UK Events; THE ISLAMIC HISTORY OF CHINA

Islamic Circles presents:

THE ISLAMIC HISTORY OF CHINA

by Professor Ibrahim Wenjiong Yang (Lanzhou University, China)*

Date: Saturday 15th January 2011Time: 9am - 5pm Venue: Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX

DEADLINE FOR BOOKING: MONDAY 10TH JANUARY 2011 after which prices will increase

The Prophet (s) said, Seek knowledge even in China, (al-Bayhaqi)

According to the Muqaddimah of the great Muslim Historian Ibn Khaldun, "All civilisations rise and fall". 

Napoleon Bonaparte once said of China, "Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world."

Islamic presence in China is as old as Islam itself. With over 1200 years of Sino-Islamic relations, ranging from the early da'wah 

efforts of the companion, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (ra), to the pioneering journeys of the greatest naval commander in Chinese history, Admiral Zheng He, to the fact that there are some 100 million Muslims living China today. Islam and Muslims have made a significant contribution to China and Chinese Civilisation and vice versa. Muslims have a rich and unique relationship with China.

This short, intensive course aims to cover the following:

- A brief history of Chinese Civilisation and Dynasties

- Arrival of Islam, Golden Age and decline

- Zheng He and his fleets and impact

- Different Muslim Communities and Chinese Islam

- Islamic Scholarship of China and its contribution to Chinese Civilisation

- Islam and relationship with other faiths such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

- Islamic Art in China

- Current situation and future of Muslims of China

*Professor Ibrahim Wenjiong Yang has been engaged in anthropological research and teaching. He has interests in cultural anthropology, anthropology of religion, ethnic relations, urbanization, tradition and modernity as well as focus on Islam and Muslim ethnic minorities in China with interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives. He completed his academic studies at the Northwest University for Nationalities and Lanzhou University in China, where he nowcurrently teaches. He has undertaken a number of significant research projects and his works have received many important awards. Some of his selected publications include: Interaction Adaptation and Reconstruction: A Study of Northwestern Urban Hui Muslim Community and Its Cultural Transition (2009); The History and Culture of Hui Muslim People in China,(2006).

Inshallah Professor Ibrahim will also be joined by members of the Zheng He Foundation in contributing to the course.

The courses are open to all but spaces are limited. Entry is through prior registration only. Prayer facilities available and coffee/tea provided during break sessions.

Cost (excluding lunch but slide notes provided):

£20 paid online BEFORE Monday 10th January 2011 After deadline date, price will increase to £30 online or cash on the day. Unless the course is cancelled, there are no refunds for non-attendance.

To register please email us the following details:

Full name:

Mobile:

No of tickets:

Town/City:

Email:

Once recieved, details for online payments will be emailed.

For further information please contact:

Tel: 07956 983 609 E-mail: info@islamiccourses.org Website: www.islamiccourses.org

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Middle East Cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi's silly thoughts & Qatar FIFA 2022 Vision

The FIFA announcement that Qatar is awarded hosting the 2022 World Cup represents the first time a Muslim country defeats the United States, the Doha-based Egyptian Middle East Cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi (...?) said in his last Friday sermon. Read more

After Sweden bombing, British media targets ‘radical views’ in an echo of McCarthyism

For understandable reasons, the airwaves have been full of news of the bomb that killed one, and injured two people in Sweden last weekend.

It has being alleged that a Muslim from Sweden who lived and studied in the UK was responsible, and that he cited Sweden’s role in the insulting cartoons of the Prophet (saw) episode and its role in occupying Afghanistan as reasons for his actions. We know it is forbidden for Muslims to undertake such actions.

However, the British media has once again focused on the issue of ‘radicalisation’, again ignoring the issues that are said to cause the grievances.

It has been proposed that the alleged bomber expressed ‘radical’ views – though it has not been said violent views – in a mosque in the UK, and that the mosque officials should have reported him to the police.

Once again, what constitutes ‘radical views’ conveniently remains undefined. The media has been unashamed in calling for Muslims to report other Muslims to police whose political or religious views they have decided are unacceptable – calling for the policing of thoughts amongst this community alone. Media organisations have even added that advocating a Caliphate in the Muslim world was ‘extreme’. Others presented arguments that the alleged bomber wanted a second wife, who was a ‘good believer’ and who sought ‘Jannah’, implying that these were somehow stepping stones towards violent action. The effect of the media reporting is to encourage mosques to report people’s personal religious and political views to the police, regardless of their links to violence, never mind incitement to violence.

Questions have even been put to mosques suggesting they have done something wrong by failing to report these issues to the police. The same has been said of University lecturers who fail to report people with ‘radical views’.

There is no difference between this and the climate of the 1950′s in the USA under Senator McCarthy and his House Committee for ‘Un-American’ activities.

The media’s response is utter hypocrisy. They will defend leaks, and insults of religion and the sacred as ‘free expression’, but clamp down on legitimate Islamic views, labelling them ‘extreme’ or ‘radical’.

Muslims should know what their agenda is. It is imporatant that we do not allow ourselves to be fooled into accepting terms such as moderate or extreme following the whims of the British media.

While we clearly know that these violent actions are prohibited in Islam we must never allow ourselves to be bullied into denouncing any political opposition to violent western occupation of Muslim lands, the right to resistance in those countries or condemnation of insults to the Holy Prophet (saw). (HTB)

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Pakistani Diplomats Damage the Image of Islam in Sri Lanka

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A free workshop for aspiring writers; Writing your First Novel

Saturday 18^th  December 2010

Women’s Library, London Metropolitan University

Workshop facilitators:

David Grant, author of Elephant and Managing Director of Infinite Ideas.

Prior to Infinite Ideas, David held senior roles in sales and marketing at McGraw-Hill, John Wiley and Kogan Page before setting up his own business in the mid nineties. He ran a sales and marketing agency working with some of the most creative and fiercely independent publishing companies in the UK spanning most subject areas. He has also published a bestselling range of self-help books in the 60 Minute Success Skills series. David is currently working on his difficult second novel and suspects he will still be doing so in twenty years time.

Leila Aboulela, award-winning author of The Translator

Sudanese-born author of, The Translator, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Minaret– both novels were long listed for the Orange Prize and IMPAC Dublin Award. Leila was the first winner of the Caine Prize for African writing for her short story The Museum included in her collection of short stories Coloured Lights. BBC Radio has adapted her work extensively and broadcast a number of her plays including The Mystic Life and the historical drama The Lion of Chechnya. Leila’s work has been translated into 12 languages.

  

This workshop is aimed at aspiring writers who want to write their  first novel and learn more about getting published.

Leila Aboulela will also be doing a short reading from her latest novel, Lyrics Alley.

This workshop is free but spaces are very  limited, so participants are required to register beforehand by emailing:asma.khanom@muslimhands.org

Programme

1030       1100                       Doors open, arrival, registration, tea/ coffee

1100       1115                       Welcome and introduction  

1115       1245                      Writing your First Novel - David Grant, author of Elephant and Managing 

Director of Infinite Ideas.                                              

1245       1330                       Break for lunch & Dhuhr prayers.

1330       1430                       Getting published, and how I became a writer, Leila Aboulela, award-winning author of The Translator

1430       1445                       Break for Asr prayers, tea break.

1415       1500                       Reading by Leila Aboulela, Lyrics Alley

1500       1545                       Networking, speaking to CEO of Infinite ideas regarding consultations, book signing.

1545                                       Close

Date:     Saturday 18^th December 2010

Time:     Doors open at 10.30 for 11am start

Venue: Clore Seminar Room at London Met’s  Women’s Library

London Metropolitan University, 25 Old Castle Street, London E1 7NT

To register for the event please visit http://groupspaces.com/mhuk-events/item/99937

The Muslim Writers Awards will be hosting a series of free workshops over 2011 throughout the UK.  These will be facilitated by professionals and experts from within the publishing industry.  The workshops will cover a range of relevant topics designed to help aspiring writers to progress.  You can register your interest to receive email updates about these from our team. Or if you prefer, just follow us on Facebook.

February 26^{th -} London
April 2^{nd -} Birmingham

May 7^{th -} Manchester

July 2^{nd -} Bradford

August 13^{th -} Leicester

September 17^{th -} Birmingham

October 22^nd - Manchester

17^th December - London

Asma Khanom  |  Fundraising Assistant

asma.khanom@muslimwritersawards.org.uk +44 (0)203 246 0015 x106 Unit 1.02, E1 Business Centre, 7 Whitechapel Road, London. E1 1DU. UK

Muslim Hands - United for the Needy Charity Registration No. 1105056 Registered Office: 148 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. NG7 5JE. UK Further information can be found on our website muslimhands.org

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WORKSHOP - PREPARE FOR MARRIAGE - INVEST IN YOURSELF

Ajmal Masroor and Henrietta Szovati
(Barefoot Institute - Authors of "10 Things You Should Know About Marriage")*

Date: Saturday 18th December 2010
Time: 10am – 5pm
Venue: Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX

BOOKING DEADLINE: MONDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2010 after which prices increase

Marriage preparation programme that is:
• Practical and based on real life experiences
• Guided by core Islamic principles
• Centred around modern counselling and coaching techniques

Marriage should be a simple process. Yet, many struggle to navigate through the initial stages of finding a suitable partner and the relationship. Experts say 
that if you can survive the first three years, you are likely to stay together as a couple.

Topics included
Discover Yourself: barriers to finding a suitable partner
Expectations: better understanding of what you are looking for and what you are offering, roles and responsibilities
Communication: learning practical skills for effective ways to listen and articulate your thoughts and feelings
Intimacy: exploring and challenging issues related emotional intelligence and a physical relationship
Developing shared vision: you and your spouse, in-laws, extended family and children

What will you gain by attending?
• Deeper understanding of the spiritual, physical and emotional aspects of marriage
• Hands on and practical skills to navigate through various challenges in marriage
• Handout with theory and exercises
• A signed copy of the latest marriage handbook
• 20% off Barefoot’s next couple’s training full weekend programme
• After the training a free taster session with the counsellor or the coach

The courses are open to all but spaces are limited.
Entry is through prior registration only.
Prayer facilities available and coffee/tea provided during break sessions

The Trainers
Ajmal and Henrietta have been married for over eight years. They bring a fresh approach to the field of marriage counselling by combining both
practical and theoretical knowledge. The couple live in London with their two children.

To book or for more information please contact:
Tel: 0560 244 7022 / 07983 066 246 
Email: info@barefootinstitute.com 
Web: www.barefootinstitute.com 
 
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