one of the most authoritative voices of traditional, moderate Islam in the English-speaking world. He embraced over 30 years ago and since then he has devoted himself to the service of Islam.
Shaikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller has a wide following of students including in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia—as well as Turkey, Pakistan, and the Middle East.
In addition to teaching Sufism, Shaykh Nuh has written several books and articles on a wide range of subjects. Perhaps his most important work to date is the voluminous Reliance of the Traveler, an annotated English translation of ‘Umdat al-Salik, a Shafi’i legal work by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri (d.769/1368). It contains over six thousand legal rulings, and was the first English translation of an Islamic legal work to be certified by al-Azhar University.
For further details about Sheikh Nuh Keller and his work, please click on the following links:
Tasawwuf is a branch of Islamic knowledge which focuses on the spiritual development of a Muslim. The goal of Tasawwuf is complete submission to the Shariah and Sunnah in order to attain purification of the heart and soul and to develop a deep and strong connection with Allah.
Data Uthman Ali al-Hujwiri (d. 465/1072) states that “Tasawwuf is not composed of practices (rusum) and sciences (‘ulum), but it is akhlaq.”
Wa Llahu lahu ul-haqqi wa huwa yahdis-sabil. Hasbuna Llahu wahdahu wa ni’mal-wakil. Wa salli ‘ala Sayyadina Muhammadin wa aalihi wa sahbihi ajma’in wal-hamdu li-Llahi rabb il-’alamin.
Truth belongs to Allah; it is He who shows the way.
Allah, alone, suffices us, and what a fine guardian is He!
Blessings upon our Master Muhammad
and his Family and Companions altogether
and praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
Administrator on October 12th, 2009
