It is an honor seeing Muslims in Britain celebrating and inspiring people by introducing the best, passionate and beneficial British Muslims in different aspects of life under the theme #BestofBritishMuslims.
This convention was held by Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) on October 15,2016, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. MAB is a British organization aims to promote and propagate the principles of positive Muslim interaction with all elements of society to reflect, project and convey the message of Islam. MAB believes that British Muslims must realize their potential in society and they must continue to contribute effectively for its betterment.
MAB slogan is “Building Society..Creating Hope”; it ultimately reflects the role and responsibilities of British Muslims towards their society. And here comes this convention to show the whole world how passionate, enthusiastic, talented, beneficial British Muslims are.
The aim of MAB Convention 2016
MAB Convention 2016 aims to highlight the Muslims contributions in the British society. The convention is considered to be the alternative actual media that presents how Muslims positively simultaneously serve Britain (their home) and they are not acting like minority foreigners anymore as they are part of this society and would never be apart. Rather the media that incites Muslims for just being Muslims.
Dr. Omer El-Hamdoon the president of MAB said clarifying: “We serve our communities and invest in all sectors of the society because, despite our various ethnic make-up and cultural backgrounds, our home is the UK. We enrich society with our values and beautiful expressions of Islam. We give back to our fellow citizens and learn from others around us. This makes us integrated and very much an integral part of today’s fabric of society.”
In the Convention
The convention was a great success filled with dedication and commitment. More than 1000 people came to witness the achievements of the British Muslims. It was well-organized by MAB members and lots of other volunteers. They also prepared a large play area for the children, having their own program and a crèche for the little ones that makes it convenient for mums to attend the sessions and get the benefit out of the day.
Children play area. Credit: Ne’ma El-Shafe’y/Aboutislam.net
Amazing stalls and shops were taking place in the large area outside the new bingely hall and a fresh tasty food is being served.
Coming to the most essential part of the day; the inspirational speakers. All the speakers had a great precious presence telling some of their own success stories, challenges they meet and inspiring the attendees how to get the best out of themselves. I will just mention few speakers who have inspired me personally as the lines won’t be enough to write down about them all.
One of the well-known Imam, broadcasters and inspirational speaker is
Ajmal Masroor. Masroor was talking about the excellence in Islam (Ihsan), being compassionate to people around you and never under estimate your abilities.
He started his talk by a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) introducing Islam to a man in 8 seconds as the man asked him about his religion and the prophet replied with the following verse:
“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”(90,An-Nahl).
And hence, that was enough for the man; that was Islam for the Muslims in the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and should be enough for all Muslims in this era.
Here in Britain we might find it more Islamic than the Muslim countries because you find justice everyday as Allah ordered us to be; you find fair.
Masroor has raised a question that every Muslim in Britain should find an answer by his own. He said “Are the Muslims living in Britain as Islamic and as just as Britain is?” He doesn’t believe that Muslims have been that fair to the society where we live; he proceeded giving an example as he said: “In the last Ramadan, Muslims in Britain gave more than hundred million pounds as charity to the world, 99 percent of the money went to the other countries and may be less than 1 percent is spent in Britain.
How are we being just and fair to the people of this country , the country that gives us home, justice and fair; and we don’t spend our money here at home in Britain, How we would be just”, he asked willingly.
Ajmal Masroor giving his speech. Credit: Ne’ma El-Shafe’y/Aboutislam.net
Masroor was explaining that one of our missions as Muslims is to be just and fair everywhere in the world. The Muslim’s behavior doesn’t change by place; it is the same where he goes, applying all the beautiful set of values and attitudes towards the Muslims and non-Muslims with love and care.
He also inspired the parents not to under estimate their children abilities. They must aim high as there is no glass ceiling for our children. They could be whatever they would like to be as long as it doesn’t contradict Islam. They could be great leaders one day in Britain or anywhere in the globe.
Khadija Safari is an English-Italian convert to Islam. She is the first female Muslim Instructor in kickboxing and has a black belt in Muay Thai.
She is a real example of a passionate Muslim woman who competes achieving her own desires to help Muslim women to realize their potential, learn new skills and keep fit and healthy without compromising their own faith.
She chose to wear hijab and practice her favorite sport simultaneously with passion and love.
She said obviously some people want to know how halal the kickboxing is. She replied that they are competing in strictly women only sessions with no music, no alcohol, the doors are locked and nobody sees them. Safari motivates the women who want to build confidence and learn to defend themselves without being watched by men. She also commented that she is surrounded by hundreds of Muslim passionate women who are following their own fondness and contributing to the society and never compromising who they are.
Frazana Rahman, managing director of The Desi Doll Company. Credit: Ne’ma El-Shafe’y/Aboutislam.net
Frazana Rahman, the founder and managing director of The Desi Doll Company. When her children were young, she searched for toys that would help them learn about Islam in a fun and interactive way but unfortunately, she couldn’t find any. She feels shame like we feel nowadays not finding good quality Arabic nasheed for our children that are done in fun and attractive animation.
After 15 years, she finds her way to create the famous and beloved two dolls, Amina and Yousuf. She also started to create other wide range of toys and that is how she contributes to the British economy and help Muslims.
Ms Rahman proves to the society that there are talented Muslim women who could achieve their goals professionally.
The last but most importantly, a short talk that was given by Dr Anas Altikriti the CEO and Founder of The Cordoba Foundation, a research and advisory group with the aim of “bridging the gap of understanding between the Muslim World and the West”. He is also the current Chairman of MAB.
Dr Altikriti is a specialist on Political Islamic Thought. He was tackling a very important topic that is frequently being raised regarding every Muslim who is born, brought up in Britain, or just started living in the UK. It was about their citizenship, belonging and political engagement; whether their belonging should be to their own country where they originally came from or to the country that gave them home?
Dr Altikriti’s point of view is that our country is the country where we and our children live not the country where we are just born. Sort of like those questions should no longer be raised. We are living here in the UK so we should give Britain generously more than we take. Our mission as British Muslims is to create a better Britain for everyone.
He said: “If you want people to be the best British citizens they must be the best of Muslims and the best of Muslims will naturally be the best British citizens. The best British Muslims will be the ones who always tell the truth, the ones who care for everyone, the ones who always endeavor and struggle to excel in whatever profession, study, or job, the ones to help and assist those who are deprived, those who are weak, and those who are voiceless.”
Dr.Anas Altikriti giving his speech. Credit: Ne’ma El-Shafe’y/Aboutislam.net
Dr Altikriti proceeded with his talk asking to end the discussion about citizenship and belonging as the British Muslims are equal with every other British citizen in the eyes of the law. We as Muslims contribute to the British life as much or even more than others. Muslims are doing so not for anyone speak up but because we are Muslims and because our principles, our collective set of values demanded that we are the best in our attitude.
“Our mission is very clear; we need to be the driving forces to create a better Britain for everyone.” Dr Altikriti said proudly.
During the convention there was an award ceremony and prize presentation for those who won in the poetry competition that was organized by MAB.
A talented youth were proudly participated in the competition showing how gifted they are.
Afterwards, the day was ended in an atmosphere full of fun and entertainment with the nasheed artist Saif Adam who left the stage in amusement and the comedian Guz Khan who make it so humorous.
Most of the people showed their interest to attend such events in the future.
The artist Saif Adam. Credit: Ne’ma El-Shafe’y/Aboutislam.net
Conclusion
This convention has brought up some inspirational ideas and new beliefs to most of the Muslims attending the day. Starting from talking about the excellence and how excellence is beyond imagination. That gives them a push not to just do whatever they could do but to excel it professionally and make a change, ending with the idea of being part of this society, having a voice in the political life, and acting like a minority -though it is a fact- is not accepted anymore.
Eventually, Muslims will keep perfectly contributing to the British society as they used to.
Eliminating the misconceptions of Islam, any kind of discrimination, and the idea of islamophobia is part of our mission to make Britain a better place for everyone.