Niqab, Segregation & "British Muslims" - What Does The Qur'an Say?

There has been a lot of debate and discussion in the media and politics about the place of Muslims in British society. The focus recently has been on Muslim women's dress in public places and gender segregation at university Islamic Society events. Many Muslims feel they have been unfairly targeted by secularists, politicians and the media. The response from Muslims is mixed. At one end of the spectrum there are Muslims who think that this country has every right to impose its values upon us and we must integrate with its culture and keep matters of religion private in order to be considered British Muslims. At the other end there are Muslims who believe that we have every right to practise our religion openly and in public and moreover we don't have to be "British" as it is not possible to be both "British" and "Muslim" at the same time. In between these two ends, there are a multitude of other views.

The situation we are in is not unique. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam and his companions were living as a minority under secular rule in a non-Muslim state - Makkah - as were many other Prophets and Messenger before, such as 'Eesa 'alayhis-salaam living under Roman rule and Yusuf 'alayhis-salaam living under Egyptian rule. So what was their concern and focus under those circumstances? Was it niqab, gender segregation, halal meat and shariah law or something else? What was their view on being Roman Muslims?

No doubt these are very important questions for us living in Britain. But where should we get our answers from? The Qur'an addresses these issues head on in the Makkan surahs that were revealed to the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam. Among these surahs are Surah Al-Mutaffifin and Surah Al-Inshiqaq. So if you want to know what our Lord says about niqab, gender segregation and being a British Muslim then please attend tomorrow's seminar on these two surahs taught by Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi - one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the Western world today.

Surah Al-Mutaffifin & Al-Inshiqaq

Spirituality & The Reality of The Hereafter

By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

When: Sunday 22nd December 2013

Time: 9:45AM - 6:00PM    Coffee & Registration: 9:30AM

Venue: Cambridge University, Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Site, Cambridge CB3 9DA

Online: Worldwide - Live & Recorded Access

You can either register for individual sessions or apply for an annual pass with 50% discount.

Individual Seminar Registration: http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/register.html

Series Registration: http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/juz-amma.html

Testimonials

"Jazakumullahu khayran. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity. I am so impressed by the Sheikh, subhanallah, mashaAllah. A very rare example of tradition fused with awareness of the environment and reality while not compromising God consciousness. If only there were more like him. Questions, I'm so glad we can ask them even if it's not about the sura. Yes, how else are we to learn from his wisdom and experience if we don't ask? The issues facing Muslims in the West are so many and so confusing and I just love the fact that he does not have an inferiority complex about Islam. It's really sad to see psychologically defeated scholars start throwing away tradition in the name of progress and fitting in. Sheikh Akram Nadwi gives you the sense that the real life is in the hereafter so don't have to get so tied up with the philosophies and controversies that sometimes take away our attention from the real purpose. The onus is on us, are we being pious?" - Aisha Barkatulla, Cambridge

"I recently attended the Tafsir of Surah Nuh. Whilst I had heard much about Shaykh Akram, this was my first class with him. The first thing that you cannot help but appreciate is how the Shaykh hooks you with his connection to knowledge, in a pure sense, there was no need to employ any speaking tactics to keep the attendees engrossed. The Shaykh, made every point relevant, to connect the text with our lives today and our response to get closer to our Creator. Indeed the Shaykh mentioned countless gems that he mentioned offhand but when contemplated on, really struck a chord in the heart. It was also great that the Shaykh was very open to questions, however sensitive, and tackled them head on, without compromising the principles of our faith, exemplifying that Allah azza wa jal has not only blessed him with knowledge, but also wisdom. I don't say this lightly, I genuinely believe, if you have the opportunity to study with the Shaykh, and you don't take it, then you have missed out on tasting the fruits of the knowledge of the Scholarship of our time and land" - Umer Suleman, South London

More Testimonials: http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/testimonials.html

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