Download Beliefs, Values and Practices: Islam

Beliefs, Values
and Practices:
Islam
Islam
What is Islam?
With 77,000 Muslims in Scotland (according to the
2011 Census), Islam is the second largest religion in
Scotland today, after Christianity.
The word Islam literally means submission. Muslims
believe that there is only one God, who is Allah, which
is the Arabic name for God. Islam began in the Middle
East where Muslims believe Allah revealed his
teaching to Muhammad (pbuh). Those who submit to
the will of Allah and follow the teachings in the Qur’an
are called Muslims. Muslims have an obligation to
follow the Five Pillars of Islam and believe that these
will help them to live a good and responsible life.
Within this section you will find information about how prominent Muslims put the beliefs and
values of Islam into practice.
What is it like to be a Muslim?
This video shows one young Muslim talking about what it means to him to be a Muslim in
Scotland today.
Video
Watch: Testimony – Islam on YouTube - https://youtu.be/f9yvQg1POAU
Watch: Testimony – Islam on GlowTV (Glow login required)
Reflecting on Islam
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What questions might you ask this young Muslim?
How has this young person’s life been shaped by his beliefs?
What beliefs and values shape your life?
Is it important to put your beliefs and values into action?
How might you/do you put your beliefs and values into action?
In what ways are your beliefs and values similar to/different from those of others?
Why is it important to understand the diversity of beliefs and values in modern
Scotland?
What skills do you think are important when exploring beliefs and values?
Why might understanding your beliefs and values and those of others be an important
skill in the workplace?
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Prominent figures in Islam: Mona Siddiqui
Introduction
Mona Siddiqui is one of Britain's most high-profile
Muslim academics who regularly appears on British
television and radio. She is Professor of Islamic and
Inter-religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
She has lectured in Arabic literature, Islamic studies,
law and theology in various universities and was
Professor of Islamic Studies at Glasgow University
until December 2011.
In 2012 she took up her post at Edinburgh University,
where she lectures and conducts research on Islamic
theology, ethics and Christian-Muslim relations.
Image credit: © Verena Jaekel - Mona Siddiqui with her Family, Dullatur,
17 October 2010, from A Scottish Family Portrait series.
Career
Mona Siddiqui was born in Karachi, Pakistan and moved to Britain at the age of 5. This was
originally supposed to be a short term move for her family, but Britain soon became her home.
Her parents were literary people with a keen interest in religious matters and the literature and
poetry of the Indian sub-continent.
Mona learnt to read the Qur’an in Arabic and Urdu from her mother. She grew up in
Huddersfield where she attended school and later went on to study Arabic and French at
Leeds University. She continued her studies at Manchester University gaining a Master's
degree in Eastern Studies in 1986, and a doctorate in classical Islamic Law in 1992. She
moved to Glasgow after she got married, and this is where she lives today with her family.
Mona is well-known in the UK for her broadcasting work, with regular appearances on radio,
television and in the press. In addition, she has sat on various Advisory Boards for
organisations such as Glasgow’s Gallery for Modern Art, Scottish Asian Arts, the IB Tauris
Religious Studies project and the Journal of the American Academy of Religion.
She holds three honorary doctorates and is Visiting Professor at several educational
institutions worldwide. Mona Siddiqui is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the
Royal Society of Arts.
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Key messages from Mona
Coexistence/Adopting tolerance to other faiths
Mona Siddiqui’s main message is one of coexistence between Muslims and other faiths. At a
time when tensions run high, she has used her faith position and her voice to 'call on Muslims
to be more tolerant towards other faiths and views'. [1]
Originally against interfaith work, she became involved in 'Building Bridges' – an annual
Christian-Muslim conference that has convened in many places around the world. After initial
reluctance to become involved, she now believes that there is a real need for this kind of work,
not just at the community level but also at the more academic level.
As a Muslim living in a democratic society, she expresses her loyalty to both her faith and to
Britain. In the short film, 'See Britain through my eyes' made ahead of the London 2012
Olympics, she describes her life in Glasgow as very peaceful. She sees Britain as the kind of
place that allows people to keep their own identity and says 'I don't think there's any
expectation at all that people give up their faith. We have over two million Muslims living in the
UK, I think most of them are very happy to be living here.' [2]
However, although she is positive and values the freedom and opportunity British society
affords, she is aware that this is not the case for all Muslims in the West. Discussing the
reaction to debates over issues such as wearing the veil or the Danish cartoon controversy,
she says 'Muslims can live with the hardware of democracy but cannot cope with its software:
pluralism, dignity.' [3]
These kinds of reactions, she says, taint the whole of the Muslim faith with intolerance.
Mona Siddiqui is extremely committed to her work and was awarded an OBE in 2011 for her
contributions to interfaith relations.
References
1. Mona Siddiqui quoted Edd McCracken in 'Leading Islamic scholar urges Muslims to adopt
tolerance to other faiths and views', Sunday Herald, 25 April 2010.
2. See Britain through my Eyes, Mona Siddiqui – Short film made ahead of London Olympics
2012, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
3. As above, Sunday Herald, 25 April 2010.
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Activities to support learning
Activity:
Video
Watch: - ‘Mona Siddiqui on life in Britain' https://youtu.be/q7gPYCSzoF0
[Please note: This video has not been uploaded to YouTube by Education Scotland 1
In this short film, Mona Siddiqui talks about life in the UK, and the opportunities available to
people living in Britain.
How does Mona Siddiqui describe immigration to Britain in the 1960s and 1970s? What does
she value most about living in Britain?
Activities to support learning
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What do you think Interfaith work is all about? What might its advantages and
disadvantages be?
Find out more about Muslim beliefs and values. How do you think the life of
demonstrates these beliefs and values?
In what ways are Muslim beliefs and values similar to/different from beliefs and values
of other religions and belief groups?
How has learning about Muslim beliefs and values influenced your own developing
beliefs and values?
1 By following this link, you will be moving away from the Education Scotland website. Education Scotland is not responsible for
content on external websites. YouTube provides an open forum for users to post comments it is recommended that practitioners
check the clips, and any appended comments, in advance so as to assess suitability before directing learners to them.
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