Archive for the ‘Inter-Faith’ Category
Administrator on November 14th, 2011
Date: Saturday 19th – Monday 21st November 2011
Time: 12-6pm
Venue: Makkah Masjid, 36 Thornville Road Leeds LS6 1JY
Visit Makkah Masjid’s magnificent exhibition and see the beauty of Islamic Art which has inspired people across the globe for centuries.
The exhibition will showcase spectacular handpainted art work and calligraphy on traditional canvases, framed using beautiful coloured material.
Most of the art work is available to buy. Look no further for your perfect unique Islamic New Year gift for family and friends.
Everyone is welcome.
Administrator on November 11th, 2011
Leeds Makkah Masjid invites you to the Caring for the Local Community event which is being held as part of the National Inter Faith Week 2011. The event will be held 20th November 2011 between 1-4pm.
The Muslim community, like other faith communities, has a long history of contributing to social action and is able to impact on areas of high social needs, respond to local priorities, increase volunteering and has a history of working in the spirit of localism.
Event Partners
As part of this event, Makkah Masjid will bring together faith communities and local civil and business partners. The event partners include:
- members of the following institutions: Baab Ul Ilm, Iqra centre and Abu Hurairah Masjid
- people from across other faiths including members of All Hallows church and members of faith forums in Leeds;
- local businesses, including Co-Op superstore.
Event Activities
The activities shall include:
- Young people from across the communities visiting the elderly, serving tea and coffees, listening to their experiences and sharing experiences with them;
- Collecting Food for the homeless and those in desperate need; and
- Workshops & discussions.
The workshops & discussions will cover the following topics:
(i) Caring for the community in the Muslim faith
(ii) Volunteerism
(iii) Youth engagement/disengagement
(iv) Nature, Art & Well-being
The event will be open to people of all faiths and no faiths. Everyone who is interested in the role and contribution of faith in society is welcome.
Administrator on November 5th, 2011
The recent economic crisis has affected everyone but there are some that have been affected more than others. It has left many Britons struggling to make ends meet. As a result homeless and refugees have been affected even more so.
Leeds Makkah Masjid, Deen Foundation, Young Minds and Woodsley Community Centre is therefore running a Food Campaign between 1-November 2011- 31 December 2011.
Caring for those in need is at the heart of Islamic teachings. The Glorious Qur’an describes righteous people as those who, ‘…feed the poor, the orphans and the captives out of the love of God, saying, “We only feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.”’ (76:8-9)
After the Holy Qur’an, the Prophetic actions (Sunnah) and sayings (Ahadith) are the most important guidance for Muslims. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked “What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, ‘To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not Know’ [Bukhari]
Further, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
“He is not a Muslim who eats his fill when his neighbour goes hungry.” [Bayhaqi]
“Visit the sick, feed the hungry and liberate those in bondage.” [Bukhari]
Islam emphasizes the need to bring relief to people suffering from difficulties. As a result, Leeds Makkah Masjid, Deen Foundation, Young Minds and Woodsley Community Centre have partnered with a number of local and regional charities to provide food to those in need. Food is donated by local people and businesses which is distributed amongst the homeless and refugees and also given to charities that specialise in this area.
On Sunday 20th November, trips will be organised to various organisations/charities for people to see the impact of their contribution on those who are in desperate need.
Join us by donating a few items of food this winter and increase your reward bank.
Administrator on July 19th, 2011
The Norway tragedy has been a shock for everyone. On 22 July 2011, the Norway Far-Right extremist donated a bomb that killed seven in downtown Oslo. Then Breivik embarked on a shooting spree at a summer youth camp on Utøya island, killing at least 86, the biggest massacre by a single gunman in modern times.
Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and their families as in Islam even the loss of a single life can never be justified, let alone so many young lives who had everything to live for.
It is reported that the perpetrator of the tragic massacre was fuelled by a hatred of Muslims, their place in Western society and multi-culturalism. In his bizarre and Islamophobic 1,500-plus page manifesto and video, Breivik expressed his desire for “genuine Europeans” to fight multicultural society and cleanse the continent of Muslims.
This wave of hateful, unjust and discriminatory approach to Muslims and the faith of Islam must be considered at all levels.
Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim, said the tragic events in Norway are a reminder that far-right extremism is a major and growing threat. Despite the rise of far-right in Europe, political leaders have not taken far-right extremism seriously enough. It is encouraging that the UK National Security Council has called on police and security services to re-assess the level of scrutiny of far right groups.
The horrific event also highlights the rise of Islamphobia in Europe, as pointed out by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi earlier in the year. Other minority communities have suffered intimidation before and we do not want the history to be repeated in the same way. It is the responsibility of the press, the government and the Muslim community, to deal with it. Usually, Islamophobia arises as a result of misunderstanding and each community can do more at learning about other community’s faith, culture and lifestyle, he said”
This unfortunate tragedy and loss of innocent human life has, once again shown biased approach taken by certain quarters of the news media. A number of popular news channels and news papers made the usual assumption and pointed the finger towards AQ. The Sun rolled out the heading “Al-Qaeda” Massacre: NORWAY’S 9/11.
‘Jumping the gun’ in this particular context can actually have short-term consequences that are unacceptable along with their long-term affects: people could have assaulted some Muslims in Norway before it came to light that the perpetrator(s) was/were not Muslims.
The issue of how “terrorism” is defined has, once again, been raised; is killing and terrorizing of innocent for political or other gains a “terrorist” act or is this label only used when so-called Muslims commit such heinous crime?
Mr Breivik has said he was part of an anti-Islam network that has two cells in Norway and several more abroad are in operation. We urge the authorites to pay due attention to the rise of anti-Islam movements and tackle this issue appropriately. Any myths that exist about the peaceful faith of Islam must be debunked. Anti-Muslim and right-wing thinkers must also carefully examine whether their ideologies, conspiracy theories and demonization of Muslims have the potential of radicalizing individuals.
Administrator on June 28th, 2011
Makkah Masjid is pleased to invite you to an inter-active workshop on ‘Shariah and compatibility with Western values’. Amongst others, the workshop will be facilitated by Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim.
The objectives of the worskhop are:
• Understand what is meant by Shariah and the different perspectives
• Understand examples of living Islam within a Western
context
• Be able to deal with real situations and dilemmas
Date & Time: Sunday 3 July 2011, 5-7pm
Venue: Woodsley Community Centr, 64 Woodsley Road, Leeds LS3 1DU
Administrator on May 3rd, 2011
The death of Bin Laden Osama bin Laden has been an advocate of hatred and the taking of innocent lives around the world in the name of Islam. Islam promotes peace and harmony and is completely against the taking of innocent human lives. We hope his reported death brings an end to terror, violent extremism and the negative attacks on the holy faith of Islam and Muslims.
Makkah Masjid has always condemned terrorism, violence and injustice and will continue to do so. Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Asim, said: “violent extremism, terrorism and the taking of innocent lives are against the teachings of Islam. We hope that this news brings an end to bin Laden’s poisonous ideology, which has resulted in the loss of many lives around the world, and that Muslims and non-Muslims alike can now move on from the events of the previous decade. Today our thoughts are with the families of all those who have suffered in the terrorist attacks.
We urge all Muslims to stand united against people who preach hatred and promote an evil and distorted ideology, which has nothing to do with Islam.”
“All forms of terrorism must be stopped and the root causes that lead to extremists recruiting more young people must be fully explored and eliminated in the most efficient and amicable manner so that all human beings can live in peace and harmony”, he said.
Administrator on April 16th, 2011
Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Muhmmad Asim, recently shared a platform with the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu along with the Leader of Kirklees Council, Cllr Mehboob Khan, and the Chief Executive, Adrian Lythgo. The Imam addressed the Muslim and Christian faith leaders at Anwar-e-Madina masjid in Dewsbury, and highlighted the importance of different faiths working together and building good community relationships.
The Archbishop of York, as a leading figure in the Anglican church, encouraged members of different faiths to be wary of labelling each other.
Dr John Sentamu said: “If you are homeless, you are homeless. If your family is in need, your family is in need. We need to rise above the labels we give people.”
The event was organised by Kirklees Faiths Forum. Fakhara Rehman, from Kirklees Faiths Forum, said: “The Archbishop’s visit demonstrated the importance he puts to good relations between all people.”
Qari Asim said: “People of different backgrounds share the same concerns about their neighbourhood and it is important that people of different faiths come together to demonstrate unity of purpose in this regard.”
The event was featured in the ITV Calendar.
Administrator on March 14th, 2011
Leeds Makkah Masjid is pleased to invite you to the The Peter Bell Memorial Lecture 2011:”Seventy Ways to Enrich Interfaith Activities”
Wednesday March 16th at 7pm
Council Chamber of Leeds Civic Hall
Attended by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr James McKenna
Guest speaker: Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE
Free admission everyone welcome
Prayer room available
Administrator on January 24th, 2011
The Conservative chairman, Sayeeda Warsi, recently discussed the ever-growing issue of Islamophobia. She said that it had “passed the dinner-table test” and become widely socially acceptable in Britain, Lady Warsi, the first Muslim woman to attend Cabinet, said that she believed prejudice against Muslims was now seen by many Britons as normal. She raised her concerns in a speech at Leicester University on 20 January 2011. She quite rightly pointed out the wrong tendency to divide Muslims between “moderates” and “extremists”, which only leads to misunderstanding and intolerance in the community.
Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Asim said: “Islamophobia is rife and Muslims do experience it, some more than others. Other minority communities have suffered intimidation before and we do not want the history to be repeated in the same way. It is the responsibility of the press, the government and the Muslim community, to deal with it. It is encouraging to see a senior member of the government bringing this debate to the forefront. Usually, Islamophobia arises as a result of misunderstanding and each community can do more at learning about other community’s faith, culture and lifestyle.”
Administrator on November 17th, 2010
The Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) is holding an event on Saturday 27th November 2010 with the theme “Enabling Faith communities to make a big impact on Society” at Leeds Makkah Masjid. We would like to invite you to this event.
This event is planned as part of the National Inter Faith Week and open to people of all faiths and no faiths, who are interested in the role and contribution of faith in society. The event would be a contribution to the series of events taking place across the country.
This initiatives is lead by MINAB with local communities in Northern England and other partners such as DEMOS, with the aim to highlight the role of faith communities on the Big Society Programme.
Faith communities have a long history of contributing to social action. They are able to impact on areas of high social needs, respond to local priorities, increase volunteering and have a history of working in the spirit of localism.
With the challenges facing Britain today, faith communities have huge potentials to make positive contributions to develop the “Big Society” Programme.
The event will bring together communities, partners of civil and civic society, to share ideas and learning involving local partners from policy makers to service providers.
Workshops will be on the following topics:
- “We must be the change we want to see in the world”
- What can faith communities offer?
- Social Action Initiatives/ Social Enterprises
- Environment
- Youth Disengagement
There will be key note speeches from prominent faith leaders, directors of inter-faith organisations and government officials.
Venue: Makkah Mosque, 36 Thornville Road Leeds LS6 1JY
Date & Time: Saturday 27th November 2010 at 12:30pm
The invitation is open to All.
The Programme is as follows:
| 12:30 pm |
Network & Lunch |
| |
First Session |
| 1:15pm |
Opening Remarks
Welcome: Imam Qari Asim |
| 1.25pm |
Inter faith action building stronger integration and cohesive societies
Harriet Crabtree, Director, Inter Faith Network |
| 1:45 pm |
Strengtheing Citizenship through Multi Faith Engagement
Irfan Chisti, Principle, Light of Islam Academy
|
| 2:05 am |
Faith communities contributing in areas of high social needs, to local priorities, to increasingvolunteering and building local action
Canon Charles Dobbin, Interfaith Relations Officer |
| 2.25 pm |
Faith awareness & ActionJulie Siddiqi, Executive Director, Islamic Society of Britain |
| |
|
| 2:45 |
Workshops
Addressing youth disengagement Dawud Hendy, Urban FlavourEnvironment, Samia Shafqat, Faith 4 Change
Community organising, Mustafa Field, MINAB
Social Enterprises, Doreen Finneron, Faith Based Regeneration Network |
| 3:30pm |
Launch of DEMOS Toolkit on Youth EngagementJamie Bartlett & Qari Asim |
| 4.00 pm |
Prayer & Break |
| |
Second Session |
| |
|
| 4:20pm |
Mosque & Young People,Muslim Belal, former rapper
|
| 4:50pm |
Panel Chair:
Jamie Bartlett, DEMOS
Qari Asim, MINABJulie Siddiqui, Islamic Society of Britain
Ikram Butt, Leeds Rugby Foundation
Irfan Chisti, Light of Islamic Academy
|
| 5.30 |
Dinner |
| 6:00pm |
Close |
