Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Awards25th November 2012

Eastern Pearl Banqueting Hall, 250 Plymouth Grove, Longsight, Manchester M13 0BG

2012

“A Celebration of Engagement and Communication”

Background to Awards

Communication and Engagement Awards

Shortlist of Candidates

Abdullah Quilliam Timeline

www.abdullahquilliam.com

www.facebook.com/AbdullahQuilliam

@quilliamsociety

contact@abdullahquilliam.com

Abdullah Quilliam Society

Supporters

Liverpool City Council

Bishop of liverpool

Duchy of Lancaster

Comtechsa

Communica Consulting

The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Timeline

The First Annual Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Awards 2012

The Muslim presence in Britain and Europe has become controversial. Muslims and Islam face constant vilification in the media and prejudice and stereotyping in society. Islam is still portrayed as an alien religion of migrants, a threat, rather than an indigenous religion, and not fully accepted as part of British society. Muslims and their institutions are still subject to increasing verbal and physical attacks. Muslim loyalty and identity are under question due to their stance on wars overseas. As a result very few positive stories about Islam and Muslims appear in public.

Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam

For Muslims today these problems appear new for them to deal with. Yet in Victorian Britain, an Englishman embraced Islam (1887), and went on to convert 600 people to Islam. He created the first mosque and Muslim community. He became the first and only legally appointed leader (Sheikh ul Islam) of British Muslims. And as a leader he tackled these same problems head on and without compromising his faith.

All this happened in the City of Liverpool, a city with a unique history of diverse people and cultures. To add to its history Liverpool can now rightly claim it was the birthplace of the Islamic community in Britain.

Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam established methods for Muslims on how to engage with wider society, and utilised popular methods of communication of his time to promote Islam. With his writings, public lectures, visits, dealings with the media, officialdom and representatives of other faiths; he set precedents for Muslims which are relevant even today.

Remarkably, 80 years after Sheikh Quilliam passed away, the challenges he faced remain as relevant today as they were then. The challenges he faced were: -

1. To correct misconceptions about Islam and Muslims existing at the time and challenge negative prejudices and stereotypes, without compromising his beliefs.

2. To dialogue, engage, and create a better understanding of the faith of Islam amongst the public and in the media.

3. To ensure acceptance of the Islamic faith as part of British life.

4. To use his linguistic, legal, writing and speaking skills to fight against injustice in Britain and the rest of the world.

The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Awards

The Abdullah Quilliam Society, based in Liverpool not only seeks to refurbish the historic First Mosque of Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam and create a Heritage Centre; but we also want to revive the methods that Sheikh Quilliam and his followers used to engage with wider society and harness the skills they utilised to communicate and engage with others.

Therefore, to mark the 80th anniversary of his death we launched al Memorial Lecture and two Awards in his honour. These aim to recognise and encourage his methods of communication and engagement. The objectives of the Awards are very much the four challenges above that Sheikh Quilliam faced. We believe that there are many people, Muslims and non-Muslims that are working away to promote engagement in the manner of Sheikh Quilliam, but this never makes the headlines. We want to recognise those individuals.

(L-R) Galib Khan, Bishop of Liverpool, M.Akbar Ali

Two Honorary Awards were given in April 2012. A Communication Award to Professor Ron Geaves the biographer of Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam, and an Engagement Award to Bishop James Jones a long time support of the Muslim community and the Abdullah Quilliam Society.

Professor Ron Geaves

Kindliness by Abdullah Quilliam

“Your smiling good-naturedly in your brother’s face is charity.” Muhammad.

As fair as the morning, And as full of grace, Is the bright friendly smile, On a good-natured face.

As firm as a mountain, Deny it who can, Is the grasp of the hand, Of the good-hearted man.

As welcome as sunshine, True warmth to impart, Is the sweet kindly word From a good-natured heart.

As pure as the dew-drop, So tender, so dear, Is the sympathy shown By the good-natured tear.

(Woodland Towers, Isle of Man, 22nd October 1906)

Background to the Awards

The two awards we launched in 2012 and presented in today’s ceremony are:-

1. The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Engagement Award

This Award is for an individual that has made a unique contribution to promoting engagement, dialogue and understanding between Muslims and Non-Muslims or the wider society. The work and person do not have to be high profile, however, they do need to have had a positive impact on relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and have either, created better understanding, been innovative or broken down prejudices and stereotypes. This Award is open to anyone in any part of the country and from any age group.

2. The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Communication Award

This Award will be for an individual who has either communicated Islam or Muslim life and issues in a positive or creative way to a non-Muslim audience. This can be in the form of writing, journalism, a speech or lecture, poetry, art, website or other form of modern communication. The award is open to anyone but we want over the years to have a particular focus on schools, to encourage skills an understanding at an early age.

The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Awards and Shortlist 2012

The Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam Awards Shortlist for Abdullah Quilliam Awards 2012

“The quintessence of knowledge is applying it when you have got it, or confessing your ignorance when you have no knowledge.”

(Passing Thought by Abdullah Quilliam)

Anjum Anwar Anjum Anwar as Dialogue Development Officer at Blackburn Cathedral has carried out ground breaking activities promoting Islam and engagement to different communities.

Victoria BrittainWriter and journalist Victoria Brittain’s innovate style of presenting the excesses of the War on Terror has been crucial in raising public awareness of the way national security policies are being prosecuted in the name of public safety.

2

Rahila BanoRahila Bano has been reporting on Muslim issues for the BBC in the North West for 12 years in a creative and sensitive manner that has created a better understanding of Islam.

3

Hifsa Haroon Iqbal

Hifsa Iqbal has been actively involved in inter faith and equality issues and promoting Islam in Staffordshire. She developed and delivered an innovative Explore Islam educational programme.

4

Rokhsana FiazRokhsana Fiaz of Co-Existence Trust has developed and delivered ground-breaking engagement activities in London between Muslims and Jewish communities.

5

Hamza Andreas Tzortzis

Hamza Andreas Tzortzis of iERA is an international public speaker on Islam. He regularly appears in the media explaining and demystifying Islam and providing unique perspectives on current affairs.

6

Mohamed Ali HarrathMohamed Ali Harrath is the brains behind ISLAM Channel, the UK’s first mainstream 24 hour Islamic Satellite Channel. He developed The Global Peace and Unity Event to bring together Muslims and non-Muslims from all walks of life.

7

Dr.Usman Hafeez Farooq

Dr.Usman Patel and his wife Dr.Charlie Sanders organised and arranged for the Muslim Community in Liverpool to feed the poor and homeless of Liverpool through their Big Issue project.

8

Dr.Tasleem ShakurDr.Tasleem Shakur of Huddersfield University specialise in Islamic Urbanism and has written and published extensively on Islam.

9

Councillor Alan DeanCouncillor Alan Dean of Liverpool is known for his support of the Muslim community, helping with extension of the Ar Rahma Mosque and Quilliam Mosque. He has got closer to his Muslim residents by fasting with them for the last four Ramadan’s. 10

Award category: Engagement

Award category: Communication

Award category: Communication

Award category: Engagement

Award category: Engagement Award category: Engagement

Award category: Communication

Award category: Engagement

Award category: Communication

Award category: Engagement1