East London Mosque 100 years old neighbouring with a synagogue

East London mosque celebrates it’s 100th anniversary on the weekend of Eid ul fitr 2010. It is also the weekend of the Jewish New Year. The East London Field St synagogue opened its doors to the Muslim community.

Sorry about the sound quality I was in the middle of a street party. Will add subtitles.

Eid Message – Interfaith unity to fight global poverty

This is my video message I shot for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation for the day of Eid ul Fitr. Now more then ever as the word is divided there is a greater call for faith communities to unite to tackle the world biggest problems.

15 seconds, some math and how faiths can make all the difference

Faiths Act Fellows - Training in London 2009

A group of Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and humanists walk into a room…

It seems like the first line of a joke but actually it was the start of the most amazing year of my life when 30 young people of faith gathered in a room together with a common cause to help the world’s poorest. Read the rest of this entry »

Young leaders against malaria

This Blog was taking off the Washington Post and can be found here

At the Interfaith Youth Core conference last October, Rabbi David Saperstein joked that we have over 2,000 different religions in America, and 1,500 of them are in California. We experienced that firsthand in the Bay Area this year, working as Faiths Act Fellows with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and Interfaith Youth Core. 30 Fellows across 12 cities spread over 3 continents were given eight months to create sustainable and active hubs of multifaith action towards the Millennium Development Goals and the eradication of deaths from malaria. Read the rest of this entry »

Vote Today, Muslim today and tomorrow and the day after that.

Picture from the SUNBLOG

We see it all the time.  The same old leaflets being handed out.  One particular leaflet caught my eye recently.  It said “Vote Today.  Kafir Tomorrow.”  It makes me wonder why some people believe voting is forbidden in our beautiful religion.  In fact this is so far from the truth.  The reality is gettinginvolved in the political system is high recommended for every Muslim.

One of the greatest things we have in British society is the right to practice Islam freely.  This religious freedom is an example of the contribution democracy has given to the modern world.  Many ‘Ulama have recommended Muslims to go to the ballet box as a way to be politically engaged to benefit not only Muslims in Britain but Britain in general. Read the rest of this entry »

Meeting the Archbishop

Last week the Christian-Muslim Forum in partnership with MADE in Europe held what was a ground breaking and historical day. The day saw a new movement of young people of faith coming together as part of a global movement. Thirty young Christians and Muslims spent the day at London’s historical and very charming Lambeth Palace working together to develop a statement on how we as people of faith see ourselves as stewards of the earth and demand that more is  done to tackle climate change when the world leaders meet this December in Copenhagen.  The quality and the content of the document produced was amazing and can be read here

The Archbishop Rowan Williams with a Few Faiths Act Fellows

but what went beyond the content is what that statement represents.  I commented at the event that it is “a statement within a statement” – how powerful is the message that two different faiths can come together and using the passion of young people, the future leaders of tomorrow, demonstrate their shared values as stewards of God’s earth.   Today we come together on Climate change, Tomorrow it is the eradication of malaria and then achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Read the rest of this entry »

What are the biggest issues that you feel young Muslims in Britain are facing today? (300 words) – My Response

Below is my response to the above question.

Many young British Muslims struggle with issues of identity.  Second generation Muslims like myself have been born and raised in this country, attending British schools and surrounded by all aspects of British culture.  But there’s a dislocation between “outside” life and life at home and in the community. It often felt like I was living two different lives which I had to keep distinct from each other in order to get on with those around me.  I couldn’t see how faith fits in with modern life and has a place in today’s society.  I questioned how can I be both a Muslim and a British young person. There is often too much debate on what defines us – are we British first or are we Muslim first? As I have grown more confident in my identity and my faith, I have come to think that why should we separate the two? Some the greatest British values that we have in our society are the same as Islamic ones.

Read the rest of this entry »