Muslim
To see a map of Muslim sites in Wales please click here
Inter-faith Council Representatives: Mr Saleem Kidwai, OBE, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales, saleem@muslimcouncilwales.org and Mr Ahmed Darwish, www.muslimcouncilwales.org
Muslim Faith and interfaith in Wales
Wales, has been an active member in both the Inter-faith Council and Forum, and has promoted their work and objectives among all its members. This has raised the awareness among Muslims about interfaith issues, which are now given priority especially by Mosques, community organisations, and institutes of education. This has resulted in the significant engagement of Muslims in issues of inter-faith throughout Wales.
MCW on behalf of the Muslim community in Wales has assigned four of its leading members (the Chair, the Secretary General, the Diversity Training Officer and the Religious Advisor) the jobs of participation in inter-faith work in Wales that includes meetings of Inter-faith Council and Forum as well as education and diversity training. Such high level of involvement shows the priority given to this work by the MCW and Muslims in Wales.
For more information see the Inter-faith Wales Report or www.muslimcouncilwales.org
About the Muslim Faith
The prophet Muhammad (pbuh), an Arab and a descendant of Abraham (pbuh), received the divine revelations of Allah contained in the Muslim scriptures, the Holy Qu’ran [Koran].
The Qu’ran names twenty-five messengers of God, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, and Jesus (pbut). Muhammad (pbuh) is believed to be the final messenger until the Day of Judgment.
Muslims believe in one God, creator of all things, unique in life, power, mercy and justice. The Arabic word “Islam” means the submission or surrender of one’s will to the one true God.
Anyone who adheres to this ideal is called a Muslim. Muslims believe that Islam is the one true religion given to Adam (pbuh) and to all the prophets after him.
Besides the holy scripture of the Qu’ran, Muslims hold dear to reports of the Prophet’s life, which are known as hadith. Muslim faith and practice is grounded in the Five Pillars of Islam:
1. Iman (Faith): “There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of God”. The only purpose of life is to serve and obey God.
2. Salah (Prayer): Obligatory prayers are performed five times a day. Since there are no priests in Islam, prayer is the direct link between the worshipper and God.
3. Zakah (Financial Obligation): Since everything belongs to God, wealth is held in trust by humankind. Muslims are enjoined to set aside a portion of what they have (a fortieth of one’s capital annually) for those in need. They may also give as much as they like in secret.
4. Sawm (Fasting): All Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan. Fasting allows the faithful to focus on the presence of God.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage): Those who are physically and financially able to do so, are called on to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes, during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is connected not only with the life of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but also, and even more importantly, for the pilgrimage, with Abraham (pbuh), the spiritual father of Muslims.
Islam is a way of life based on peace and moral conduct (Sharia law). Muslims are usually either Sunni or Shia.
For more information see the Inter-faith Wales Report.
