Interfaith
History
From its very inception the Islamic Foundation has sought to develop
better relations with other faiths. Its policy has been to find
common ground between people of faiths, particularly between Muslims
and Christians, on the ethical and social levels.
In 1973, the Islamic
Foundation carried out a feasibility study to establish a project
on Inter-Faith and Christian-Muslim Relations. Whilst the study
was in progress the staff of the Islamic Foundation were already
engaged in participation and formation of two important organisations.
These are:
* the ‘Standing Conference
of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Europe’ (JCM);
* its role in the formation of ‘the Centre for the Study
of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations’ (CSIC) in Birmingham.
Once the study was
completed financial support was sought from Muslim individuals
and Institutions and in 1977 the Foundation’s Board of Trustees
agreed to establish the ‘Inter-Faith Unit’. In July
1978 two staff joined the Unit on a full time basis.
Objectives
The objective of the unit is:
"To carry out studies and research in the areas of Inter-Faith
relations, particularly Christian-Muslim relations, ranging from
historical engagement to contemporary dimensions."
Inter
Faith Network
This national body works to build good relations between communities
of all the major faiths in Britain. The Islamic Foundation was
invited to become a member as a leading ‘Educational and
Academic Body’. The Director General, Dr.
Manazir Ahsan has served as its Co-Chair and is currently one
of the Network’s Vice Chairs, as well as a member of its
Executive Committee. Dr. Ataullah Siddiqui too, regularly attends
principal meetings in a consultative capacity.
Dr. Manazir Ahsan
received an MBE Award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours’
List (2000) in recognition of his services to the work in the
planning of the Millennium Dome on behalf of the Muslim community,
as well as the Inter Faith Network.
Multi-Faith
Centre at the University of Derby
The Islamic Foundation has taken great interest in the establishment
of the very first purpose built Multi-Faith Centre at the University
of Derby. The vision of the Centre is to create a ‘village
of spaces’ where people from different religious traditions
and cultures can meet to develop mutual respect and understanding
through dialogue.
The
Director General of the Islamic Foundation, Dr. Manazir Ahsan
was especially requested by the Multi Faith Centre to represent
the Muslim community by acting as one of its trustees.
Teaching
Programme
The Unit began its teaching programmes in 1982. Almost every year
various Muslim institutions and organisations send their staff
and students to do research on Christian-Muslim Relations. The
Unit has helped a number of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars in
their research on inter-faith subjects. Staff at the Unit have
been in constant demand to speak to school and university students,
and to give lectures and participate in various national and international
forums.
Journal
Since 1995 the Unit has been publishing a biannual journal called
Encounters: Journal of Inter-Cultural Perspectives. It covers
a wide range of issues such as Islam and the West, modernism and
Muslim societies, and Inter-Faith Relations. In its recent issues
it has generated lively debate on co-existence and perceptions
of each other.
Publications
The Unit has published several research papers, articles and books
on Inter-Faith relations particularly on Christian-Muslim relations.
Christians in the Qur’an and the Sunna, Christian Mission
and Islamic Dawah, Islam and Other Faiths were well received and
quoted widely. The Unit has also published books in collaboration
with publishers like Macmillan, Al-Tajir, and International Institute
of Islamic Thought, in the U.K. and in the U.S.A. and several
other publishers in Asia, Africa and North America. The Unit has
contributed articles in Church Times (London), Islamochristiana
(Rome), American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Asia Journal
of Theology, Journal of Moral Education and many others.
For
furhter details about the Inter Faith Unit contact:
ataullah@islamic-foundation.org.uk
