I have always been drawn to trees. I used to assume that this was due to spending so much of my early life amongst them. Years of playing, dog walking and exploring the woodlands that surrounded my home. Even my early artwork was obsessively focussed on trees. A few days ago I had the privilegeContinue reading “Trees, Islam and the Cambridge Central Mosque”
Tag Archives: Muhammad
Is it an insult to be called a “Quranist”?
As a new Muslim you can feel as though it’s so easy to make mistakes. We encounter endless posts and videos online telling us what is right and wrong, and in such detail, about every part of our lives. Often these posts simply offer opinions. Options mostly based on tradition, ethic and cultural norms. AlmostContinue reading “Is it an insult to be called a “Quranist”?”
Do women need separate prayer spaces?
I’m presently working with my employer to create a prayer space, initially for Ramadan but hopefully beyond. The question I found my self asking was whether it’s ok to share a prayer space between men and women. The answer surprised me. My experience of UK mosques is that women pray in different prayer spaces fromContinue reading “Do women need separate prayer spaces?”
Shared Prayer Spaces
A few years ago I was amazed to be sat in a UK cathedral at a service for students led jointly by an Muslim Imam and Christian Bishop. It was one of those moment that led me to believe that Islam might be open to me. Yet the more I explore the more examples IContinue reading “Shared Prayer Spaces”
“You don’t need to find an alternative scripture for what has already been given to you.”
This post is written in response to someone who had a passage from Christian scripture that spoke to him so clearly and yet as a new Muslim he felt the need to find the equivalent from the Quran and to leave that Christian scripture behind. As a Christian I was drawn to Islam over someContinue reading ““You don’t need to find an alternative scripture for what has already been given to you.””
You have to know Arabic to become a Muslim … ?
I am going to suggest that you do not, but also why it’s a good idea in the long term. To become a Muslim you simply have to submit to God (Allah in Arabic) and you do this through the declaration of faith, the Shahada*, (literally ‘the testimony’). *”I bear witness that there is noContinue reading “You have to know Arabic to become a Muslim … ?”
Just Pray … learning from Astronauts
Edit: Ramadan 2023 … How people in space will observe fast during Ramadan 2023? The International Space Station (ISS) will see 16 sunrises and sunsets over the course of 24 hours – either happening every 45 minutes approximately for people fasting there. Gulf News I recently discovered that there is guidance for how a MuslimContinue reading “Just Pray … learning from Astronauts”
Modesty and male responsibility
We all, men and women, have a role to play in ensuring modesty.