“تهنئة خاصة”
“يسرني ان اتقدم إليكم”
“باصدق التهاني بمناسبة ”
“حلول شهر رمضان المبارك”
“سائلا المولى العلي القدير ”
“ان يجعل ايامكم كلها افراح”
“وأن يعيده عليكم أعواما”
“عديدة وازمنة مديدة”
“انه سميع مجيب”
الدعاء
وكل عام وأنتم بخير

Islamic Centre hosts welcome reception for Syrian Refugees to promote Integration and counter Islamophobia

Posted on: January 12th, 2017 by shaykh No Comments

Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland hosted a welcome reception on Friday 13th January at 1pm for a group of Syrian refugees that have arrived recently in Ireland with the collaboration of Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council.

The purpose of the welcome reception was to promote integration and counter islamophobia.

Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, Chair Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council & Head-Imam of Islamic Centre Ireland, said that the Irish nation is known for its generosity and warm welcome but this can change if the refugees do not integrate in the society. As Irish Muslims we must play our role in ensuring that integration takes place. As many Syrian refugees adhere to the Islamic faith, it will be crucial that they receive guidelines on the importance integration from the Muslim religious leaders also.

Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri also said that from an Islamic perspective even the Prophet Muhammad was a refugee. He had to flee his homeland of Makkah as he was faced religious persecution. He migrated to Madinah and was warmly welcomed by the locals. In return the Prophet Muhammad integrated in the Madinan life and remained loyal to Madinah. He also prayed to God to bless Madinah more than his homeland Makkah. This was a message to his followers to always return with more compassion, generosity, kindness and good will to the society that welcomes and accepts you.

The Syrian refugees will arrived at 1pm in the Islamic Centre and attended the Friday prayers. After the prayers were formally welcomed by the Shaykh and he spoke about the Importance of Integration from an Islamic perspective.

The guests were also welcomed by Pat Hynes from the Glancree Centre of Reconciliation, Father Joe Coyne from the St Ciarans Parish on behalf of the Irish people.

Maisa, Taqwa and Sara from the Al-Hariri family shared their feelings as Syrian refugees who have been welcomed and accepted by Ireland after having lived for almost a year in tents on a Greek Island.

Each Syrian refugee family was also introduced to a host family who will support them in their resettlement and integration in Ireland.

The event was concluded with a meal.

Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council will organise a following up meeting with host families and Syrian guest families in the next few weeks. If anyone would like to become a host family, please contact info@islamiccentre.ie

Press Reports of the event :

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/syrian-mother-and-daughters-join-other-refugees-in-dublin-1.2936084

https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0113/844855-syrian-family-dublin/

http://www.thejournal.ie/syrian-refugees-ireland-integration-3183439-Jan2017/

http://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/dublin-imam-urges-irish-families-host-refugees/

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri visits Al-Azhar University on the invitation of Shaykh-ul-Azhar

Posted on: January 3rd, 2017 by shaykh No Comments

Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri visited the world renowned Al-Azhar University, an ancient seat of Islamic learning, on the special invitation of the Grand Shaykh of Al-Azhar,Shaykh Dr Ahmad Tayyab.

The visit of the University was followed by a meeting between both scholars of the Muslim world in which they discussed contemporary challenges facing the Muslims living in Europe.
They highlighted the importance of unity within the Muslim ranks to fight off these challenges. They agreed that Islamic principles of pluralism, moderation, tolerance and inclusiveness which are also the core themes advocated by Al-Azhar University and the Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland were relevant to the present-day challenges of the World. The issue of setting up a representative body of Al-Azhar Graduates in Ireland also came under discussion as well as collaboration between Al-Azhar University and the Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre Ireland.

Shaykh-ul-Azhar highlighted the the tasks the Al-Azhar University was carrying out for the solution of intellectual and scholarly problems facing the Muslim world so that people could benefit from Islam teachings and traditions of moderation and tolerance and bring about constructive changes in their collective and individual lives.

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri thanked Shaykh-ul-Azhar for the invitation to visit the University and invited the Grand Shaykh to visit Ireland in 2018.

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri was also given a tour of the Al-Azhar Observer by Dr. Kamal Abdel Assalamu Alaikum wrwb. Al-Azhar Observer is a department which consists of 70 scholars that monitor the internet for news and articles about Islam and Muslims in 8 different languages. The purpose of the Observer is to tackle the misconceptions about Islam particularly those misconceptions that are spread by extremists and radicals. It monitors activity of radicals and responds academically to their propaganda. The Observer responds academically to the propaganda spread by Daesh (Dabiq).

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri also visited the Online Fatwa Department which consists of 100 Mufti’s that issue Fatwa’s online or through the Online Fatwa Helpline.

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri also met with Shaykh Ahmed Fadeel Qausi, previous Minister of Religious Affairs in Egypt and currently the Chair of World Graduates of Al-Azhar Graduates. Both scholars discussed also challenges the Muslim world is facing particularly the challenge of extremism and islamophobia.