Cardiff Sufi Group

Peace, one and all…

I am pleased to announce the launch of a new Sufi group in South Wales.  The Cardiff Sufi Group, set up as a part of the Threshold Society and the Mevlevi tariqa, will meet regularly every Friday at the Cardiff Quaker Meeting House, from 7.15-9.15 pm, insha Allah.  God willing, the first meeting will be held on Friday 1st October 2010.

All are welcome to attend.  If you are interested in attending, please contact the group at: cardiffsufigroup@gmail.com

You can find further details on the group’s website.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

SAY Arts

Peace, one and all…

SAY Arts is a newly established organisation dedicated to promoting the Sufi music of India.  They are based in Birmingham, UK and are currently organising a UK Qawwali tour for 2009.

Please do visit the website of this exciting new venture.  May Allah bring this tour to pass and bless this organisation in all its efforts.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

A Welcome Gift

Peace, one and all…

Back in the mists of time (early June to be exact), my good lady wife blessed me with a beautiful (and totally unexpected) surprise.  From her hard-earned wages, she bought me an air ticket to attend the Threshold Society Amsterdam Retreat in October 2008. 

Al hamdu lillah!  I’ve just received the good news that my place has been reserved.  I am really looking forward to attending the retreat and meeting with Shaykh Kabir.  Last year’s gathering in London, though all too brief, was both beautiful and profound.  So, it is with a glad heart that I look forward to travelling to Holland, insha Allah.

Thank you Allah for this blessing.  Thank you Allah for my generous wife, without whom life would have been much less beautiful.  May Hu bestow mercy upon my wife, now and evermore.  Amin.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Ramadan Events

Peace, one and all…

With Ramadan a week or so away, a number of organisations are running courses/holding events of interest.  These include the following, all in London:

• IIDR: Fiqh of Fasting (Sat 23rd August)
• Azhar Academy: Ramadan: a Month of Blessings and Greatness (Sat 23rd August)
• Hounslow Mosque: Preparing for Ramadan (with Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoobi) (Tues 26th August)
• Wharf Muslim Association: Preparing for Ramadan – a Women’s Perspective (Weds 27th August)

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

IIIT Lecture Series 2008

Peace, one and all…

The International Institute of Islamic Thought UK (IIIT) is holding a series of lectures during the course of the summer.  Further information can be found on their website (pdf document).

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Conference: Quranic Frameworks for Society

Peace, one and all…

Umm Yasmin, over at Dervish, has provided a link to a very interesting forthcoming conference.  Entitled ‘International Academic Conference on Qur’anic Frameworks for Society: Islam, Multiculturalism, Pluralism and Peace’, and run by the Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, it aims to look at the following broad themes:

• Explore fresh and innovative issues within the study of Islam and Muslims that are related to Qur’anic Studies.
• Look at the core sources of Islam, particularly the Qur’an, to explore theoretical, philosophical, theological, and social perspectives and interpretations of society. In particular, the symposium will be focusing on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, pluralism, and peace.
• Discuss specific practical historical and contemporary attempts to interpret such Qur’anic frameworks within social contexts.

Insha Allah, the papers on offer will cover the following topics:

• Qur’anic models for peace and pluralism
• Multiculturalism, diversity, and pluralism within the Qur’an
• The theoretical framework for and implementation of Islamicjerusalem as a model for multiculturalism
• The concepts of li-ta‘ārafū, lil‘ālamīn, and ahl al-kitāb
• Perspectives on difference in the Qur’an
• Dialogue (hiwār), peace (salām) and conflict resolution
• Qur’anic Discourse in addressing different audiences
• Qur’anic conceptions of nations and societies

It will run on the 17th and 18th June 2008 at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London.  It looks fascinating, though I won’t be able to attend. 

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

ISSA Wales

Peace, one and all…

The newly founded Islamic Social Services Association of Wales is holding a Volunteering event on Wednesday 11th June 2008, from 6-8 pm, at Unity Centre, 51-52 Loudoun Square, Butetown, Cardiff CF5 1JH.  Their website will soon be up and running, insha Allah.

ISSA Wales aims to provide the Muslim community of Wales with much-needed support in all sorts of areas.  I would like to encourage anyone in the area to come along and get involved.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Abdur Rahman Interviewed!

Peace, one and all…

I have recently been interviewed by the good people over at The Pakistani Spectator.  This new venture covers all sorts of fascinating stuff relating to the people and culture of Pakistan and beyond.  Follow the link to see the interview itself.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Eid Mubarak, One and All…

Peace, one and all…

Al hamdu lillah, the term has finished at last!  And what a busy term it was too!

So, we’re off to London tomorrow evening, insha Allah, to spend Eid with our family.  Let me be the first to wish everyone Eid Mubarak.

Kullu aam wa antum bi khayr

Bajram sharif mubarak olsun

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

The Last Prophet

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to draw your attention to a new website, that was recommended to me by a friend.  It’s called The Last Prophet, and as you may have guessed, it focuses on the life and person of Muhammad al-Mustafa.  Although I’ve not yet had the opportunity to read through it in depth, it is certainly beautifully presented.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Sema Event in Cardiff

Peace, one and all…

Great news!  A Sema event will be held in Cardiff on Wednesday 21st November, from 7pm onwards.  For all those interested in Sufism, the event promises to be compelling.

Insha Allah, I will be going myself.  For more information, please check out the flyer below.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Eid Mubarak

Peace, one and all…

Eid Mubarak to everyone

Kullu `Aam wa antum bi Khayr

Bajram Sharif Mubarak Olsun

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Exhibition: Venice and the Islamic World (828-1797)

Peace, one and all…

Just a quick note to point to the website of a nice (and now finished) exhibition on Venice and Islamic World.  Check out the website.  Ma sha Allah.  Very nice.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Welcoming Layla

Peace, one and all…

As promised, here are some photographs of the newest member of our household: Layla Aliyah Lydia. 

         

And here’s a bonus picture of my son Yusaf, that he took himself with my mobile phone!

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Peace, one and all…

This is just a quick note to announce the birth of our third child, a beautiful baby girl, on Tuesday 29th May 2007 at 10:21 am.  Both mother and child are well (although the father’s more than a little exhausted)!

We have yet to decide on a name.  Once we’ve decided, I’ll announce it here insha Allah (and I’ll post a few pictures too, insha Allah).

Update: We’ve decided to call her Layla Aliyah Lydia.  Photos to follow soon, insha Allah.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Whirling Dervishes in Wales!

Peace, one and all…

Shaykh Ahmad Dede, the Shaykh of the Haqqani-Mevlevi tariqa (under the auspices of Maulana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani), will be coming to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th July 2007.  They will be performing a traditional Mevlevi sama’ ceremony, including whirling. 

For those unfamiliar with things Welsh, an Eisteddfod is a traditional festival of literature, music, song and dance.  You find out more about the sama’ ceremony (more here too) and whirling of the Mevlevi tariqa here.

Insha Allah, it will be a beautiful and inspiring event.  With God’s permission, I plan to attend with my family.  So, if you’re going along, we might well bump into each other.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Summer Events

Peace, one and all…

With the approach of summer, my thoughts are turning towards social matters.  In particular, there are a number of events I’d like to go to, insha Allah.  I thought I’d list them all here, for two reasons: firstly, to share this information with the wider world; secondly, so that I’ve got it all together in one handy place!

So here goes…

• Sufi Music Concert by the Nihavend Ensemble, in honour of Mevlana Rumi’s 800th Anniversary: at St. Mark’s Church, Central London.  Arranged by Caravansaray. 
• Thursday 5th July, Cardigan (West Wales): the Nizami brothers qawwali singers, at Theatr Mwldan 
• Sunday 14th July, Salisbury: Larmer Tree Music Festival.  A world music festival, featuring the Nizami Brothers qawwali singers
• 2nd Caravansaray Frame Drum Festival, 28th – 29th September 2007: St. Mark’s Church, Central London

Insha Allah, see you there… 

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman