+ All Categories
Transcript

Compare cheap car insurance quotes from over 100 top insurance companies

Compare cheap home insurance quotes from over 70

top insurance providers

You could save up to

£442*on your car insurance

Car Insurance Home Insurance

Gas & Electric Car Hire MobileFlights

Compare energy prices and save money

Lowest price guarantee Compare the latest mobile phone dealsto any destination

*Seopa reviewed the quote requests generated on Quotezone’s insurance comparison service between October and December 2013. They took the cheapest from the median (halfway point) quote returned to each customer to produce a ‘representative’ saving. 50% + achieved a representative saving of this amount or more. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

CM19 5BJ. Consumer Credit Licence No.0664570. Data Protection Licence Number: Z3487784. Financial Conduct Authority Registration No: 594442 and VAT Registration No: 178948046

You could save up to

£72*on your home

insurance We will donate £1 for every Car insurance quote regardless of purchase to Muslim Aid on your behalf, please use following promotional code: MA14

“ Compare prices online and see how much you could save”

Contents

From the Chairman and Editorial Team

3

Ramadan 03Shaykh Abdul Qayum writes about how to obtain benefit from Ramadan

Ramadan Timetable 2014/1435

Ramadan FAQs

News 08Muslim footballers visit the Mosque

Fighting for Freedom with Nelson Mandela

Fundraising update

Dinner with local businesses

Ramadan Arrangements

Features 10The Maryam Centre: the exciting first year!

What has your donation grown into?

Articles 20A family’s core task is to look after its vulnerable members

Have yourself a ‘Green’ Ramadan

Editorial BoardMuhammed Habibur RahmanDr Muhammad Abdul BariDilowar KhanShaykh Abdul QayumShaynul KhanSalman Farsi

Marketing & SalesJuber HussainTozommul Ali

Contributing WritersDr Muhammad Abdul BariSarah Javaid

Views expressed by contributors are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of editorial team.

T: +44 (0)20 7650 3000E: [email protected] magazine has been produced by the East London Mosque Trust.

Copyright © 2014 ELMT. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any written material or illustration in any form for any purpose is strictly forbidden .

The East London Mosque Trust Ltd is a charity (1122613) and a company limited by guarantee (468317) registered in England & Wales

Registered Office: 82-92 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JQ

Assalamu’alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh and Ramadan Mubarak!

How quickly another year has passed. Seems like just the other day when we hurriedly prepared the ground floor of the Maryam Centre just in time for last Ramadan. We praise Allah (SWT) for granting us another blessed month of Mercy, Forgiveness and Salvation from the hell-fire. We pray that we are all in the highest of iman and the best of health and that Allah gives us the tawfiq to seek the endless blessings and bounties of this blessed month through our siyam, qiyam, tilawah and sadaqa. Ramadan is also a month of training and we urge you to observe it, together, with your families. Bring them with you to the Masjid, motivate them to the understanding of the Qur’an and developing their a’mal and akhlaq. Insha’Allah, this collective spiritual journey will have benefits beyond our expectations. May Allah give us tawfiq and accept all our efforts.

In this Ramadan issue of our newsletter, we discuss about fasting in the month of the Ramadan and the wonderful opportunity Allah (SWT) gives for drawing close to Him and seeking His good pleasure. We also give you an update about the Maryam Centre, our finances and fundraising initiatives and the ways in which our Masjid and Centres are being utilised.

In the Ramadan section, Sheikh Abdul Qayum describes how we can truly benefit from Ramadan this year and how we can use this as an opportunity to refresh ourselves both physically and spiritually. Furthermore, the Ramadan arrangements and the huffaz are also detailed in that section. We have planned ahead and additionally invited renowned huffaz from Medina, Egypt and Bosnia.

Completion of the work of the Maryam Centre has transformed the East London Mosque and the London Muslim Centre. We are delighted to be able to report significant increase in numbers as well as usage which has made a huge difference particularly for our sisters. We have held many large events and received numerous important

guests and Islamic personalities who have been truly impressed and could not keep themselves away from sharing their delight of what this community has accomplished. That said, we must remind you that we still have a debt in Qard-Hasana of £3.5 million, and to lighten that burden we have continued our fundraising efforts, which needs to be increased during the month of Ramadan. We are sure you’ll want to make your Masjid debt free and not only will you come forward with your own generous donations but will actively encourage other to do the same.

The Mosque’s ‘Fundraising Month’ last March was hugely popular that saw many members of the community sign up to a standing order. The Mosque still remains in debt and we hope this Ramadan, we can alleviate some of those stresses through continued fundraising efforts, to pay back the Qard-e-Hasanah loans from our generous supporters.

Our special feature on the Maryam Centre details how the centre has developed and functions within the community. It has been a year since we opened the new centre, and Alhamdullilah, it has preformed very well. We will encourage you to look up the brilliant info-graphics spread across the centre pages to see how we have been utilizing your generous contributions to this House of Allah. The graphic is also printed in real life across a wall at the back entrance of the London Muslim Centre.

We’ve seen some very prominent guests visit the mosque and centre over the course of the year, and you can read all about it in the news section. We leave you with our prayers, for the Ummah and everyone that has contributed to the Mosque and Centre’s positive works, and we ask you to do the same.

Jazak’Allah khayran.

Ramadan

How to Benefit from Ramadanby Shaykh Abdul Qayum

For those of us who are blessed to see Ramadan again this year, we need to

plan how we obtain as much benefit as possible. Ramadan acts as a renewal for the believers, providing an opportunity every year to refresh – to turn away from immorality and to ask for forgiveness from Allah.

There are so many blessings of Ramadan, here we’ll highlight just some of them.

Allah says in the Qur'an (2:183): "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous."

Fasting helps us to increase in taqwa (God consciousness). We should be aware of Allah, our Creator, at all times. A life devoid of the remembrance of Allah can lead to ignorance and heedlessness, which in turn leads to evil and immorality. Taqwa brings us to righteousness and from that can only stem all that is good.

Modern life is extremely distracting, we are constantly driven by demands for more – and people are now even more distracted by television, smart phones and the internet. Time is precious, so we need to make the most out of it, to earn good deeds for the reward in the Akhirah (afterlife), insha'Allah.

The time in Ramadan is even more so. Allah mentions in Qur’an (103): “By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss...”

Many of our sisters get so preoccupied in Ramadan, cooking up the most lavish dishes for Iftar, that they barely have enough time for Ibadah. Families need to agree that Ramadan is about fasting not feasting, in order to get maximum benefit.

Ramadan is the time to repent and ask for God’s blessings. Many young people attend the Tarawih, but leave after 8 rak’ah, and then enjoy with friends, whilst instead they should utilise this time to read Qur’an or complete rest of the salah with imam. This way they stay away from potentially disturbing others and are in the remembrance of Allah. Imam Mālik ibn Anas, a great scholar of Islam would stop his dars (Islamic sermon) to devote more time to the reading of Qur’an.

We can use Ramadan as an opportunity to also help adhere to an Islamic dress code, wearing clothing that is modest. Women that attend the mosque in Ramadan for prayer, should make sure they adhere to Islamic dress codes and maintain hijab. Furthermore, I urge young people to take note that free mixing is forbidden in Islam, and it is good practise to steer clear of situations that promote men and women mixing.

Fasting instils self-discipline, control and restraint. We are creatures of desire (the Nafs), constantly wanting and

consuming, but fasting puts a momentary stop to that for a while. Ramadan is the time to take a step back and evaluate how we have been living our lives. This form of self-evaluation during Ramadan can

indeed make us into better human beings.Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “If the

son of Adam had money equal to a valley, then he will wish for another similar to it, for nothing can satisfy the eye of Adam’s son except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him.”

Also narrated by Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said, "There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good." During Ramadan we need to avoid excessive consumption of food; as we fast and feel the pangs of hunger, the mind fills with thoughts of everything we wish we could be eating. We are living in a society that consumes too much food; many people are obese with related health problems, this could easily relieved by reducing the amount we eat. Fasting purifies the body by removing toxins and rejuvenating the body.

During Ramadan people become more generous, willingly donating their wealth, because they feel the hunger and thirst, and are thus even more conscious of the needy around the world. Allah rewards our charitable actions, even more so if we carry on after Ramadan.

We are Allah's vicegerent (khalifah) on this earth; our actions and behaviour should be an example to mankind. Ramadan gives us an incredible opportunity to learn about forgiveness and controlling our anger - just as we hope that Allah will forgive us on the Day of Judgement. We should learn to forgive, and endure with patience (sabr).

For those who struggle to keep up with prayers, Ramadan is an excellent time to refresh and focus on our religious practices. Our core purpose in life is to worship Allah; indeed, He says in the Qur'an (51:57): "I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." The extra night prayers in Ramadan help to remind of the purpose of our existence and our inevitable return to our Creator. What better way than to be in awe of Him, to be in complete submission to the Lord of the worlds.

Insha'Allah, I pray this Ramadan we can become more in our Istiqamah (steadfastness), and that our devotion to Allah becomes our priority in life; for life is short but the Akhirah is everlasting.

Shaykh Abdul Qayum is the Khatib and Imam of the East London Mosque.

"Ramadan is the time to take a step back and evaluate how we have

been living our lives."

5

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

SAT 12 JULYTH

ABBEY PARK, LEICESTER

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

SAT 5 JULYTH

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

SAT 5 JULYTH

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

SAT 5 JULYTH

CANNON HILL PARKBIRMINGHAM

SAT 5 JULYTH

Ramadan

Ramadan FAQsA quick breakdown of the most frequently asked questions about Ramadan

What is a fast?The fast lasts between dawn and sunset. It is compulsory for all healthy adult Muslims (who are otherwise not exempt) on reaching puberty; it is a total fast, with complete abstinence from both food and drink.

Who is exempt from the fast?1. All those who are unable to fast due

to illness (physical or mental) or being very frail.

2. Pregnant and menstruating women.3. Lactating women who have concerns

about their own, or their child’s health.4. Travellers.

Despite being in the above categories, some prefer not to miss these fasts in view of the special blessings and spiritual benefits during this time.

Who will have to make up for missed fasts?Sick people who recover, travellers, menstruating and pregnant women will have to make up for fasts at a later stage, if they are not able to fast during Ramadan.

At what age should one start fasting?Fasting is compulsory upon a Muslim when they reach age of puberty. It is also sometimes recommended that they do some voluntary fasts before puberty, as the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) used to encourage their children to do the same. However, during long summer days, children should not be forced to fast if they are not able to.

Should pregnant and breast feeding women fast?Women who are pregnant or breast feeding a baby do not have to fast, and can make up for it at a later stage. This is because fasting may affect the health and the baby.

What if a girl reaches puberty at a young age?A child may fast for as long as they can and then break it, if it becomes too difficult. They can make up for this in shorter days during the winter.

How fast becomes void/broken?When an agent of consequence reaches the throat, stomach, intestines, or a cavity that has a path, immediately or via another cavity, to any of these three and settles therein the fast is broken. An agent of consequence is one that has nutritional benefit or has been introduced by oneself. Thus this includes:1. Eating or drinking intentionally2. Smoking3. Rectal pessaries4. Gastrostomy and jejunostomy

Does using an asthma inhaler break my fast?A majority of the scholars agree that using an inhaler for asthma does not invalidate the fast; just as using water during wudu time to cleanse the mouth, the amount absorbed by the body is negligible.

Will having a blood test break my fast?Giving blood for medical tests during fasting does not invalidate your fast.

Is fasting valid without Suhur?Yes. Fasting is accepted without eating Suhur. It should be noted that Suhur does carry its own blessings, and the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.”

Can I donate blood when I am fasting?Donating blood in moderate quantities is permissible and does not invalidate the fast. However, donating blood in larger amounts may affects ones ability to fast and is highly discouraged.

Should a person with diabetes fast?People who have their diabetes under control, either by diet or using tablets, can fast. However, their GP may require them to change their medication to help them take tablets outside fasting times. Those who need insulin to control their diabetes should not fast.

Do I still have to make up for a fast (qadha’) I have missed even after paying fidyah?The payment of fidyah does not remove the obligation to make up the days you

have missed. You should make up for the missed days, as long as you are fit and able to do so.

Could dehydration become so bad that you have to break the fast?

Yes. You could become very dehydrated if you do not drink enough water before the fast. Poor hydration can be made worse by weather conditions, and even everyday activities such as walking to work or housework.

If you produce very little or no urine, feel disoriented and confused, or faint due to dehydration, you must stop fasting and have a drink of water or other fluid. Islam doesn’t require you to harm yourself in fulfilling the fast. If a fast is broken, it will need to be compensated for by fasting at a later date.

Why does Ramadan begin on a different day each year?The Islamic year is lunar, so Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier each year. Throughout a Muslim’s lifetime, Ramadan will fall both during winter months, when the days are short, and summer months, when the days are long and the fast is more difficult. In this way, the difficulty of the fast is evenly distributed between Muslims living in the northern and southern hemispheres.

What is Lailat ul-Qadr?Lailat ul-Qadr (“Night of Power”) marks the anniversary of the night on which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) first began receiving revelations from God, through the angel Jibraeel.

Should Zakah be paid in Ramadan?Most Muslims prefer to give their Zakah in Ramadan because there are more rewards for doing so, but it is not necessary to pay Zakah in this blessed month. People are in need throughout the year, not just in Ramadan, so we can benefit Muslims by paying other times of the year as well.

7

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

Fundraising Month & General Update

Mosque celebrates with local businesses

The month of March was the Mosque’s special Fundraising Month, with a specific aim to encourage members of the

congregation to sign up to a standing order. The minimum asked for was £5 per month with an aim of getting 2000 standing orders. Alhamdullilah, 1,489 standing order were received in March.

The Fundraising Month also saw many events organised by volunteers in a bid to raise cash donations; they raised over £40,000. Sisters organised a fundraising lunch that raised near £22,500 through donations and another 36 donors sign up to a standing order.

The Maryam Centre has been opened for almost one year and its prayer space, projects and services have been greatly appreciated by the community.

We take this opportunity to thank each and everyone who has kindly contributed to this project.

Fundraising update for the development is as follows:

Donations Pledged: £5,954,390Donations Received: £4,508,142Donations Outstanding: £1,446,248 Development Cost: £9,500,000Shortfall: £3,545,610

The East London Mosque Trust and its trustees were

delighted to host a fundraising dinner with local businesses on the 3rd April 2014.

The event was generously sponsored by local business owner and entrepreneur, Abdus Shukur Khalisadar, who expressed his dedication and support for the Mosque.

He said, “My target is to raise a minimum of £70,000 over the next 12 months from all my businesses and immediate network of business associates. It makes perfect business sense to financially support the work of the Mosque and to ensure that the number of worshippers and visitors to the Mosque continue coming to the area. As a local

businessman, all my businesses have hugely benefitted.”The Mosque’s chairman, Habibur Rahman, welcomed business owners and professional alike to a gathering in the evening, attended by over 100 individuals.

A new short film produced by the Mosque was shown to guests, which highlighted the Trust’s history spanning over a century and the growth of London’s oldest Mosque.

Executive Director of the Mosque and Centre, Dilowar Khan, delivered a presentation on the activities of the Mosque and Centre. He also detailed the debt remaining for the building costs of the Maryam Centre.

News 8

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

Donating to the Mosque is easy and there are several ways to do this:

You can phone the Mosque on 020 7650 3000 and make a donation with your card

You can make a payment online through the Mosque’s website, www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk

Or why not post us a cheque?

News10

Star Footballers Hosted at London Muslim Centre

The East London Mosque & London Muslim

Centre hosted an event by the Association of Muslim Footballers, to meet young football fans from the local community.

Special guests included the premiership footballer Abou Diaby, and the former premiership footballer and Sevilla FC legend, Freddie Oumar Kanouté.

Abou Diaby and Freddie Kanouté talked about their careers and inspiration for becoming footballers. They encouraged the young audience from local youth groups, schools and amateur football clubs to enjoy their football, without forgetting their education.

The Mosque trustees took the opportunity to show the football stars the Alhambra Wall, a mosaic displaying the names of generous donors.

Other prominent guests included Colin Nell, a freestyle football performer, who mesmerised the young audience with his football skills and tricks.

Ramadan ArrangementsIftarWe offer Iftar (breaking of the fast) every evening in the LMC – but it can be very busy, with over 500 people attending. We welcome donations and sponsors, just call 020 7650 3000 to say you’d like to help. (£2 per Iftar meal.)

Tarawih & TahajjudEvery night we have up to 5,000 people filling the Mosque and Centre for the Tarawih prayers – the optional special prayers in Ramadan when night falls. For the first few days we often run out of space, so please come early.

For the last 10 nights of Ramadan we like to offer the opportunity for additional voluntary prayers, in congregation in the last third of the night. Many people find this creates a wonderful spiritual atmosphere of worship. These prayers will begin at 1.30 am – they are also very busy, especially on the 27th night of Ramadan.

I’tikafApplication forms for I’tikaf are available from the Mosque reception. Places will be decided by a random draw of all the applicants.

Eid prayersWe will be holding six Eid prayers this year: 7.30am,

8.30am, 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm.

Zakatul FitrOriginally this was the giving of a certain amount of food to the needy, but nowadays most people give money to pay for the food. This has been set at £5, and should be paid for each and every member of the family, including children.

Zakatul Fitr can be paid from the beginning of Ramadan; we advise people to do so as early as possible, to make it easier to reach the needy recipients in time.

The latest it can be given is just before the Eid prayer, but delaying it this long means there’s no time to get food to the needy for Eid day.

Remember, in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), people gave food directly to the needy, so there was no delay.

The East London Mosque will collect your Zakatul Fitr, or you can use one of the many registered Muslim charities.

Ramadan Huffaz• Shaykh Abderrahim El-

kaouch (Morocco)• Shaykh Ahmed Ragab

(Eygpt)• Shaykh Abdul Aziz Drkic

(Bosnia)• Shaykh Harun Bukenya

(Uganda)• Imam Abu Tayeb

(London)

Wartime Dates for Iftar

The East London Mosque archive project is working to make the early

history of the East London Mosque available. There is a huge variety of records being discovered, giving us a picture of the earliest years of the Mosque right up to the present day. These records tell us the story of how the Mosque functioned as well as the story of the Muslim community in East London.The Honorary Secretary of the Jamiat ul Muslimin wrote to “The Controller” at the Ministry of Food in September 1941. During World War II the Ministry of Food became the sole buyer and importer of food

to the United Kingdom. The Controller was responsible for regulating the supply and consumption of food. The Jamiat ul Muslimin were at this time responsible for the arrangement of prayers and other religious observances at East London Mosque.The letter explains how during the month of Ramadan “it is customary to break the fast with a few dates”. The letter then goes on to request that permission be given for the purchase of three hundred pounds of dates. The letter gives us insight into how rationing impacted on everyday life in London during World War II. The numbers of Muslims mentioned in the letter as attending East London Mosque also shows us just how much the congregation has increased over the past seventy years.

News 11

Fighting for Freedom with Nelson Mandela

The East London Mosque (ELM) and London Muslim Centre (LMC) was

humbled by a visit by His Excellency Ebrahim Rasool, South African Ambassador to the United States, on 29 January 2014.

‘Remembering Mandela: Authentic Leadership and the Future’ was hosted in the LMC at an event organised by Murabbi Consulting.

Ebrahim Rasool was the keynote speaker, alongside representatives from other high profile Muslim organisations, including: Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE − Trustee of Muslim Aid; Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE – Former Chairman of the ELM; and Farooq Murad – Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain. Sadia Kidwai, Policy Analyst at Islamic Relief, who is distinguished for her community activism, chaired the event.

Ebrahim Rasool is a politician for the African National Congress (ANC) and was also a close friend of Nelson Mandela. They had both met in prison during the ‘Apartheid’ era, and were incarcerated during their struggle for freedom under the National Party government. Rasool has experienced firsthand what life was like under the Apartheid government − when his local district was declared ‘Whites Only’. He has campaigned with Muslims against the injustices faced by South Africans at the time including the apartheid.

In remembering Nelson Mandela, Ebrahim Rasool said: “Nelson Mandela

was a leader who did not feel the need to act on certainty and not consult anyone, not speak to anyone, not listen to anyone.”

He continued: “So many people look at Nelson Mandela and ask me, are you sure he's not Muslim? And while it’s a cute question, it is almost a perverse recognition that what we [as Muslims] stand for has been exemplified in someone that does not say lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh [Muslim testimony of faith], and we wonder how is it possible that this man who has never uttered those words can exemplify soft power, can find the balance, can be compassionate, can be the symbol of peace, can reconcile contending factors. Is that not our domain, do we not

have a monopoly on it? And so we ask, are you sure he is not Muslim?”

Ebrahim Rasool is unafraid to speak his mind. Talking about Muslim leadership in the West, he said: “A victory that does not open up hearts is not a victory. A victory that closes hearts to our message [Islam], is not a victory. Muslims have abandoned the soft power of Islam, for the allure of hard power.”

The evening’s event ended with Ebrahim Rasool summing up that “the next generation of leadership must be ones that carve out a middle path, between the inertia of orthodoxy and nihilism of fundamentalism.”

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

Maryam Centre:The exciting first year!

Feature: Maryam Centre

On 4 July 2013 the nine-storey Maryam Centre opened to the

public, just in time for the busy month of Ramadan. This was a tremendous achievement for a community that only nine years earlier had created the landmark London Muslim Centre.

A year has passed, and we can reflect on our amazing achievements.

The Best Facilities for WomenThe most immediate benefit of the Maryam Centre has been the wonderful new facilities for women. These include a dedicated prayer hall with separate breakout rooms, great new ablutions, buggy parks, a large meeting room, a multipurpose hall, project offices, several classrooms, and a brand new fitness centre. Access has greatly improved for the old and disabled.

Every evening in Ramadan women poured into the new facilities in unprecedented numbers, using all the available space, and supported by teams of volunteers.

The experience of the Friday prayer has been transformed. No longer cramped and difficult to access, there’s now more than enough space, so numbers have increased to at least 600 every week.

Women’s ServicesThe Maryam Centre plays a pivotal role in providing key services to the community. The Islamic counselling service available to women has been hugely successful. Muslim Aid has funded and supported this service, as it appreciates the need to utilise some of its resources at home as well as abroad. Women in the community are affected by issues such as health conditions, depression and marital problems. The counselling service helps to counteract some of those problems, benefiting service users who sometimes are unable to reach out to mainstream services.

The Muslim Women’s Collective (MWC) has recently relocated to the Maryam Centre. The organisation was established in 2007 with support from the local authority, and in 2010 it became a non-profit organisation. The

MWC is an umbrella organisation, with several local charities and non-profit organisations as its members, and works to support both its members and the community of Tower Hamlets. Much of its work is to champion women’s issues throughout Tower Hamlets, and more recently Islington, with a focus on

tackling worklessness, domestic abuse and mental ill-health, and improving the environment. It is the only women’s network of its kind in the borough, and the MWC, despite its name, supports both Muslim and non-Muslim women, their children and families.

Visitor CentreOverlooking the new main prayer hall, the Visitor Centre has a gallery view, filming points for the media, a meeting room and exhibition space. This has made it much easier and more comfortable for visitors to see what’s going on.

Non-Muslim visitors attending funerals can now observe the funeral prayers, and more easily meet with family members. A funeral for a young police officer was attended by more than one hundred of his colleagues in dress uniform, who were able to pay their respects and share in the solemnity of the occasion.

The Visitor Centre hosted Ofxam’s ‘Gaza – through my eyes’, an exhibition of photographs taken by children in Gaza who had been given cameras to capture aspects of their daily lives.

It is an ideal location for hosting school and student groups, as well as our many visitors from overseas. One of the highlights of any visit is the new observation beehive, which can be safely observed behind glass in our new link.

Visitors have included professional footballers Abou Diaby and Freddie Oumar Kanouté, comedian and actor

Russell Brand, the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović and the CEO of the National Archives, Clem Brohier.

Health & Fitness Centre for WomenOn the 6th floor of the Maryam Centre is the newly opened health and fitness centre for women.

Hayaa Fitness originally opened in 2005, providing fitness and health services, whilst helping users adhere to their faith and cultural sensitivities. Over the years Hayaa has steadily helped increase the health and fitness of the local community, offering a dedicated service at discounted rates.

The new fitness centre is now open and is providing better health and fitness services in the community for women. The Maryam Centre aspires to be a world class women’s centre and the newly opened fitness centre contributes to those ideals, to make health services accessible to all.

Women in Asian communities have naturally stayed away from mainstream fitness services, because of the cultural and faith based barriers – but now the service is available – with a women’s dedicated prayer hall on the 2nd floor of the Maryam Centre.

The new fitness centre boasts, a state-of-the-art gym fully-kitted out with the latest equipment; fitness studio with aerobic classes; a brand new sauna; and a hair salon and cupping services.

Maryam AcademyRecruitment for a Head of School has started for the Maryam Academy. This secondary school for girls is due to open in September 2015. The community has seen a big surge in demand for Islamic secondary schools. Based on the success of the London East Academy, one of the highest achieving schools in the borough, we hope to replicate the same through the Maryam Academy.

The past year has been very exciting and busy! We hope to keep members of the congregation updated with all the latest developments, until then stay tuned for more.

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

“The experience of the Friday prayer has been

transformed.”

13

Feature: Your Donations

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

££

£

15

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

££

£

Feature: 10 Years of the London Muslim Centre

It’s 10 years to the day since the opening of the London Muslim Centre (LMC).

Alhamdulillah, it’s been a remarkable success story, achieving more than anyone could have imagined.

The build-up to the opening was intense. The last stages of finishing the new building were personally supervised by the contractor, Mohamed Zabadne. Volunteers assisted with cloths and brushes, cleaning every nook and cranny, whilst staff carefully prepared the final programming for the day, laying out the new prayer rugs in the LMC halls.

The opening was scheduled for Friday the 11 June 2004: the Jumuah prayer followed by an opening ceremony. People began arriving early in the day, eager to see the new building, and to listen to our special guest, Shaykh Abdur Rahman as-Sudais, the Imam of Makkah who would deliver the sermon and lead the prayer.

Worshippers poured in, admiring and complimenting the new centre. A brand new sound system covered the whole complex, with large screens in the multipurpose halls for the live video link to the main prayer hall. To our amazement, not only was the Mosque full, but soon the London Muslim Centre was packed from top to bottom too!

As it was a beautiful day, worshippers then started filling the pavements outside. Before long, we saw that the street behind the Mosque and Centre was starting to fill with people in hastily improvised rows, so traffic could

no longer get through. The crowds continued to increase, with the rows of worshippers disappearing out of sight. Soon the same happened on the busy Whitechapel Road in front of the Mosque and Centre, and sea of people bringing that part of London to an unexpected standstill.

The Imam of Makkah delivered a short sermon encouraging the community to work with people of all faiths and backgrounds to make society better, praising God and seeking His blessings for this ground-breaking institution.

We’ll never forget the wonderful scene of so many, many people inside and outside following the Imam as he led the prayer, bowing and prostrating together in humility and awe.

Journalists from around the world reported this wonderful opening, whilst the BBC World Service did a live broadcast from a within the London Muslim Centre itself.

The happy crowds, who had come from far and wide, quickly dispersed after the prayer. Then politicians, religious leaders from all faiths, civil servants, and many others arrived for the opening ceremony. They commended the achievement of

the Mosque in bringing people together for such a unique enterprise. HRH Prince Charles sent a special video message of congratulation and HM The Queen included the opening of the LMC in her Christmas speech (2004).

The Friday opening was just part of a weekend-long celebration, with special visits and tours, a street fair, and much more. This successful launch heralded the rapid development of projects inside the London Muslim Centre, quickly bringing a whole range of benefits to our community, and to many beyond.

Indeed, despite the challenges that have arisen along the way, these 10 years have repaid the trust and commitment of all those who helped to create the London Muslim Centre; we are forever indebted to them. It’s success has inspired others, underlined the commitment of British Muslims to make our country better for all, and ultimately led to further expansion with the opening last year of the landmark Maryam Centre.

We take this opportunity to thank all our well-wishers, donors and the communities across London, and beyond for helping to make this Mosque and Centre a success.

All good things, all success, all blessings are from God. We are especially grateful to Him for all that He has done for His servants, and we pray that He helps us to achieve even more in the years to come.

“Worshippers poured in, admiring and

complimenting the new centre.”

16

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

If you would like us to run Employment Workshops in your local Community or need advice on how to apply for our jobs, please feel free to get in touch with our HR Diversity Officer Nasir Gilani via email: [email protected] or telephone on 020 3166 6181.

www.hrp.org.uk/recruitment

PURIFYYOUR

WEALTHTO SPEAK TO A SCHOLAR ABOUT YOUR ZAKAT THIS RAMADAN CALL 020 7593 3220

In Bangladesh, floods and cyclones are a regular occurrence. Filling the land with salty seawater, these disasters not only claim thousands of lives and homes – they destroy livelihoods, with farmers unable to grow crops to feed their families or sell to earn a living.

Disaster survivors in Bangladesh need to find new ways to support themselves and their families – and with your zakat, we are able to provide them with the tools and equipment to do just that.

Working in the most vulnerable areas, we’re giving thousands of people seeds to grow crops and vegetables which survive in salty earth, as well as the tools and equipment to start farming fish and crabs – the perfect business for an area full of seawater. We’re also providing cash assistance to women to kick-start their mat weaving businesses, enabling them to feed their families.

Insha’Allah, your zakat will help them earn enough to become zakat-givers one day.

“Keep up the prayer and pay zakat. Whatever good

you store up for yourselves, you will find it with Allah.”

(Qur’an 2:111)

MATCH FUNDING FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT

CALL O2O 7593 3220 NOWISLAMIC-RELIEF.ORG.UK

PRE_DM_INSIDE_ZAKAT_12_5_2014_Version3.indd 1 15/05/2014 14:23

Advertorial

Islamic Relief: Zakat and Nisab

18

The word Zakat means ‘purity’ or ‘to purify’; all Muslims who are wealthy

enough, must perform this duty in order to purify their wealth.

Who Needs to Pay Zakat?To pay the Zakat, one must be a Muslim, sane adult, in possession of the nisab (the minimum amount of wealth that one must have before Zakat is payable) for one whole year.

Items from which wealth can be derived include: cattle, crops, gold, silver, and merchandise for business. Zakat must be paid on cash deposits held in bank accounts.

Any personal items from which one cannot derive wealth, e.g. cars, utensils, food, clothing, shelter, furniture, which are not to be used for trade, are not included in the calculation of Zakat.One must not only have the minimum amount of nisab but it must have been in one’s possession for one whole year. A lot of people choose Ramadan as the month in which they pay their Zakat; both to remember it, and also because

the reward for good deeds done in this blessed month is multiplied.

Who Benefits From Zakat?1. The Poor & the Needy – These

people may have some wealth, but not enough to make up the nisab.

2. The Destitute – Such people have nothing other than the very basic necessities; they are worse off than the poor and destitute.

3. Those employed to collect the Zakat – this refers to those that collect as well as distribute the Zakat.

4. To reconcile hearts – traditionally, this category was for new Muslims who after having become Muslim, faced extreme poverty due to their decision.

5. To free slaves – this category doesn’t apply as readily as it once did.

6. Those who are indebted, but unable

to settle their debt7. Those struggling in the path of Allah8. Travellers who have run out of

money and would therefore have no way of reaching their final destination without help.

Zakat cannot be used to build mosques, to bury the deceased, or to clear the debt of the deceased.

Zakat with Islamic ReliefIslamic Relief has always used Zakat to help some of the poorest, most needy, and the most destitute people on the planet. Your Zakat donations bring joy to these people, who know that their brothers and sisters all over the world haven’t forgotten them.

Your Zakat donations give hope to the poor; that one day and with the help of Allah (swt), they will be Zakat givers and not Zakat receivers.

“Take from their wealth so that you might purify and

sanctify them.”(Al-Qur’an 9:103)

CALL 020 7593 3229 NOWISLAMIC-RELIEF.ORG.UK

PURIFYYOUR

WEALTHTO DONATE YOUR ZAKAT THIS RAMDAN CALL 020 7593 3229

SPEAK TO A SCHOLAR CALL 020 7593 3220

In Bangladesh, floods and cyclones are a regular occurrence. Filling the land with salty seawater, these disasters not only claim thousands of lives and homes – they destroy livelihoods, with farmers unable to grow crops to feed their families or sell to earn a living.

Disaster survivors in Bangladesh need to find new ways to support themselves and their families – and with your zakat, we are able to provide them with the tools and equipment to do just that.

Working in the most vulnerable areas, we’re giving thousands of people seeds to grow crops and vegetables which survive in salty earth, as well as the tools and equipment to start farming fish and crabs – the perfect business for an area full of seawater. We’re also providing cash assistance to women to kick-start their mat weaving businesses, enabling them to feed their families.

Insha’Allah, your zakat will help them earn enough to become zakat-givers one day.

“Keep up the prayer and pay zakat. Whatever good

you store up for yourselves, you will find it with Allah.”

(Qur’an 2:111)

EastLondonMosqueTrustMagazine_version2.indd 1 25/06/2014 15:25

Articles

A family’s core task is to look after its vulnerable members

Care in the Family by Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari

Our arrival in this world, physical survival in the early years and

growth to maturity is totally dependent on adults around us. Our uncertain life span and departure from the world is heavily interlinked with others. In this journey of life, our parents and people close to us are the key people who help shape our lives.

This ethos of dependence and interdependence is in the nature of human life. Nowhere is it more relevant than in our family which is the core institution and pillar of human society. A secured family that is strongly bonded with love, affection and respect amongst its members is an invaluable ingredient of a stable society. In a family it starts with looking after the physical and other basic needs (mental, emotional, etc) of a child after birth, passes through the phase of mutual dependence between generations and then looking after its elderly members.

New parents syndromeMonths of fantasising about our baby, strange dreams and worrisome thoughts come to an end when we hold our newborn baby in our arms. The excitement, ecstasy and natural worry of being a mother and a father can only be understood by those who have gone through the process of conception, growth of the baby within the womb, and its first cries after birth. A baby’s journey in life starts with vulnerability that may end up with old age fragility.

We want to be the best parents possible; our awareness of our baby’s dependency and our desire to be good parents are a great source of energy as well as stress. A father also experiences new deeper feelings about his wife. He observes with wonder, her courage, her strength, and endurance during labour; he sees her with admiration. As time flies, both father and mother reshape their life around their children.

Family nurtures interdependenceWe all are born alone, however in life we all rely on one another. A family is the training

ground for this ethos of interdependence where members connect with one another on the basis of love, care and respect. As separate parts in a machine work together, we do the same for the functioning of a family. Interdependence on real-life situation - such as helping children in their education, giving a hand in family chores or looking after one another when required - fulfils family members’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs. These ‘small’ acts in a family help shape members’ moral compass that is so needed in our bewildered individualised society.

This may give rise to some inconveniences and disagreements within a family, as emotions or actions of one member can affect others, but this is life’s reality and we should not only learn to live with them but also turn the challenges that arise into joy and adventure. Basic compromise, giving preference to others and significant autonomy of individual members are very important for positive interdependence within the family unit. Autonomy is critical when children enter their adolescent years with a lot of confusion, uncertainty and an emerging sense of independence. Parents should hold their nerve at this stage; their message should be clear - “yes, you are an individual, but still an invaluable member of our family.”

With the passage of time, the next phase that comes is elderly care in the family. This has, in recent years, come up as big news with an occasional national scandal. Service provisions at nursery homes and hospices have been found to be failing in many places. As the numbers of elderly people are increasing in proportion, elderly abuse is rising high. General frailty, diseases associated with old age such as dementia and emotional needs demand long term palliative care. With a shrinking health and social care budget, the gap between demand and supply is getting wider; elderly abuse is thus rising. A caring family, value-laden society and accountable state should work together to look after the elderly who need dignified

support in their last leg of life. It is cruel for a civilised society not to provide this for its vulnerable members.

Role of family faith in elderly careFaith communities have religion-based moral teachings and varying degrees of know-how to deal with the elderly care; some have in-built institutions to deal with this. Parents and grandparents are seen with veneration in most religious communities and children ‘pay their debt’ by being extra-loving to them and looking after their needs. This proves as a virtuous circle and win-win situation in a family, as grandparents find an opportunity to give back their knowledge and wisdom to their grandchildren. In the Islamic Holy Book, the Qur’an, God mentions about this reality of old age “He whom we bring unto old age, We reverse him in creation (weak, dependent and with little knowledge or ability to understand, like children). Will they then not understand?” (Chapter 36, Verse 68).

Individualism and over-indulgence in our commercialised life are the virus that have affected modern life, from which very few are immune. This has given rise to self-centred lifestyles in which the noble task of looking after the elderly people is ignored. Ageism is bringing occasional disgrace in modern technological society.

Civilised people are known for their dignified treatment of weaker people within their midst, including the old-age pensioners who gave everything to the society in their adult life. It is only sensible we nurture our humanity and humility and give a fraction of our love and care to those who did this to us when we were extremely fragile. It is only a matter of time before we ourselves enter into this phase of frailty. A family based on strong ethos of positive interdependence is irreplaceable in every society.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is a former Chairman of the East London Mosque

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

20

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

FA Advert Final PR.pdf 1 09/06/2014 11:10:39

23

East London Mosque: Ramadan 2014

Have yourself a Green Ramadan!

Articles

In this blessed month, there is no better time to be conscious of our relationship

with our Creator - the Creator of “all that is between the Heavens and the Earth.” For if we examine some of the biggest problems in the world right now, from extreme poverty, to conflict, to natural disasters taking thousands of lives each year – they are either directly caused by, or indirectly worsened by the effects of climate change.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 160,000 deaths since 1950 are directly attributable to climate change. Taking socio-economic factors into account, this number is set to become a death toll of 150,000 climate-change related casualties every single year.

In a month where we are prescribed to attain Taqwa (God-consciousness) through abstinence from food and drink, it seems unfitting that many tons of uneaten food gets wasted, thousands of plastic bottles and bags litter our Mosques and streets, and almost no consideration is given to how much energy or water is being wasted each day. The solutions to this problem are plastered all over our Qur’anic injunctions and the teachings of our beloved Prophet, who pioneered sustainable teachings before the word ‘sustainable’ was ever coined. For Muslims, being conscious of Allah means being conscious of His creation, and being aware of the responsibility Allah has given us as His stewards (Khalifah) on Earth.

In the spirit of attaining greater taqwa, and having a greener Ramadaan, here are just a few reasons we should be more environmentally conscious from our Islamic tradition.

1. “Iqra (Read)”The mufassiroon have commented on

the use of ‘Iqra’ as the first revelation, rather than ‘Itloo’ which holds a similar meaning. ‘Tilawat’ is a word used in the context of reading a scripture, whereas ‘Qira’at’ has connotations of seeking any and all types of beneficial knowledge.

With such a strong emphasis on reading, it only seems fitting that we are versed in the contextually relevant facts of Environmental Sustainability.

2. “Be not excessive for Allah does not like those who waste”

The Prophet (pbuh) lived a life of moderation. If we look at everything from the amount of water we use to make wudu, to the amount of food that is wasted in the UK per year (15 million tonnes), to the amount of waste that goes unrecycled, it is clear that we have lost the Mizan (balance) that Allah has set for us

3. “He has made you stewards on the Earth”

Allah has bestowed an amanah upon us – the caretaking of His planet.

As vicegerents on the earth, we are equally responsible for Allah’s creation. Considering that deforestation accounts for 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions, it is surprising that Muslims are not speaking about rainforest conservation. Likewise, the fair treatment of animals must be high priority for us. Allah says that “there is no creature on [or within] the earth, or bird that flies with its wings, except [that they are] communities like you.” {Qur’an 6:38}

4. “Eat from the Earth the Halal AND Tayyab (wholesome)”

Recently, the way Halal meat is slaughtered has become front-page news; however, by being given two criteria by which to consume, we should additionally be concerned about everything from the the conditions under which the animal was kept alive, to what type of money we use in order to buy the meat. Labels like Fairtrade, Organic, Free-Range can be helpful in eating more ‘Tayyab’ and ethical food.

1. “The whole Earth has been made a mosque” [Sahih Bukhari, 335]

This hadith has a clear indication towards the permissibility of praying wherever you are on the Earth. However, let us think for a minute about how we treat our Mosques. We make wudu (ablution) before we enter, we don’t wear shoes or allow other impurities inside, we try to be respectful of other worshippers… now let us compare this with how indifferently we litter, or dump all our waste into the same bins, or use our polluting vehicles so frequently. If we started viewing all the world’s land

as sacred, then Muslims would single-handedly contribute to a greener world

2. “Actions are judged by intentions”

Will it really make a difference if you recycle that one sandwich bag? Is it really that bad if you throw away your leftovers, rather than pack it and eat it later?

Sure, the climate crisis won’t be solved by one person, but OF COURSE it will make a difference. Not only will all these instances cumulatively add up to a significant level, but sociologically, our actions have a dissipating effect to the people around us.

As Muslims, this should never be an issue for us since we know that our intentions are judged and rewarded. Even if our actions do not cause an apparent cataclysm of change; change comes from Allah, and Allah promises this change if only we change ourselves. {Qur’an 13:11}

Climate change is no longer an abstract concept of the future. It is at our doorstep, afflicting millions in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons – it is in the form of melting ice caps and deforestation leading to the extinction of entire species – it is in the form of flooding affecting places like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even many places across England.

We believe that Islam holds the solutions to the modern crises that the world is facing today. It is now time for Muslims to wake up to this message, and lead the movement to make the environmental crisis history once and for all – all it really requires is following the teachings of our perfect faith.

Sarah Atkinson, Director of Operations at MADE in Europe. MADE in Europe is a Muslim-led movement of young people who want to see our community leading the fight against global poverty and injustice.

To find out more please visit www.madeineurope.org.uk or come and visit us at the London Muslim Centre (4th floor).

What if you had to

choose betweendirty water &dehydration?

Donate nowhumanappeal.org.uk

0161 225 0225

Help us to deliver more than just words

more than just words.

humanappeal.org.uk | 0161 225 0225 | #savealife

Ch

arit

y N

o. 1

154

28

8 |

Co

mp

any

No

. 85

538

93

04-06-2014 A5 Landscape East London Mosque.indd 1 04/06/2014 13:37

Designer AbAyA House ltD.118 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1JE Tel - 020 7018 2375 Mob - 0794 7423 429

Abul KAlAMWe accept all major debit & credit cards

buy one get one free

AjWA & MADinA DAtes

booksAvailable

retAil &WHole sAle

www.salmaabayas.com

Dubai Abaya saudi Abaya

indian Abaya iranian Abaya

open Abaya

Kaftan Designer Panjabi

over Coat Designer Abaya

neWArrivAl

Daffah Al Harmine

Al ikaf Asil

Hooded tub omani tub

Was kut Children tub

Many More

15%off

15%off

Hajj a

nd U

mrah Package

What if you had to

choose betweendirty water &dehydration?

Donate nowhumanappeal.org.uk

0161 225 0225

Help us to deliver more than just words

more than just words.

humanappeal.org.uk | 0161 225 0225 | #savealife

Ch

arit

y N

o. 1

154

28

8 |

Co

mp

any

No

. 85

538

93

04-06-2014 A5 Landscape East London Mosque.indd 1 04/06/2014 13:37

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

A5 Ramadan Poster.pdf 1 11/06/2014 02:26:43 PM

IN WHITECHAPEL AND WATNEY

Tower Hamlets Council is encouraging people to turn out asmarket traders at a series of summer evening markets to be heldduring Ramadan.

The evening sessions will run at Whitechapel Road and Watney market onFriday and Saturday evenings between 7pm and 11pm, from June 27 toJuly 26, and shoppers will be able to sample food from across the world.

If you are interested in setting up your own business by becoming amarket trader, please contact the council's markets team [email protected] or0207 364 1717/ 1707/ 1708.

You can also visit: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/markettraders

SUMMER EVENING MARKETS

Pan 18.11 Summer Evening Markets_Ad:Summer Markets 20/6/14 14:55 Page 1

ILM Driver Training uniquely one of east London's 1st driving schools with Muslim & multilingual female only driving instructors!!

ILM Driver Training uniquely one of east London's 1st driving schools with Muslim & multilingual female only driving instructors!!

SET UP YOURSTANDING

ORDER TODAY

SET UP YOURSTANDING

ORDER TODAYENCOURAGE FAMILY &

FRIENDS TO BE PART OF THIS INITIATIVE

GET INVOLVED IN FUNDRAISING BY

SHARING YOUR IDEAS

CAN YOU ORGANISE AN ACTIVITY?

TAKE PART:

@elondonmosque

/eastlondonmosqueThe East London Mosque

London Muslim Centre

Sign up online:www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk

Sunday 5th Oct 2014


Top Related