Speeches: DR MUHAMMAD ABDUL BARI
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)
Summary
Muslim Community Involvement
One of the main roles for MCB is to help Muslims to participate more fully in all aspects of communal and political life in Britain. MCB believes that the Muslim interest lies in working with all the main political parties. It has been actively engaged in the issues around climate change, anti-terror laws, discrimination, racism and Islamophobia.
Dr Bari is also the Chair of the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre which provides a wide range of services to the local community, both Muslims and others. It works on issues of education, health, training and inter faith work.
Of particular current concern is the Government’s Preventing Violent Extremism strategy, which undermines the confidence of the Muslim community and creates division rather than social cohesion.
Faith as social capital
People of faith can help shape the future by developing social capital that will help to create a more humane, just, equitable and sustainable global economic order. For example, by sharing and exchanging individual and communities' experiences, local successes, such as the micro-credit system originating in Chittagong in Bangladesh and now spreading in many countries including the USA, can be replicated elsewhere.
Islamophobia and social harmony
Since the 7 July bombings in London in 2005, the Muslim community has received disproportionate attention and been portrayed negatively. This is eroding the confidence of the Muslim community. Combined with racism, Islamophobia, and historic under-achievement, it is making young Muslims more vulnerable.
Islam's universal message
Islam believes in unity in diversity, for diversity in humanity is an essential message in the Qur’an. People from all faiths should get to know one another and support one another when our basic religious beliefs or practices are threatened. Faiths can contribute to solutions rather than problems. There are important Muslim teachings about this for example:
- it is incumbent on Muslims to care for their neighbours, irrespective of their faith
- marriage-based family life is the bedrock of civilization and it is being weakened by the strain of modern life
- the duty to look after elderly weak and vulnerable
- Khidmah or service to human beings requires the abler ones to have a social responsibility towards the disadvantaged
- faith should continue to speak about the custodianship of our environment a need for a spiritual equilibrium that has been eroded
The way forward
Religions should continue to:
- emphasise the value of life, foster a culture of peace and build a partnership aiming to promote equality of opportunity for all in society
- combat racism, discrimination, inequality, injustice and climate change
- present a spiritual message encouraging societies to address human suffering and protect religion from the perversion of cruel fanaticism
- foster a culture of peace and together promote equality of opportunity and justice for all
Together we strive towards a Britain where all are at peace and ease with one another, where our differences are respected and we all have an equal opportunity to excel and contribute to the common good of our nation and of humanity at large.
The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it but what they become by it.
John Ruskin (C 19)
