Yearly Archives: 2023

The British Muslim Civil Society Report

A fast-growing UK Muslim community has much to offer Britain’s charity sector, especially in these crisis-ridden times. But it will need support from the public and private sectors Monday marks the release of the British Muslim Civil Society Report 2023 at a launch event backed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims. Based on a year of on-the-ground research, as the report’s author, …

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MMDA: Cultural and religious right for Sri Lankan Muslims but not at the expense of Muslim women’s rights By Sabra Zahid

The Sri Lankan Government needs to move ahead with MMDA reforms before any more delays and scuttling by conservative groups with intentions to suppress Muslim women’s rights in the name of culture or religion   The Sri Lankan Muslim communities have been abuzz with debates about the reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) lately, with most segments agreeing …

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How Arabs brought luster to Sri Lanka’s historic pearl trade

  The archival illustration from a German publication dated 1909 shows Sri Lankan fishermen processing pearl mollusks. (AN Photo) First Arabs arrived in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. and dominated its trade Pearl fishing in Sri Lanka began to struggle in the 19th century, under British rule  When Ibn Battuta arrived in northern Sri Lanka, the ruler of …

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Jareesh, maqshush announced as Saudi Arabia’s national dishes

  The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission has announced the ‘National & Regional Dishes Narratives’ initiative – a national initiative which seeks to identify and celebrate local dishes in Saudi culture across various regions in the Kingdom. In addition to identifying a national dish, the initiative will also include a study of the dishes that best represent each region of the …

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The history of al-Aqsa Mosque

Located in the Old City of Jerusalem lies al-Aqsa Mosque, a world heritage site defined by some of the most magnificent architecture in history. It’s also one of the world’s most contested territories and has often been targeted by Israeli forces in raids and by extremist settler groups. So why is this site so significant to Palestinians and how has …

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TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS OF THE MEMONS OF SRI LANKA

The Memons of Sri Lanka like the Bohras are a highly cultured community of Indian origin. They are Sunni Muslims following the Hanafi school of Muslim Law who originated from Western India, especially from the Kathiawad Peninsula before making our beloved country their home. Their settlement here took place during the British colonial period when they arrived here as textile …

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