University where 20% of students are Muslim considers alcohol-free zones

A London university is considering establishing alcohol-free zones on its campuses because so many of its students consider drinking to be immoral. Professor Malcolm Gillies, vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University, said the selling of alcohol was an issue of “cultural sensitivity” at his institution where a fifth of students are Muslim. Speaking to a conference…

How the British Museum brought the hajj to my mum

I was unable to take my mother on the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, so I did what I thought would be the next best thing: I took her to the British Museum’s hajj exhibition It has long been my mother’s ambition to complete the hajj. The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars…

Malaysia deports Saudi journalist for tweets about prophet Muhammad

Hamza Kashgari is sent back to Saudi Arabia where lawyers fear he could face the death penalty over Twitter remark Malaysian authorities have deported a young Saudi journalist accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad on Twitter, a police official said. The move came despite concerns from rights groups that he may be persecuted at home.…

Eid Mubarak to everyone

Eid Mubarak to everyone. May Allah accept your fasting and reward you for it. Eid prayers inshAllah will take place tomorrow (30th of August 2011) at: Al-Medinah Mosque – 08:30am & 09:30am Shah Jallal Mosque – 09:15am & 10:00am

The new Muslim marriage contract should empower women

Islam emphasises love, kindness and mercy between spouses. Hopefully this contract will make that more of a reality for women It is no surprise that household chores are the bane of many marriages, and the competing demands of modern life have compounded this situation for women in particular. Who, then, wouldn’t jump at the chance…

Bin Laden death ‘only the beginning’

To a radical few, Osama bin Laden was a hero – but mainstream Muslims will remember him as a rebel who lost his way British Muslims seduced by extremist forms of Islam have celebrated Osama bin Laden as a spiritual and military warrior. In his suicide video address, Mohammad Siddique Khan, the leader of the…