United kingdom (Britain)
There are in total 23 million Muslims in Europe according to an estimate from the 1991 census, and around 1 million in Britain (Peace, G., 1995). Others like Anwar (1994) and Raza (1990) however, estimate a figure of 1.5-2 million respectively. These Muslims all live in liberal democratic societies with a freedom of professing and mobilizing religion. There seems to be an existence of no major obstacle in following the teaching of Islam, or from portraying ones true identity. In Britain for example, most Muslims (like any arrivals) reflect the political, ideological and territorial differences of the countries of emigration, as well as the variety of social, political and psychological forces that have impacted on their corporate lives in UK.
In other words different waves of Muslims has brought different ideas and expectations of what it means to be a Muslim. They are thus divided on the basis of national cultures, sectarianism and cultural pluralism. Most do not have any experience of living as minority communities. For others who have emigrated from urban areas and bazaar communities entangled with lack of education, there inevitable exists an inability to incorporate as well as face contemporary changing conditions and ideologies.
The main activity of the Sunni Razvi Society in Manchester, UK, has been the publication of Islamic literature and leaflets on various months of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. Living in Europe and surrounded by various materialistic philosophies, Muslim followers need to be reminded about the virtues of Islam as practiced by the beloved Prophet (SAW), the sacred nights, and the great days which formed the basis of our religion. Certain virtues are attached with specific Islamic months and special practices like certain prayers; fasting, wazaifs (recitals) and duah’s are required to gain the benefits and baraka. This is the main aim of the Manchester Center, to keep the followers in touch with Islam. Articles are published of Islamic months explaining in simple terms the great nights like Lailatul Qadr in Ramadaan, Meraj, Shab-e-Baraat, Yaum-e-Ashura explaining their significance.
Manchester is also the residence of His Eminence, Fakhrul Islam Allama al-Hajj Hafiz Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui Qadiri Razvi where he resides with his beloved wife and family. Around 1990 the Society in Manchester started with the publication of articles in Urdu language explaining the virtues of the Islamic months (lunar) to raise the awareness and highlighted the virtues of and activities related to each month. Since then various booklets have been published such as:
Virtues and blessings of the 8th Month of the Islamic Calendar
(Shab-e-Baraat-Night of Acquital)
Virtues and blessings of Rabi-ul-Akhir the Fourth Month of the Islamic Calendar (Death anniversary of the King of Baghdad)
These booklets have been a great help to Muslim shoppers in the UK and have encouraged them to stop buying non-Halaal products with Haraam additives in them. Many foreign students like the Malaysians who are studying in Manchester found the information the Society published very helpful in determining which groceries could be purchased. Some big name producers have approached the Sunni Razvi Society for information and have changed the additives they use and remarked their products with permissible additives. Due to popular demand the Urdu leaflets have been improved and upgraded to include an English section so that the information is available to all followers and the Society also mailed the other members in Europe and other cities of UK and sends regular updated information to them.
To target the younger generation, every year, on Milad-un-Nabi, a great celebration is organized in the city of Manchester. To celebrate this great day a procession starts from the Manchester Town Hall and marches through the city to the South Manchester Jaamia Mosque. The Society produces various stickers with "Eid-Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak" and distributed freely in various schools prior to the celebration. The aim is to reach out to the younger generation in the UK who are mostly unaware of this great day and encourage participation.
Muslims in Europe come from all diversified nationalities and cultural backgrounds from all different parts of the Globe. Until presently (1990) there was not an Islamic religious authority that all followers could adhere to. Hence the celebration of Eid and the beginning of Ramadaan was a major issue for Muslims in Europe. Different Islamic organizations could not get together to set up a "Moon sighting" committee and lack of knowledge amongst the Ummah led to the celebration of Eid and the start of Ramadaan on different days. The Society has for the last few years by way of mass distribution of leaflets approached the issue in a sensible way. Thus the Sunni Razvi Society in Europe main objective is education on this particular subject and only education can solve this problem.
The Society encouraged members to hold Qaseedah-e-Burdah (Poem of the Prophets Mantle) and regular Halqa Zikr in their homes. For the enthusiasts the Society prescribed the reading of Qaseedah-e-Burdah in an organized gathering where the praises of the beloved Holy Prophet gives the soul the enlightenment it requires. These programs are also recorded using audio and video equipment for the benefit of those who could not attend. The Qaseedah is held in very high esteem and reverence in all Islamic countries. The reciting and memorizing of it is considered to be source of great spiritual blessings.
A great Sufi, Hazrat Imam Sharfuddin Bosairi (RA) was the composer the Arabic Qaseedah (hymn). While in a pensive state of mind, without disclosing his deep attachment and revealing the name of his beloved, roams about the plains and valleys which is surrounded the Holy City of Madina, the ruins of Izam and the valley of Dhi-Salam. In the darkness of the night, a flash of lightening gives a glimpse of the habitat of his beloved, and he is overwhelmed with emotion. He then becomes conscious of his own unworthiness and embarks on a process of introspection. He directs his mind to purify itself by deeds, prayer and devotion, to be worthy of the love to which he is aspiring-that of the King of the Universe. He becomes mindful of the beloved Holy Prophets devotion, his nightlong vigil. Resulting in the swelling of his Holy feet, of his hunger and of stifling it by tying s stone around his stomach, and blames himself fore neglecting to follow the Sunna in poetic stanzas of rare beauty. Following it, overwhelmed by his deep feeling of attachment, in a mood of ecstasy he describes the personality of his beloved [the Holy Prophet (SAW)], he extols the his noble and exalted character, and recites the story of Ascension (Meraj), and miracles in a language of the highest order.
The circumstance under which the Qaseeda was written acquires much publicity and significance. The author had become a disciple of a well-known Sufi, Imam Abul Abbas Ahmad al-Mursi (RA), and use to attend regularly to his sermons, and this Master was well-versed in knowledge of the Hadiths. His Master had a severe stroke of paralysis, which left half of his body inert and motionless. The best treatment was available was retorted to, but no apparent success. In an extreme mood of despondency, he decided to write some panegyric verses in praise of the Holy Prophet, and to beseech his salvation through it. His prayer was answered and when he reached the end of the Qaseedah, he slept and had a vision of the Prophet passing his holy hands over his body and covering him with his blanket. Instantaneously he was cured. When he awoke, he found that he could stand and move about. The next day when he came out of his house he came across a dervish who was an utter stranger and asked him to recite the Qaseedah. He asked him which one, and the dervish said he wanted to hear the Qaseedah, which began with ‘Amin Tazzakuri Jeeranin bi-Dhi Salame’. The Qaseedah was not known to anyone, but the dervish swore that he had seen the poet reciting the Qaseedah in the presence of the Holy Prophet the previous night. The Qaseedah Burdah is in 10 parts and has 160 verses all of which end in the Arabic letter ‘Meem’.
The Society also re-invigorated the Qaseeda Meraj which is a poem written on the occasion of Meraj by the great Revivalist and Reformer of this Century, Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (RA). Prof. GD Qureshi MA LL.B has translated this masterpiece of Alahazrat into English.
The Manchester branch is the apex of contact to the members of the Sunni Razvi Society in Europe for regular support and guidance and help with the production of posters and leaflets to advertise the various religious ceremonies and death anniversaries of Saints (Urs) for other European countries. In 1995 the Manchester branch realized the benefits of technology and decided to launch the Sunni Razvi Society on the Internet. A humble appeal was made for volunteers and financial assistance for this project, but unfortunately only a few followers put their names forward. Technology could help the propagation and education of the true Islam as taught the beloved Prophet (SAW), the Companions (RA) and other great Saints and servants of Islam. The idea was to use technology to increase younger membership of followers and the propagation of Islam into schools and colleges in UK and Europe.
