London Inferno: A tale of two cities
Laughing with your friends as you walk back from the night prayer. Looking forward to seeing your wife and then eating the suhūr together. Perhaps letting your mind wander to what you should buy for your children’s Eid presents. Suddenly you see hint of a flame in the distance. Your pace quickens. Perplexed, you wonder which building is on fire. Panic grips. You realise it is your home. You race to your family. Held back by the police who tell you they are safe. You watch in disbelief as the flames engulf the building in minutes. Trapped residents throw their…
Stephen Fry’s “challenge to God” – when arrogance blinds minds
Since Stephen Fry made headlines for his infamous "challenge" against "God", Dr Izzadeen Chowdhury highlights the results of the dangerous combination of ignorance and arrogance...
Why are we talking about Fireman Sam?
Wrapped in velvet, placed on the highest shelf, perfumed and honoured, the Qur’an has a special place in every Muslim’s heart. The Qur’an is the uncreated speech of the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord and Master of Mankind, the Creator of the Heavens and Earth. Once this is appreciated it will cause an earthquake in your soul. Fireman Sam was everyone’s favourite and friendly firefighter. A children’s classic that I remember watching during my childhood and one which runs to this day. So it was with astonishment that I learnt that this children’s program—for some strange and inexplicable reason—contained…
The Bloody Legacy of Western Imperialism in Iraq
The story of the Iraq War did not start in 2003. Indeed, it started many years before with the sanctions placed upon Iraq during the 1st Gulf War.
What will you achieve with your life?
Regrets gather around us like books we wish we’d read. One day a book other than the Qur’an will become most critical to us. On the day of standing, there will be a moment when the books will fly into our hands. It will be a moment when anxiety will reach such levels that even a baby’s hair will turn grey with fear. Picture yourself standing there, naked, in a pool of your sweat, watching as the books begin their journey. Your heart thudding against your chest as your personal register of deeds draws closer. Think quick. Is there a…
A Battle for the Souls of our Children
O my fellow people of Britain, lend me your ears. There is a secret army of 640,000 plus strong amassing its ranks against you. It is unlike anything you have ever seen before having infiltrated every walk of life. An army made of doctors, lawyers, civil servants, postal workers, teachers, hairdressers and engineers all supporting Islamist terrorism. But they are not all Muslim. No, the vast majority are either Christian, Hindu or Jewish. Some are even agnostic or atheist. But all support violence to meet political Islamist objectives. This is the untold, yet shocking, statistic of Channel 4’s “What British…
Paedophiles Beware of Inescapable Justice
Paedophiles Beware of Inescapable Justice Firmly the door shuts. Footsteps draw closer. Your body stiffens as fear overtakes you. Frozen, he grabs you. Sobbing silently, you pray for this to be the last time, knowing it probably will not. Unspeakable. Tragic. Horrific. Adjectives often used in the press, yet all combined not enough to underline the utter loss of innocence suffered by victims of child rape. Two cases have had recent media attention; Lord Greville Janner and the father of Poppi Worthington. Greville Janner succeeded his father to hold the Leicester North constituency as its MP and appeared, until recently…
Is Burma’s election good news for Muslims?
Sat on the shore, my feet nestled in the warm sandy beach as I watched my toddler son playing with sea shells against the backdrop of a majestic sunset, I thought to myself: a small taste of paradise. A faint image in the distance caught my eye, a mirage like ship, matchbox size, drifting, abandoned in the Andaman Sea. As I beckoned a waiter over to ask for another virgin mojito the irony of my situation juxtaposed against those on that boat holding out empty water bottles to catch drinkable rain water did not escape me. Sunday welcomed the first…
We’re all going on a summer holiday… inshā’Allāh
Pack your bags, don’t forget your toothbrush, splash some cash! It’s time to plan your summer break! So the recent cold spell has got you dreaming of warm, sunny days and clear blue skies. Many will seek some summer sun with a visit to the magnificent mosques of Istanbul, or sumptuous street stalls of Morocco, or opt for the soulless souks of Dubai. But, as you do, spare a thought for the passengers of the recently downed AirAsia plane off the coast of Borneo. Despite crashing over a month ago divers are still finding bodies - the 100th being pulled out…
