The New Year brings tough challenges but unique opportunities too.
For many of us, 2011 will be remembered as the year that defied long-held stereotypes. The Arab Spring which swept across the Middle East and North Africa undermined the idea that the Muslim world doesn't "do" democracy. The summer riots here in Britain suggested that all of us, including Muslims, had a collective duty and resolve to overcome adversity. And, the horrific massacre carried out by Anders Breivik in Norway gave us a wake-up call to be vigilant against the many peddlers of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.
Looking ahead, 2012 will be a year of opportunities which we should seize with faith, hope and aspiration. Faith-communities will come together to support and celebrate the London Olympics. You can be sure that British Muslims up and down the country will be urging on our Olympic teams. And we hope to find Muslim centres and mosques embodying the spirit and generosity of Ramadan, opening their doors and welcoming the many visitors who will come to this country.
The forthcoming Queen's Diamond Jubilee will serve as an opportunity for all to reflect on the significant changes that Britain and British society have undergone in the last 60 years. During Her Majesty's reign, our connection with the world has changed, but continued to grow. Many communities, including Muslim communities, have made this country their home. Today, the United Kingdom is a place where many faiths and many beliefs have added to an already rich spiritual tapestry where, immigrant communities help maintain Britain's competitive edge by preserving economic links and trade opportunities with those countries they left behind.
Make no mistake. 2012 will be a challenging year. Recession, even economic Depression, is at our door. Unity at home will be crucial if we are to face the ongoing tumultuous changes both here and around the world. It remains vital to deny the hate mongers the oxygen of publicity or the lifeblood of the falsehoods and misconceptions of Islam and Muslims on which they thrive - and which, certain journalists and media outlets seem so keen to promote. As the financial crisis continues to bite, we should learn from the events of 2011 and look to the values that unite us not divide; that help us celebrate our diversity, whilst binding us into a greater whole; and offer an alternative, a message of hope, to those who constantly seek to downplay and divide us. Let us celebrate the 'Great' in Great Britain, and the 'United' in United Kingdom and remain unified in purpose and spirit in the challenging times ahead.
I wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful New Year!
Farooq Murad
For many of us, 2011 will be remembered as the year that defied long-held stereotypes. The Arab Spring which swept across the Middle East and North Africa undermined the idea that the Muslim world doesn't "do" democracy. The summer riots here in Britain suggested that all of us, including Muslims, had a collective duty and resolve to overcome adversity. And, the horrific massacre carried out by Anders Breivik in Norway gave us a wake-up call to be vigilant against the many peddlers of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.
Looking ahead, 2012 will be a year of opportunities which we should seize with faith, hope and aspiration. Faith-communities will come together to support and celebrate the London Olympics. You can be sure that British Muslims up and down the country will be urging on our Olympic teams. And we hope to find Muslim centres and mosques embodying the spirit and generosity of Ramadan, opening their doors and welcoming the many visitors who will come to this country.
The forthcoming Queen's Diamond Jubilee will serve as an opportunity for all to reflect on the significant changes that Britain and British society have undergone in the last 60 years. During Her Majesty's reign, our connection with the world has changed, but continued to grow. Many communities, including Muslim communities, have made this country their home. Today, the United Kingdom is a place where many faiths and many beliefs have added to an already rich spiritual tapestry where, immigrant communities help maintain Britain's competitive edge by preserving economic links and trade opportunities with those countries they left behind.
Make no mistake. 2012 will be a challenging year. Recession, even economic Depression, is at our door. Unity at home will be crucial if we are to face the ongoing tumultuous changes both here and around the world. It remains vital to deny the hate mongers the oxygen of publicity or the lifeblood of the falsehoods and misconceptions of Islam and Muslims on which they thrive - and which, certain journalists and media outlets seem so keen to promote. As the financial crisis continues to bite, we should learn from the events of 2011 and look to the values that unite us not divide; that help us celebrate our diversity, whilst binding us into a greater whole; and offer an alternative, a message of hope, to those who constantly seek to downplay and divide us. Let us celebrate the 'Great' in Great Britain, and the 'United' in United Kingdom and remain unified in purpose and spirit in the challenging times ahead.
I wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful New Year!
Farooq Murad