Professor Tariq Ramadan on Vision and Leadership

Professor Tariq Ramadan on
Vision and Leadership

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Come with understanding, with confidence, independence, critical thinking; serve yourself on the spiritual dimension and your community in the collective dimension, and then try to come with the sense of what are our priorities, said Professor Tariq Ramadan in his keynote speech at the Muslim Council of Britain’s (MCB) LDP Alumni Dinner, held at the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, London, on Saturday, 25th June, 2011.

Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies, at the Oxford University (St. Anthony College) and also teaches at the Oxford Faculty of Theology. He is visiting Professor at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Qatar, Mundiapolis University (Morocco) and Senior Research Fellow at Doshisha University (Kyata, Japan). His latest books are The Quest for Meaning, Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism, Penguin, 2010; What I Believe, OUP, USA, 2009. .

To be rooted in our Islamic tradition
Professor Ramadan believed that there is no doubt that we have to be rooted in our Islamic tradition but we should be open. He said, “We should be open to all the other contributions that are coming from other traditions, religious traditions, Christian, Jewish traditions. But not only that, there are so many other philosophical traditions and even now people who are specialising and managing giving us something helping us better understanding of our scriptural sources or our traditions.”

“So it is to know where you come from and with whom you are living and what you are sharing. It does not mean that you are forgetting your principles but your principles are not closed principles,” emphasized Professor Ramadan.

Leadership: independence and autonomy
Speaking about leader and leadership from the Islamic point of view, Professor Ramadan said, “When it comes to being a leader and leadership it is the understanding of independence and autonomy which linked back to Islamic tradition is very important. You are teaching your kids to be educated; you are teaching yourselves because one day you are going to stand before God as an individual. I am educating my son, my daughter because at one point they will be alone before God. It means you have to face your responsibility. At some point leadership is all about this. It is to get the sense of what it means to be independent and autonomous. That one day we have to respond to the call; ‘O You who believe; It is a call to your conscience; it is a call to your intelligence; it is a call to your heart.”

Mature, independent, autonomous
“The whole philosophy before God you should be mature, independent autonomous; leadership is about that. Why the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the leader? He was leader; because if you look at all the companions; all the companions were leaders following the leader; that means who are following you I will know what kind of teacher you are. Without intellectual autonomy you are not the teacher. This is the meaning of Islam from the very beginning. That is why, we are respecting the companions; they are autonomous; deeply intellectual; intellectually autonomous. So they can think themselves. This is the first dimension.”

You are at home
“When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was rejected by his own people, and this happened with all the prophets, messengers sent before him, the point is whatever you say about me you are my people,” Professor Ramadan said and added, “The populist, the far- rightists, the Islamophobes, whatever they say about you, you are at home. You can’t come with positive contribution if you nurture in your hearts ‘us’ verses ‘them’. You can’t; because, psychologically speaking, there is a dichotomy between your contribution and the vision.”

Tension between our values and this society
This is possible from education and understanding. “There is three dimensions, at home is my autonomy, my contribution at home here with my people. But this is not easy,” said, Professor Ramadan and added, “It’s very difficult because everyday we are facing this tension between our values and this society. So this is the starting point of understanding. That’s the beginning of the journey but it is necessary to have it here to get your mind clear and your understanding clear on the dimension.”

Professor Ramadan asked, “If you are training leaders, my first question will be: tell me about your autonomy. What do you want to contribute? In which way do you want to gift? The leader is the gift. At the end, what is your connection with the society? Who is this you are talking about? Which way you are connected with the society? Not only your neighbour, everywhere.”

The more visible you are the
more problematic you are
“You cannot rely on TV on Radio; you are not going to make it. You have to rely on the community,” said Professor Ramadan and mentioned, “This is why many of the populist are very very worried about your presence. The more visible you are the more problematic you are. Because this new visibility is changing the mind, changing the hearts and this is the way forward but not the way narrow understanding of what Islam is in our tradition. I am coming from somewhere but I am sharing values what you are saying. We have shared values but we are coming from somewhere. We have a moral distinction. But it does not mean that our moral distinction is the only distinction within our community.”

“There are many distinctions. I have seen many Christians, many Rabbis, they are better than Muslims. We think, as Muslims, Islam is the best and the last revealed religion,” said Professor Ramadan and added, “It does not mean the Muslims are the best practiser or believer. This sense of humility is so important. You get that when you start to study, when you get to interact with people; you suspend your judgement. You can take the positive from everyone.”

Use quality at right place and at right time
Speaking about the character and quality of the leader, Professor Ramadan mentioned, “The leader is not only the one who gives but also the one who is able to listen, to get from the community. One of the dimensions of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) leadership is to take the qualities from everyone at the right place and at the right time. When he needed someone to be tough, Omar was important; someone to be open and sensitive to the people, Abu Bakr Siddiq was important. So you use the quality at the right place at the right time for the right people. The Prophet was choosing the people depending on the quality. So you knew the context and you knew the people.”

Vision for the future
Professor Ramadan continued, “Leader is someone who serves. If you lead, you serve. If you get the knowledge you have to use this knowledge to help the people who don’t have this knowledge.”

Intimate verses collective dimension
After the quality of service come the priorities. “When leader is asked to serve you have the intimate dimension and the collective dimension. In the intimate dimension the first that you have to serve is to yourself. This is why when you start with the dua what we got from the Prophet (peace be upon him) if you are asking God you ask for yourself first and then for others. You start from you, because you be careful. If you start from the community, it might be that to serve the people you lose yourself. You are so much involved into activities that you are forgetting your own heart. That is why we have to get it right from the very beginning,” he said. .

Professor Ramadan continued, “On the spiritual side you start from yourself and you ask Allah to have this sound heart; to help you to purify your heart; to help you; that Allah the Almighty is helping you; not because you are Islamically active that you are spiritually right; anyone of us knows that; it is not that you are active, you are spiritually right. You can forget yourself; you can be neglectful on many dimensions.”

Purification of hearts
Professor Ramadan kept on repeating one Hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said; you pray during the night and change world during the day. “But you don’t change the world during the day if you forget sometimes during the night. You cannot get it all. Because if you want to change the world during the day and if you don’t have on your side Allah. It’s metaphor. During the night to isolate yourself, to think about yourself; about your own priorities. Because our leadership is not only of our efficiency; it is about ethics, about purification; purification of your nafs; starts with yourself.”

Active Muslim and agitator Muslim
Professor Ramadan made a distinction between active Muslim and agitator Muslim. “Active Muslims know where they are going. Agitator Muslims are not sure; they are doing so many things that they are forgetting the vision; agitated Muslims are people who lost the central and who are lost the way of direction. Active Muslims have a vision; .and this is independency and autonomy; that we get there; that you are confident; and it is on going struggle; no one reach that level; this is Jihad and Jihad started at that level,” Professor Ramadan said.

Autonomy, contribution and my people
After mentioning three dimensions, autonomy, contribution and my people, Professor Ramadan said, “My people are the people where I live. Even if you look at the way Zakat should be spent, the people around you.” Professor Ramadan argued, “The poor people one day before God will ask you what about us; we were close to you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said your poor people; and you have poor people here. Muslims are very poor; and they need your support. The Rules are proximity first and then you think about other dimension.”

Muslim community in Britain
Talking about serving the Muslim community in Britain, Professor Ramadan enquired how we are going to serve this community here in Britain. He said, “The starting point of serving your people is to know them; and to know them is to know two things; two knowledge: the priority of Islamic knowledge we need this of course; because there is something which is specific from our religion and also this country and this country means that you need to get very deep understanding from within.”

Be specialist
Professor Ramadan argued, “We need people in different field comprehensive vision but with skills, specialist. Don’t be superficial in all the fields; choose your field and go ahead with your field. You want to work for education; yes, be specialist, the skills that are needed at the highest level.”

Multiculturalism
In the Q. & A. session, Professor Ramadan touched specially on multiculturalism and integration. About multiculturalism, Professor Ramadan said, “The populist is doing this. And they have four features: one, the simplicistic answers to complex questions; second, the creation of the others; and the others today are the Muslims and so we are the others. Islam is not the European religion; it cannot be an American religion; they are the others. So the sense of victimhood, we are the victims of their colonisation; they are colonising us. So nurturing the victim mentality,” said Professor Ramadan and added, “This is emotional politics.”

Integration
Professor Ramadan was saying again and again integration is over. Professor Ramadan argued, “This is the contribution; it is the European British religion that we are at home; this is positive position. This is to say I am repeating this everyday; integration words are over; and the success of integration is to stop talking about integration. Go ahead now with what we are saying, but don’t be on the reactive mode; on the defensive mode. Know something, what they are saying at the national level, they are not what they are saying at the local level.”

“At the local level they know it is working and are going much better than what they are seeing in London. Something is happening at the grass-root level. So let them talk and do the job. But don’t waste your time responding. Sometimes the answer to this is silence.” advised Professor Ramadan.

In Tower Hamlets a mosaic of the world

In Tower Hamlets you have a Mosaic of
the world – says Foreign Secretary

Dr. Mozammel Haque

During the last week, two important events took place, one was organized by Muslim community and another was a visit of British Foreign Secretary to a mosque in east London. About the first event, I have to narrate the whole story of the event and about the latter I will write a report of the visit of the British Foreign Secretary. The first event was attended by many important dignitaries and personalities, such as Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, MP; Privy Counsellor and Cabinet Minister, Sadiq Khan, MP; Communities Minister Shahid Malik, MP; Lord Sheikh and diplomats from Saudi Embassy and many others whom I met outside the Hall. They were asking me to join with them inside the Hall; but I could not. So the story needs to be told.

Let us first start with the visit of the Foreign Secretary David Miliband, MP, at the Brick Lane Mosque immediately before the Jumah prayer on Friday last.

Foreign Secretary’s Outreach Event in East London

On Friday, 26th of February, 2010, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, MP, came to visit East London with a tight programme of addressing to the Friday Prayer congregation at the Al-Huda Mosque; another address to the Friday Prayer congregation at the Brick Lane Mosque, followed by a brief tour and discussion with local senior opinion formers from the British Bangladeshi and Somali Muslim communities; discussion with students at Stepney Boys School and a reception for 100 opinion formers of the local and national British Bangladeshi communities.

At around 1:20 pm Foreign Secretary David Miliband, MP. arrived at the Brick Lane Mosque along with the Bangladesh High Commissioner, Dr. Muhammad Saidur Rahman Khan, Tower Hamlets Council Leader Lutfur Rahman and other councillors.

Dr. Muhammad Saidur Rahman Khan
While welcoming the Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the High Commissioner for Bangladesh, Dr. Saidur Rahman Khan mentioned the importance of this month. He said, “Today is the 12th of Rabiul Awaal; on this very day our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born and coincidentally on the same day he died. So it’s a very great occasion for the Muslim community of the world and we know that Islam is the religion of peace. All people are Islamic and I relate this multiracial society; people of all faiths are living in peace and harmony and I believe that would be strengthened in the days to come.”
“On this day we pray for the friendship, for peace and tranquility of the human being; people of all walks of life of all ages,” said Bangladesh High Commissioner.

Lutfar Rahman
Councillor leader Lutfur Rahman described the architectural beauty of the Mosque and the fusion of different cultures in the place.

Foreign Secretary at Brick Lane Mosque
British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, MP. started with saying “Assalamualaikum to those who were present including the Bangladesh High Commissioner, Councillor Lutfur Rahman and any other Councillor.”

Foreign Secretary said, “It’s a great honour, probably a great privilege that you have invited me to this historic mosque. I am deeply grateful for the chance to convey my greetings and profound thanks that the contribution you made to this remarkable community here in east London. I am here for a very simple wish. I am the first Foreign Secretary of British citizens whose heritage is Bangladesh; who worship in Mosque like this. I am also the Foreign Secretary of people who pray in Churches, who pray in Synagogues and who pray in Temples.”

“Every British citizen, whatever their race, their religion, their creed, knows that the Foreign policy of the government formed by the ideas and ideals of all the communities of this country,” said Foreign Secretary.

Referring to what Bangladesh High Commissioner mentioned earlier, Miliband said, “it is a special time of the year, very important month. The special celebration of Maulud brings to the national and international events; the values and ideals and the life of the Prophet Muhammad.”

“The ideals of social justice, responsibility, compassion and ideals too of internationalism and it is in the name of internationalism that I speak to you today. The country from which the vast majority of people draw their heritage, Bangladesh, is a remarkable country – the country I launched visit year before last; it’s a country which needs of values, of respect and justice and compassion very strongly. It’s a country which needs the compassion of great country like ours that help in tackling poverty,” said Foreign Secretary and added, “We are now partner of Bangladesh in tackling poverty in Bangladesh. It needs the support of people of mutual respect.”

Foreign Secretary while referring to the very history of democracy in Bangladesh said, “I am pleased that I am standing next to a representative of a democratic government in Bangladesh, the High Commissioner. The country of Bangladesh needs the value of responsibility across the generation. You know Bangladesh faces the challenge of climate change that threatens the way of livelihood of tens of thousands of Bangladeshis. Bangladesh needs too values of mutual respect because terrorism and security of Bangladeshis in Bangladesh or in London and it is vital to work together against violence.”

While speaking about the foreign policy or international policy in the Middle East, Miliband said, “Across the world the value, justice and compassion are needed in the foreign policy or international policy.”

Referring to Palestine, Foreign Secretary said, “In the Middle East, Palestinians still wait for a State for forty years after the 1967 war; they wait for a State based on the pre-1967 boundaries; they wait for a State Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine as well as Israel; they wait for a State for the settlement of refugees on an enough space.” He also added, “I am proud of the British government support for those aspirations of the Palestinian state.”

Foreign Secretary also emphasized about values. “Somalia also needs values of respect and justice as well. Across South Asia, notably Afghanistan and Pakistan those values needed too,” mentioned Miliband and said about Britain, “I know this is a country that gains massively from the waves of immigration over the centuries. I know that because my family came before in this country; I know this is the country that provides refuge.”

Foreign Secretary said, “What I see today is a community proud of its heritage but committed to build their future in this remarkable city of east London together; we share together with all faiths and with none.”

Referring to Tower Hamlets, Foreign Secretary said, “In Tower Hamlets you have a mosaic of the world; it is a mosaic that is vibrant, dynamic and effective” because in Tower Hamlets all communities reside peacefully. He congratulates the Council.

Miliband also pledged to work with the Council “to improve this community” and he also pledged, above all, to work with the assistance of the Council, “to build the future that is worthy of values”.

The other event, which actually held earlier, on Monday, 22 of February, 2010 was the MCB Fundraising dinner party at Marriot Hotel.

MCB Fund-raising dinner party
As early as mid-January 2010, I came to know that Professor Tariq Ramadan was coming to deliver a Lecture at a meeting organised by Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). Naturally, I was very much enthusiastic to listen to his lecture though I have been attending to his lectures at various places, universities, and other centres several times. I am happy that I was able to present those thoughts and ideas of Professor Tariq Ramadan to my readers through this column.

Why I was so much excited? Because I know most of my readers are also interested to know and read his thoughts and ideas. Above all, Tariq Ramadan is a professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University (Oriental Institute, St. Anthony’s College). He also teaches at the Faculty of Theology at Oxford. Through his writings and lectures he has contributed substantially to the debate on the issues of Muslims in the West and Islamic revival in the Muslim world. He is active both at the academic and grassroots levels lecturing extensively throughout the world on social justice and dialogue between civilizations.

Naturally, I wanted to present his thoughts to my readers through this column. Without any further delay, immediately I contacted the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, with a request to arrange for me so that I can attend the lecture. Dr. Abdul Bari was a nice person and he sent me the text message saying: “Salam Dr Mozammel. Thanks for the call. I hope you are well. This is the MCB’s first fundraising dinner in our current dire financial situation and the attendance is on the basis of sponsorship – L250 per chair and L2,500 per table (with 10 chairs). Respected elders/leaders are Alhamdo lillah helping us in getting sponsorship for this. Dr. Jamil is the lead person.”

When I received this text I was, for a second, disappointed simply because I phoned him in the hope that he would arrange something as I am a member of two committees of the MCB - the Media Committee and European and International Affairs Committee (EIAC). But I understand that and I appreciate his straight forward reply without any hunky bunky. He is, no doubt, a fine, honourable respectable person.

But I thought why not talk with The Muslim Weekly editor-in-chief, Mr. Ahmad Malik, who generally sponsored Muslim Fundraising dinner. Mr. Malik told me, “There is no problem; I will do something.” On Thursday, 18th of February, Mr. Malik told me that he talked with Mr. Farooq Murad, Treasurer of the MCB and “arrangement has been made and my name is in the list and Mr. Farooq Murad will send me the confirmation through email.” Mr. Farooq Murad did not send me any email but Mr. Malik said, “Don’t worry he has confirmed me.”

For the last nearly five decades I have been following my father’s advice to use my knowledge, whatever I have and my pen for the service and cause of Islam and Muslim. This is the first time; I am going to write about myself, because for the first time, I felt myself insulted in an event where I went last Monday (22 February) evening, being told by the Editor-in-Chief of The Muslim Weekly that my name is in the invitees list. After reaching at the Marriot Hotel, I found my name is not in the list and I felt embarrassed; because generally I do not go anywhere unless I am invited.

Now the question is how it happened? There may be two explanations: one, which I don’t believe, is either Mr. Malik or Mr. Farooq Murad did not give me the proper picture; but I don’t dare to doubt the truthfulness of these two honourable respectable gentlemen. The other alternative is: probably some invisible but, of course, powerful hands behind the screen used his authority to remove my name from the guest list. (Who is really responsible for this immoral, malicious hateful act, I do not have any idea. Allah the Almighty knows better.)

People are thinking that I am ‘overreacting a bit’. I don’t agree. It is a matter of principle. Invited guest is not a trivial, negligible, insignificant matter, if you look from an Islamic perspective. Guest is a person who deserves to be honoured, not humiliated or insulted. (The importance and significance of guest in Islam I would like to talk later.)

Immediately, after the completion of the speech session, I left the event, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), about which I have been spending my ink and giving space to my column and articles since before the birth of the MCB in the late 80s when Iqbal Sacranie, the spokesperson of the then UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs first met with the then Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw at a meeting in the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.

Muslim Council of Britain was founded by Iqbal Sacranie in the late 80’s with the aim of unifying the diverse Muslim communities of the United Kingdom. Its purpose was to respect diversity and at the same time respect personality. The ideologically broad-based national umbrella organization of the British Muslim communities of different schools of thought of Islam, of different ethnic, linguistic, regional and cultural backgrounds, like MCB, should remain clean from sectarian, parochial, insular, prejudiced, close-minded elements.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not mention those well-mannered, young energetic spirited volunteers who were time and again coming to me, while I was waiting outside the Hall being embarrassed, enquiring whether they could be of any help. I would like to thank them through this column and appreciate their good-natured words of hospitality which should be an eye-opener for those who are yet to reach to that level. Their well-mannered conduct turned my disappointment, skepticism and pessimism into optimism. I am now hopeful that those youngsters who are between 20s and early 30s will be the bright future of our Ummah.

In spite of the painful agony I had to pass through at that very particular moment, I will not disappoint my readers; rather I will present them a brilliant thought-provoking lecture of Professor Tariq Ramadan on “What I Believe” delivered at the London School of Economics (LSE). I promise, I will, Insha Allah, write in this column.

Courtesy: The Muslim Weekly Friday 05 March 2010
and also Eurobangla, Monday 29 February 2010

Muslim Aid's Children's Night of Empowerment

Muslim Aid raises over 300,000 Pound Sterling
at its Children’s Night of Empowerment

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Muslim Aid raised over £300,000 at last weekend of February, 2011 at its Children’s Night of Empowerment Fundraising Dinners held on the 25th, 26th and 27th February in London, Manchester and Birmingham respectively. The fundraising dinners were part of Muslim Aid’s 25th anniversary initiative to raise awareness and support for disadvantaged children around the world.

The keynote speaker included internationally acclaimed academic, Professor Tariq Ramadan at the Children’s Night of Empowerment Fundraising Dinner held at Porchester Hall, London, on Friday, 25th of February, 2011.

Muslim Aid’s Chairman
Sir Iqbal Sacranie’s Address
In his address of welcome, the Chairman of Muslim Aid, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, greatly appreciated and thanked the remarkable support given by the community to Muslim Aid’s call for empowering children. Highlighting dismal statistics of global child poverty, he said: “22,000 children under five die every day due to lack of basic healthcare According to the UN about 70 per cent of these deaths occur in the first year of a child’s life.”

Sir Iqbal also mentioned, “1 in 7 children in the world is a child labourer. That equates to 218 million children are child labourers; and they have to work to help their families survive. How can we expect to change the condition that these children currently face if a major portion of their life is overtaken by having to fend for themselves and their families?”

“In Africa, only 62% of kids go to school, complete primary education in Africa alone; this is compared to an average completion rate of 94% in some western countries. And according to the UN Millennium Project, children whose mothers have five years of primary school education have a survival rate 40 percent higher than children of mothers with no education. These statistics point to serious global problems in the provision of healthcare, and more worryingly the provision of education. This is the plight of our world’s children” said Sir Iqbal and added, “Muslim Aid is determined to help eradicate this problem with Allah’s help and this is why one of our key strategic goals for the next 5 years is to extend our formal and non-formal education programmes worldwide both at primary and secondary level.”

Speaking about the various programme of the Muslim Aid, Sir Iqbal referred to the healthcare programme of Muslim Aid in Sudan in 2010. “Muslim Aid was able to employ skilled healthcare professionals to treat over 800 pregnant women at the Wagar Clinic ensuring both mother and child were given the best start in life. This programme and others have contributed directly to the Fifth Millennium Development Goal namely to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio and increase the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel.”

Guest Speaker at London Event
Professor Tariq Ramadan
The Children’s Night of Empowerment was started with the recitation of the verse of Surah Ad-Doha from the Holy Qur’an. Referring to that verse, Professor Tariq Ramadan said, “We have to think about the very essence of our religion. We have values; we have to follow him (Prophet peace be upon him) and all his life. Never forget the poor; there is no spirituality; there is no Islam; there is no values if you only talk to the rich and forget the poor and the children. The prophet (peace be upon him) was showing in every piece of his Mission this kind of care specially for the children. This is not only to send the message to the people; this is also to send the message for everyone; show solidarity to humanity; to all the people around you,” mentioned Professor Ramadan.

“This is the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself educated his daughter Fatema (may Allah be please be with her); the way she was with the poor people around the mosque. He used to come to her and taught her: never forget the poor,” mentioned Professor Tariq Ramadan and said, “So the closer you are to the last one the closer you are to the ONLY ONE. This is our religion.”

Referring to the recent tragedy in Pakistan, Professor Ramadan said, “I am sure it is our responsibility to be there as much as to be in all the non-Muslim majority countries; everywhere; as Muslims we don’t ask about the religion of the people. We care for the dignity of the being. This means you are like a doctor when you are conscious of the solidarity. You don’t ask the religion; you do the job; you save lives, you educate people you invest in the present and in the future and this is the very essence of our religion.”

Professor Ramadan also said, “Remain Muslims; show the name Islam; show Muslims are for everybody; though the opposite people expected. People think that you only care for Muslims. We practice Islam but we care about all the people; all the human beings, because this is the very essence of being a Muslim and this is what we do according to our religion and according to our principle.”

“We are investing, we are giving the means to the people to be free, to help them to be equipped in the future to be able to see any injustice; any lack of dignity. We are here to change the world to be better. This is our message; this is our contribution,” said Professor Ramadan.

Professor Tariq Ramadan also said: “It is an Islamic and human obligation to support the poor and be involved with the education and future of children not only with our money but also with our hearts. I am extremely pleased that Muslim Aid is not just involved with helping Muslim communities but, as an aid agency, is serving humanity.”

At Manchester Event
At the Manchester event, Sarah Joseph said: “Charity is not only an act of worship and a way to personal righteousness; it helps to bring justice to the world. It is an honour for me to acknowledge Muslim Aid’s work through local community, as well as its inspiring global activities."

In Birmingham
In Birmingham, the Head of Gatton School, Rifat Batool said: “The grim statistics of child mortality in the developing countries is heart rendering. If each one of us gives as little as £3 a month we can make a huge difference to save lives and give children a bright future. Muslim Aid is helping us to make a direct intervention to change this grim reality.”