Abrar A bi-monthly newsletter published by the Abrar Islamic Foundation 45 CrawfordEdior: Place, DrLondon Saeed W!H Shehabi 4LP A bi-monthly newsletter Tel:Published 020 7724 by the 3033 Abrar 45Fax: Crawford 020 7724 Place, 7219 LondonEmail: W1H 4LP Vol 14, No 23 (335) 1st-15th June 2018 [email protected] Tel: 020Website: 7724 3033 Lessons for human existence from Ramadan www.abrar.org.uk As the days and nights of the holy get by, the holy text of the Quran, the one prophet etc. But Email: feelings of achievement, self-satisfaction and Ramadan shows the world that quarter of the Abrarhouse peace intensify among those performing the world’s population are definitely distinct in @hotmail.com fast. The rhythm of life gradually settles down their way of life, perception and adaptation to Website and the broken daily routine ceases to be an emerging circumstances. When one and a half www.abraronline.net irritant. The new cycle of life; eating and drink- billion people suddenly change the routines of Charity no. 293802 ing only at night replaces the normal one. After their daily lives and adopt new ways of living the end of Ramadan, many feel sad about going including diet habits, sleeping times and ways back to the old habits after they have gained of social interaction then there is certainly a affinity towards the feeling of hunger. Ramadan mode of unity among that community of people. thus provides the people with strong will to tol- What does this mean? There are powers in this We stand for: erate hunger and other temptations. No other world which consistently act against what discipline can achieve such results within such a brings the people together for fear of the impact Inter-faith and inter- short time. Here the change is pluralistic. The of their collective force. Within the Muslim world these powers aim at weakening the Um- civilisational dialogue whole community takes part in the process which makes it easier to grasp and emulate. It mah by ensuring its fragmentation along sectari- Respect for the human also emphasizes how the individual contributes an fault lines. The media of these powers pro- race and rights to the social change that becomes a phenome- mote divisive ideologies to facilitate the frag- non to transcend individualism. The social care mentation. Ramadan provides a solid testimony Cooperation for the that is often embraced by the individuals and to the undisputable oneness of the Muslim Um- good of people groups during the month is phenomenal. Even mah despite the natural differences of opinion in the Western capitals the recent years have within its ranks and files. No person with clear Moderation witnessed unprecedented awareness among the vision can miss this fact when all Muslims fast Muslim communities to care for the homeless, during the month of Ramadan. Modernity the dispossessed and the victims of natural dis- Ramadan is a month of giving, patience, toler- asters. Last year the Grenfell fire brought out ance and awareness. It is a time when evil is High standards of the human goodness of Muslims when they abandoned by those who are fasting. In a socie- spirituality opened their mosques to lodge the victims, fed ty where the knife culture has led to the unnec- and clothed them. While the sour memory of essary loss of young lives there is a need to pro- that fateful night in Ramadan causes agony and mote the culture of fasting which helps to culti- sorrow, it also gives hope in the quality of man- vate human feelings, love of the neighbor, feed- In this issue kind. ing the hungry, sheltering the destitute and help- One prominent feature of the fasting during the ing the poor. This is necessary if the present Local Events 2 month of Ramadan is the realization of the unity culture of death is to be eradicated. While it is of the Muslim Ummah (community). Scholars necessary to uphold the rule of law and attend often highlight this oneness with arguments to the system of justice, real practical education Muslim Affairs 3 relating to the shared religious practices, the is necessary to pre-empt evil tendencies which are fallouts of excessive materialism, Ramadan issues 4 unbalanced distribution of wealth and dysfunctional tax and social welfare Turkey’s Muslim- systems. Ramadan is an opportunity friendly holidays 5 to go back to basics for the good of humanity. It is not about promoting Islam but the necessary human values French Muslim that enhance the quality of life. This woman on hijab 6 is a call to Muslims to embrace the values enshrined in fasting, adopt Feasting and fasting 8 principles of good citizenship and advocated culture of love, respect and giving. The month of Ramadan is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the individual and the society. Those are some of the values of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Page 2 Local Events Contemplating the Quran taught the significance of patience in our commitment. Fifteen thousand Quakers lives and how not to give in to circum- were jailed by 1689. So Quakers had On Thursday 14th stances but attempt always to pursue our only been around 20 years by that time. May, the weekly goals. They were that committed that many of Abrar meeting was them sacrificed their lives for their be- addressed by Dr Fasting and peace lief. Sadiq Al Rikabi who Sheikh Isa Jahangir emphasized the talked on: How can The annual Ramadan Experience pro- concept of peace in Islam. He recited Quran become guide gramme was held on Tuesday 22nd May at the Quranic verse: “All of you collec- in our lives. He said Abrar. It was sponsored by The Open Dis- tively enter into peace.” When it comes the quran has several cussion and The Gulf Cultural Club. The to peace, being at peace, making peace aims; to guide people topic was “Fasting as a catalyst for person- and spreading peace then God says so that they do not go astray, a diction- al and world’s peace.” It was addressed by “enter the peacefulness.” Don’t follow ary of rules on worship and morality, a three speakers; Luqman Ali, Marigold the devil who is the enemy, the source reference for right and wrong. This is a Bentley and Sheikh Isa Jahangir. of animosity and conflict. The big prob- sign of God’s mercy towards mankind. Luqman Ali said: Every Ramadan I am lem with devil is arrogance (istekbar). Before the creation of mankind God’s coming home. I am coming back to where He was arrogant. He was terribly will determined that there should be a I began. The reflections are becoming self centered and selfish, so he refused diving guide for the people. The individ- deeper, more profound, more transforma- to obey the command of Allah and re- uals is revived by reciting Quran. But tive and more completing of my own per- spect for Allah. not every reader of Quran feels that. We sonal journey in this world and on my re- do not practice its guidance in our lives. turn to the one. I can best describe my talk Attachment to Quran This is due to several factors; First; as a series of reflections but I want to end some see that Quran is a mere historic those reflections on the relationship be- The first Thursday in Ramadan text which does not suit our daily lives. tween fasting and imagination because (17th May) was welcomed by Abrar at Such people do not appreciate that the most of my work evolves round the imagi- its weekly meeting with a lecture on Quran is for the past, future and present nation. When I give talks on fasting I refer contemplating the Quran. It was deliv- lives. This is the counter the negative to my favourite hadith the hadith al mi’raj ered by Mr Luqman AlDamad who is a aspects of personal and social tragedies. which is a narration that took place during specialist in the holy Quran. There is Second; some think that the Quran is the Prophet’s ascension. There was a con- fear of the holy book; that it is too sa- God’s speech revealed onto Mohammad versation described as having taken place cred, too difficult to comprehend. The and addresses him only. But the reality between the Prophet and Allah. What is the Prophet will complain to God Almighty is that it was revealed onto Mohammad benefit of fasting? What does fasting be- that his people have sidelined the so that he may inform us of it. Quran is queath? Allah said fasting bequeaths wis- Quran. Unfortunately we live the cul- thus a book for us and not for the proph- dom and wisdom bequeaths knowledge of ture that does not allow freed contem- et. Third; Some do not view the Quran Allah specifically. Knowledge of Allah plation and understanding of the text as sacred, not realizing that it would bequeaths certainly. He went on to de- and that whoever does that will go to become more sacred if it is turned into a scribe the spiritual advantages of fasting hell. Quran is being alienated from our book of life. We must make use of its and how it leads to inner and outer peace. lives and would only be present at fu- advice, wisdom and recommendations. Marigold Bentley: The challenge before neral services. Another problem is the Fourth, some do not have full faith in me is try and speak to this particular topic claim that only members of the the ability of the Quran to solve our from the point of view of us as a small prophet's household may interpret the problems.