The Inter Faith Department of Spring Education Presents?The Muslim Jesus (pbuh) in the Shi?ite Tradition?
| Date: |
Saturday 31st of March 2007
|
| Time: |
Registration will begin at 9:30 am and end at 10:00 am
|
| Venue: |
Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College for Girls,
Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, and Surrey, CR7 8BT.
|
The
importance and personality of Jesus (pbuh) (Prophet Isa) as depicted in the
Islamic teachings is relatively unknown by non-Muslims. All Muslims hold Jesus
(pbuh) in high esteem and love him as one of Allah?s messengers. It is common
practice amongst Muslims that whenever a prophet?s name is mentioned the phrase
peace be upon him (pbuh) is uttered, as a mark of respect and reverence. Muslims
and Christians hold differing beliefs regarding the personality and attributes
of Jesus (pbuh); however there are various issues on which both faiths agree.
The Holy Qur?an states regarding the birth of Jesus (pbuh)
And recall
when the angel said O Mary! Allah gives you the good news of a son through a
Word (command) from Him! His name is going to be the Messiah, Isa (Jesus) son of
Mary, greatly honored in this world and also in the in the next, and he is one
of those who is given nearness to Allah (3:45).
It is based on these
similarities that the Inter Faith Department of Spring Education is holding a
seminar entitled ?The Muslim Jesus (pbuh) in the Shi?ite Tradition?. The Shia
form the second largest group of Muslims in the world, and are to be found in
countries such as Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq as well as India, Kenya, Qatar,
Bahrain, as well as England and other parts of the British Isles.
The
Imams (divinely appointed leaders) of the Shi?ites have during their Imamate
(period of divinely appointed governance) made mention of Prophet Jesus (pbuh)
in light of the Qur?anic teachings regarding him and his blessed mother. His
mother Mary (pbuh) has the esteemed title of ?one of the chosen women of
Paradise?.
In a report from the first Shi?ite Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib
(as), recorded in Bihar al Anwar, 14, 326, 42, he states regarding Jesus
(pbuh)
Jesus (pbuh) served his Apostles with a meal, and when they had
finished he himself washed their hands. They said to him ?Beloved spirit of
Allah, it should be us who wash you! Jesus (as) the son of Mary replied, ?I only
did this so that you will also do the same for those whom you teach?.
The Seminar will concentrate on the following:
1. Jesus? mother
the blessed Mary (pbuh)
2. The Birth of Jesus (pbuh) as mentioned in the
Holy Qur?an and Prophetic traditions
3. The nature of Jesus? education and
the receiving of revelation
4. The Ministry of Jesus (pbuh)
5. The
Gospel of Jesus (pbuh) as found in the Qur?an
6. Jesus? ascension to
Heaven
7. The return of Jesus (as) and the destruction of the
Earth
The seminar it is hoped will effectively add to and strengthen the
foundations of understanding, mutual respect and friendship which already exist
on many levels between the Muslim and Christian communities of South London.
There is however a pressing need for not only the Christian community of South
London but elsewhere also; to gain an awareness of the love and heart felt
affection in which Jesus (pbuh) is held within Islam. This awareness can only
come about if and when the various Muslim communities within England actively
set out to make his position known. It is with this intention in mind that the
Inter faith seminar has been arranged. By the grace of Allah the result will be
an even stronger bond of love between the two faith communities.
The Speakers Bio Specs
Shaykh Mohammad
Zakaria
He is a graduate of Hawza Ilmiyyah; he also holds two
Masters of art degrees in (University of the Punjab and Sayyid Behesti
University Iran) Islamic studies and is currently enrolled on a Doctorate of
Education programme at Brunel University.
He has taught Religious studies
at a number of Secondary schools both within England and abroad and currently
teaches A? Level Religious studies and Sociology at the College of North West
London. He is also Spring Education?s Director of Education and a visiting
prison Imam. His specialist areas are Race, Culture and Religion, dealing with
the racial and cultural interpretation of religious belief and practice, along
with gender differentiated perceptions of Deity amongst the Shi?a youth. His ?A
Quite Revolution? a summary of his Masters dissertation was internationally
acclaimed as being a groundbreaking investigation into the delivery of the
Edexcel ?Religion and Life based on a study of Islam specification? which
provided a clear and informative insight into the teaching of Islam and the
beliefs of the Shi?a within English Secondary schools. He is a married father of
two children, Khadijah Fatima aged 3 years and 5 months and Mohammad Sundjata
aged 1 year and 2 months.
Mr. Amir De-
Martino
Holds an undergraduate degree in Comparative Religion
and Persian language, from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) as
well as a Masters of Arts degree in Islamic studies from the Islamic College for
Advanced Studies (ICAS). His field of expertise lies in the History of Islam
?the Prophetic era? along with the period of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties.
His analytical study of the Mourning and Lamentations surrounding Kabala
and the sacrifice of the third Shi?a Imam( divinely appointed leader) Hussain
Ibn Ali (as) published in 2001 was greeted with a peer review which mirrored,
the lucid and meticulous nature of the study.
He is a founder member of the
Ahlul Bayt society of Italy, an organisation committed to clarifying the
teachings of Islam within the Italian context and conducts a sustained and
fruitful Inter faith dialogue with the various Christian communities of Italy.
He is an active lecturer and writer having published a number of works relating
to Islam and globalisation and Islam in Italy. At present his academic work
centres around lecturing and preparation for his Doctoral dissertation. He is
married and fluent in Italian and Persian languages.
Shaykh Ayyub
Rashid
He is a graduate of Hawza Ilmiyyah (Qom) and is currently
enrolled on a PhD programme of study at Loughborough University. He is also the
author of numerous articles and papers both in the English, Arabic and Swahili
languages. Primarily his paper entitled Ayatul Ahkam (legal verses of the
Qur?an) has brought a new dimension to the study of the legal aspects of the
Qur?anic revelation. Systematic in style it has approached the discussion by
utilising both Sunni and Shi?a sources, with the distinction of being able to
bring about an objective scholastic harmony between them. An accomplished
teacher of Arabic for many years, he previously taught at the Islamic College
for Advanced Studies and Hawza Ilmiyyah London. At present he is head of Spring
Education?s Arabic and Qur?anic studies departments and acts as Friday prayer
leader at Khairul Amal, situated in Thornton Heath South London. He heads the
Swahili speaking community of East London, being responsible for the communities
continued growth and development over the past 10 years, he has been
instrumental in bring both the Shi?a and Sunni elements of the community under
a single effective and dynamic leadership. Shaykh Ayyub is married with one son
Rashid Haider and two daughters Umm al Khaeir and Umm Hani
Seminar Schedule:
09:30 am to 10:00 am -
Registration, coffee and Tea
10:00 am to 10:10 am - Recitations from the Holy
Qur?an and the New Testament
10:10 am to 10:20 am - Opening addresses and
welcome from the Chair
10:20 am to 10:40 am - The Mother of Jesus (as) in the
Qur?an and Shi?ite traditions
10:40 am to 11:20 am - Jesus (as) in the
Qur?an, his message and place within Islam
11:20 am to 12:00 pm - The Gospel
of Jesus as found in the Qur?an and his ascension to Heaven and the return of
Jesus (as) and the destruction of the Earth
12:00 pm to 12:45 pm - Prayers
and Tea
12:45 pm to 1:45 pm - Q&A
2:00 pm -
Group photos and End |
|
