Imām Alī ibn Abī Tālib ('a.s): 'O Mālik! The people are either brothers in religion or your equal in creation'
(Nahj al-Balāgha Letter no. 53)
Interfaith & Culture
In past and present Islamic and non-Islamic societies Music, Art, Buildings and public spaces are all physical manifestations of culture. They represent human endeavours that can enhance the quality of life, foster self-understanding and community values, and expand opportunities for economic and social development into the future.
Within the Islamic societies there is a wealth of culture, unexplored and untouched. It is the aim of the Institute in the near future to facilitate the exploration and development of this culture.
In this regard the institute intends to support:
The pursuit of excellence in contemporary architecture and related fields;
To educate the public what comprise Islamic culture;
The conservation and creative re-use of historic buildings and public spaces which facilitate social, economic, and cultural development;
The strengthening of education for architectural practice, planning, and conservation; and
The international exchange of ideas to enhance understanding of the intimate connection between culture and built environments in the history and culture of Islamic civilisations and in contemporary Muslim societies;
To assist with contemporary artists in the performing of theatre and arts.
To host Islamic Art Exhibitions and Islamic Theatre performance.
To offer courses of Islamic culture; such as Islamic calligraphy.
The Al-Mahdi institute hopes that all our efforts in time will highlight and bring to the public forefront the uniqueness, richness and intense diversity that is Islamic Culture.
INTERFAITH VISIT
As part of the Islamic studies of the Christian students from the Queens Foundation in Edgbaston at Al-Mahdi Institute, a tour of the Clifton Road Mosque was arranged for them on the 02/02/2010.
The students were from Zimbabwe, Ghana and Jamaica and were quite keen and excited to be guided around the mosque and had several questions pertaining to Islamic ideology and the main differences between the major schools of thought in Islam. Informal discussion with questions and answers followed and they were particularly interested to witness worship, which would give them a practical experience rather than just theory.
It was agreed that another session will be arranged for them where they will be taken to mosque in order to witness prayer in congregation, which they said they very much looked forward to.
INTERNSHIP
Al-Mahdi Institute has had the pleasure to host Richard Sudworth between April-June 2009. Mr Sudworth is training for ordination to the priesthood of the Church of England at the Queen’s Foundation.
He is sponsored by the Church of England in PhD research on the Political Theology of the Church of England in relation to Islam. The PhD studies are through Heythrop College, University of London, supervised by Dr Anthony O’Mahony who is a leading Catholic scholar on Catholic-Shia dialogue.
His keen interest was to explore issues specific to the Shia branch of Islam in relation to the differences presented by a community and the nature of a dispersed Islamic community in Birmingham and some of the distinctives around community engagement and how this is shaped by Islamic beliefs and values.
As part of his placement Al-Mahdi Institute arranged various educational and cultural programs for him; such as attending lectures and engaging one to one with the tutors and students at the Institute, observing the Friday prayers and religious functions at the Mosque during significant Shi’a holydays and also visiting different Shia communities in Birmingham, such as the Iraqi, Khoja and Pakistani communities.
The Institute has been privileged and has gained much from this experience and will be continuing in the coming semester with further placements of students from the Queen’s Foundation. This would lead to serve and further the good will, accord and understanding which already exist in Christian-Muslim relations.
PLACEMENT
Al-Mahdi Institute had the pleasure to host three students from Burma, Kenya and Fiji who are based at the Queens Foundation, Selly Oak, Birmingham.
The Institute arranged for them to take part in lectures of theology and philosophy, observe prayers as well as interact with Muslim community members where they had opportunities to ask questions at a one to one basis.
Their placement was once a week during Tuesdays between the 1st of February to 22nd of March 2009 and constituted a part of their MA studies to get exposure to Islam, Muslim culture and interaction with Muslims.
One of the aims being thus that they would take this experience back to their respective countries at the end of their studies at the Queens Foundation by September 2009, leading to further future dialogue, harmony and co-operation between Christians - Muslims and human beings at large.
The members of Al-Mahdi Institute have felt enriched by their presence and wish them the best of success in their future endeavours.
The Institute will have the pleasure to host Mr. Richard Sudworth between April-June 2009.
