I Like the Society Because It Seeks to Engage
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Annual Newsletter 2012 - 2013 Abdullah Quilliam Society www.abdullahquilliam.com www.facebook.com/AbdullahQuilliam @quilliamsociety [email protected] Abdullah Quilliam Society Abdullah Quilliam Society Projects educational classes covering a wide range of Abdullah Quilliam subjects that were attended by both Muslims AQS Projects Cost of Building and non-Muslims, and included a museum and science laboratory. William Henry Quilliam, a local Liverpool The AQS has exciting plans and projects that it wishes to carry out in the new Heritage Centre. The We have completed phase one of the solicitor and resident embraced Islam in 1887 In 1893 the Institute published a weekly AQS want to restore the original Mosque for use and restore its features. We wish to recreate the refurbishment of the mosque. This involved (aged 31), after returning from a visit to Morocco, magazine, named ‘The Crescent’, and later library, museum, lecture hall, residences, school and college. We will create a visitor centre where replacing the rotten timbers in the roof and and took on the name Abdullah. He claimed that added the monthly ‘Islamic World’, which Muslims and non-Muslims can come to see this historic site and learn about Islam and Muslim treatment for dry rot in the building. We also he was the first native Englishman to embrace was printed on the Institute’s own press and history in the UK and Europe. There will be a museum and exhibitions on Quilliam and his fellow stripped the mosque area of the reinforced Islam. His conversion led to a remarkable story distributed to over 20 countries. The Crescent Muslims. There will be lectures, seminars and conferences with a chance to learn about Islam for concrete that was being used to protect the of the growth of Islam in Victorian Britain. This was published every week from 1893-1908 non-Muslims. birth, death and marriage certificates that were Abdullah Quilliam Society history is now beginning to emerge and has (nearly 800 editions), and was effectively a dairy stored there. important lessons for Muslims in Britain and and record of Islam in Britain and around the We will also carry out further research and prepare archives on British and European Muslim around the world. We have now started work on phase two, which The Abdullah Quilliam Society (AQS) is a UK world. There are hundreds of archive copies of history. The building next door could be purchased and used as and extension to the Mosque, and involves painting the exterior and repairing the registered charity founded in 1998 by a small these magazines in the British Library. Without as an Islamic School/College and conference centre. It may be used for, marriage ceremonies and Georgian window frames, and cleaning the rear group of Liverpool Muslims, including Akbar this unique weekly record we would not know of special events and as a support centre for new Muslims. A full list of projects, is listed below: of the building. This phase also involves doing Ali, Galib Khan, Zia Choudri, Mrs. Abassi, the existence of this native Muslim community the minimum work necessary to number 8 Somaya and Rashid Macteer. They became of around 200 people in Liverpool, and many Mosque and Building Project Heritage and Visitor Project building, which is the one in which the historical aware of a unique heritage of Islam in Victorian other parts of Britain. These offer the first mosque is located. It will include creation of Britain, in the city of Liverpool. This history was attempt at Muslim journalism in the UK and offer a unique insight into a British Muslims Establish Quilliam Exhibition Room wudu facilities, and disabled access. We estimate located in the Liverpool City Council registry Acquire Building that this phase will cost around £50,000. This office for births, deaths and marriages. This view of events and issues in Liverpool, the UK Establish Museum Rooms for History of Refurbish Building will enable the mosque to be able to be used for building was once the site of the historic first and the Muslim world, at a crucial period of Islam and Muslims in UK Muslims living under colonial rule. Restore features of mosque and rooms prayers once more and for us to create an office UK Mosque, Muslim community Institutions Organise Tours and visits to Mosque and at the front of the building, so we can be on site and Dawah activities of Sheikh Abdullah Build Café and Islamic gardens He also wrote and published a number of Centre for public information and visitors. Quilliam from 1889-1908. Staff at the registry Purchase & refurbish building next door books. In particular his “Faith of Islam” had Arrange visits for non-Muslim and Muslim office would often refer to the room where all Establish larger Prayer hall in new building three editions translated into thirteen different We are applying for major grants for phase three the files of births, deaths and marriages were schools languages, and was so popular that Queen which involves renovating all three buildings stored as “the little Mosque” without realising Victoria ordered a copy and then re-ordered and turning them into a heritage centre. This the significance or history behind it. copies for her children. The Institute grew, and Abdullah Quilliam phase is estimated to cost around £2M. If you AQS first objective is to obtain possession of at the turn of the century held a membership Research and Archive Project Library Project want to help with fundraising for any stages of the building and restore it back to the original of 200 predominantly English Muslim men, After embracing Islam, Quilliam began a this unique building please contact us. historic mosque. In the year 2000 Liverpool women and children from across the local campaign of Dawah, which in the circumstances City Council vacated the property and handed community. Quilliam’s dawah led to around Further research into Abdullah Quilliam of Victorian England, has to be described as the Create library and Reading Room it to the AQS and Muslim community to look 600 people in the UK embracing Islam, many of Research into 600 Reverts to Islam in UK, most effective in the UK to date. He became Preserve and digitize old manuscripts, after and develop. It was handed over in poor them very educated and prominent individuals their life and works an Alim, an Imam and the most passionate photos, documents on Islam in UK condition and in need of renovation. Once in British Society, as well as ordinary men and Documenting and archiving of historical advocate of Islam in the Western world. In 1894 Establish library of old books on Islam in the AQS has funds to renovate the building, women. His efforts also led to the first Japanese materials, (Crescent, The Islamic World, Sultan Abdul Hamid ll, the last Ottoman Caliph, UK Liverpool Council will transfer ownership to man embracing Islam. poetry and other writings) appointed him Sheikh-ul-Islam of the British Hold books and Information for all who the Society. Training on heritage, archiving and history Isles. Quilliam eventually had to leave England after want to learn about Islam Develop and preserve Islamic identity and Over the years AQS has given numerous talks facing hostility and persecution, the first Muslim Establish digital resource room for research The Emir of Afghanistan recognised him as heritage on this important history and hosted many experience of “Islamophobia” in the UK. He the Sheikh of Muslims in Britain. He was also visitors and media and kept this unique history eventually returned to the UK and adopted appointed as the Persian Vice Counsel to alive. It has also encouraged people to further the name Haroun Mustapha Leon, and passed Liverpool by the Shah. He became a prominent research this heritage. Last year, a new book was away in 1932 near Woking, and was buried in spokesman for Islam in the media and was Community Engagement Project New Muslims Project published, “Islam in Victorian Britain: The Life Brookfield Cemetery where Abdullah Yusuf Ali, recognised by Muslims around the world. He is and Times of Abdullah Quilliam” by Professor Marmaduke Pickthall and Lord Headly are also the only Muslim in Britain to have officially held Abdullah Quilliam annual lecture Ron Geaves. buried. the position of Sheikh-ul-Islam of Britain. He Abdullah Quilliam annual awards Become a centre for supporting new The Society has exciting plans to renovate the issued many Fatwas in his capacity as appointed Lectures, debates and seminars on Islam Muslims in the North of England and Islamic history Provide support for new Muslims and their building and re-create the first institutions of Leader of Muslims in Britain. These fatwas are Interior of UK’s First Mosque 1887 Islam in Britain. It also has exciting plans to relevant even today. Produce materials on Islam for Schools families further research, exhibit and bring to life the and the media Produce free information packs He established the Mosque and Liverpool stories of the 600 first native Britons to embrace New Interactive website Short courses on Islam for new Muslim Muslim Institute at No. 8 Brougham Terrace and Islam. Our plans to recreate this building and Resources for all Liverpool residents to Introductory courses on Islam for non- later purchased the remainder of the terrace, and history are important to Muslims in Europe, increase understanding of Islam Muslims who are interested opened a boarding school for boys and a day America, Japan, and the Muslim world. Advance co-operation between Muslims Put useful information on website More information about school for girls. He also opened an orphanage and non-Muslims (Medina House) for non-Muslim children the Abdullah Quilliam You can contact the Abdullah Quilliam whose parents could not look after them, and Society can be found at: Society at: agreed to for them to be raised in the values www.abdullahquilliam.com [email protected] of Islam.